The BORA

Bob, the original image is a view from the bottom of the car. Items on the left as seen from the top will appear on the right as seen from the bottom. This is really not difficult, but I'll waste a little more space on this thread with an example. The first picture is a circuit board showing the volume control on the left, connectors on the right. Second is the same board seen from the bottom. Voila! The volume control now shows on the right and the connectors on the left!

Walter's message above may provide a clue. Could this car have had an engine failure back when it was worth little, then a cheap substitute, and finally a drop-in, but non running correct type when it came time to sell? If so, that picture might really have been from the same car at a different point in its life.


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No, you have a spacial disability of some sort if you really believe that. I have spent so many hours working on both the top and the bottom of my Bora and things do not flip from left to right like that.
Take a marble and drop along the left side of the engine compartment near the shift linkage.
When it hits the garage floor it's still on the left side of the car.

What you did with that circuit board is you turned the board upside down. Of course when you do that things flip from left to right.
The car is not being flipped upside down to photograph it, it's being photographed from underneath while on a lift. Not the same thing.

 

Here is the original photo with the USA engine along with a similar photo of my Bora. Both the hand brake and shift linkage are located on the same side on both photos. Most likely the photo with the USA engine was taken when this Bora had a transplant.

Ivan
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No question now in my mind. That is not the original Maserati engine in the Bora. It sure looks like a transplanted American V-8. Mounting all the auxiliaries must have been an interesting job.

 

Not my cup of tea, but respect to whoever managed to get that rigged up! Not easy, must be creative. Makes you wonder why a mind like that would swap and re-engineer everything and not just fix the Maser engine, which would have been far easier.

The V8 engine having huge exhaust ports (41-42mm) compared to very small (35-36mm) ports fascinates me. I have never seen an engine with significantly larger exhaust ports than intake. What was Alfieri thinking, he knew something.... he certainly did not do this with the SM/merak nor Merak SS engine

 

I had no idea that mistakenly including that photo which my friend included in his file would cause such a storm of mechanical debate but some of you seem to enjoy it so that's good

I had no buyer for it so he was thinking of a virtual auction.

 

We nerds love this stuff That's why we never got invited to a prom night

Ivan

 

Hahaha!

 

I think there was a guy in LA ... Alex something who dropped an aluminum 427 in a Bora with FI on it but it burned up. It was referenced in an copy of the TMC club magazine produced here in NJ by Seymour Pond.
Maybe I can find my copy.

 

Alex Penkov. The TMC magazine copy has a red Bora on the cover in a quarry.

It was a turbocharged Bora engine not some Detroit lump;-)

 

Thanks, yeah now I remember. Wasn't itfuel injected as well and ultimately burned up?

The 427 Bora was another urban legend floating around in early 90's. That would make for a very nice transplant. all GT40's had "Detroit lumps". How did they do at Le Mans?

 

Yes it burned up, total loss.

If you want to talk special Boras then the Group 4 evocations (replicas) lade by my friends in Sweden and France are far more interesting, much better built and they still exist. I do think we have already discussed them in this thread, correct me if I am wrong and I will be glad to post info and photos for both.

A good friend of mine just sold a Hollman Moody MKII reconstruction, see below photoshoot I arranged by Jerry Wyszaticky, a fabulous car built to the exact specs -with proper 427 race engine, proper gearbox (unlike many replicas) absolutely everything correct- of the Sebring winner that was scrapped after the race.
I have utmost respect for the whole GT40 saga and achievements but a Maser should have a Maser engine.


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Thanks, as ever. Experience counts. I'm likely to use the Vredestein tires for my street application, and as that's nearly all I'm doing. Freeway speeds here allow occasional bursts in certain areas, but over 125 is rare. The rear 1/4" spacers always seemed a good idea, but alas I've yet to find/build any.

Currently I'm distracted by some LHM issues.. including finding same anymore. Apparently this product aged out and was of too low demand to stay on the shelves. I have used a version from RR/Bentley in the past, but now LHM Plus seems un-findable. Recommendations have all been re Pentosin CHF 11S (still dragon-blood green I think) that was used by RR and MBZ in early 2000's models. Any actual experience-based inputs most welcome! I have yet to add any non-LHM brand to the mix, and would appreciate whatever validation/verification from actual experience, reasearch, other.

As ever, all inputs welcome.
& Thanks !!
--Ned (Bora '626)

 

Alex Penkov.. resonates.. did he not have a shop off Centinela and Sepulveda near Culver City, CA some long time back?? 1980s??

Was he the one who vastly denigrated inTMC magazine any 'non-professionals' ever even thinking to wrench on Maserati (Bora, et al).

 

Hello, I re-read the interview last night (It Tridente, April 1997) not very interesting. Yes he rightly stated that a lot of people should stick to what they know and not try to tamper with classic Masers but all this is decades old, a 1997 interview in which he recalls the 80's. The world has moved on from then. He was somewhere in Los Angeles, no idea where, I only visited the city a number of times not his shop.

Regarding modified Boras I find the two Bora Group 4 evocations/replicas in Sweden and France far more interesting MANY miles above in terms of engineering and execution and they are still in existence.

Here FYI my post from May 2 years ago about 024 in Sweden; #024. The French car, #812 is mentioned, shown in my subsequent post below that one.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/the-bora.333525/page-111#post-148441541

 

Just saw this on FB Bora AM117-362 just stolen near Lyon, France. Owner is Axel Roux:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2480841640/user/100009001554783/

Two other cars were stolen -but let's stay on topic- a rust colored Bitter CD and an Opel Lotus Carlton.


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Is anyone familiar with this Bora for sale at Gullwing?:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gullwingmotorcar/albums/72157693268601445/

AM 117/49-US 756

I see alot of surface rust underneath. Its also missing the drivers window and I think these are NLA new. Left valve cover rather oily.

Thanks.

 

That link doesn't work. As far as I can see they have two red Boras on their website. Look here https://www.gullwingmotorcars.com/inventory.htm?make=(%22Maserati%22)&page=1:24&orderby=make
pick and post the link.

 

Sorry, the link is still working for me. Here is the car on their website: https://www.gullwingmotorcars.com/1974-maserati-bora-4.9--c-3449.htm

the link to flickr.com has 120 photos. Not sure whats up with the link. Will post it again here: www.flickr.com/photos/gullwingmotorcar/albums/72157693268601445/
if that doesn't work I'm not sure why. I can repost some of the pics here I have concerns with.

 

Don't know anything about the car, but it is not as stated "just out of 20 year ownership." The car has been for sale at GWM for at least 5 yrs.

 

ok guys the original link from the email to me was this:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/gullwingmotorcar/4CS50S

the link posted earlier above was from the url window but its a locked album so maybe this link is the one needed.

 

Here it is directly off their website. But no mention of a vin #
https://www.gullwingmotorcars.com/1974-maserati-bora-4.9-c-3449.htm

It's no particular deal at that price and in that condition. I'd bet there's lots of work to be done. Seats look nice though.

 

Agree with it being overpriced based upon photos, but if its been sitting there 5 years there should be some wiggle room on the price.