Tag Archives: Giugiaro

Faster Than Enzo – Maserati MC12 Stradale

The Maserati MC12 Stradale is the road going variant of the Maserati MC12 Competizione which successfully took Maserati back to the race tracks on the FIA GT Circuit in 2005.

Maserati MC12 Stradale, Desert Classics Concours d'Elegance,

Sharing a chassis, modified motor, running gear and windscreen with the Enzo Ferrari the rest of the body was originally conceived by Giorgetto Giugiaro and stylised with the aid of a wind tunnel by Frank Stephenson.

Maserati MC12 Stradale, Desert Classics Concours d'Elegance,

The two batches of 25 MC12 Stradales built in 2004 and 2005 were only delivered in white and blue, sans radio or even anywhere to fit an after market one, a nod to the exploits of the American Lloyd Perry ‘Lucky’ Casner’s Camoradi team.

Maserati MC12 Stradale, Desert Classics Concours d'Elegance,

In two separate road tests at Dunsfold Aerodrome and on the Nurburgring MC12’s proved to be quicker than the Enzo Ferrari that spawned it. I believe the example seen here in Geoffrey Horton’s photograph’s, taken at last years Desert Classic’s Concours d’Elegance, is one of those built in the 2005 batch.

It appears to belong to the The Riverside International Automotive Museum a non profit corporation run by Ray and Doug Margon dedicated to “Preserving the memory of California’s rich motorsports heritage” which also houses a collection that includes one example of every road going Maserati sold in the US since 1951.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Faster Than Enzo” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early Renault. Don’t forget to come back now !

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DIY Buckboard – Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed

A couple of years ago while I was on my way to the Morgan Factory I passed through Upton-upon-Severn in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire, England when I espied today’s featured FIAT Cinquecento on the verge of a T junction with the B4211.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

The front wheel drive FIAT Cinquecento city car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro to replace the rear engine rear wheel drive FIAT 126 in 1991, they were built at the former FSO works in Poland where the various FIAT derived models had been built and marketed under the Polski FIAT and later FSO brands.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

Despite the Cinquecento, Five Hundred, name the smallest motor for this model was a longitudinally mounted 704 cc / 43 cui two-cylinder unit which was only avaialble in Poland.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

The two other engine options were four cylinder units producing 38 and 53 hp respectively and mounted transversely, today’s featured car is listed as having a 38hp 899cc / 54.8 cui motor that traces it’s origins back to the 1970’s FIAT 127 hatchback.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

Despite being a city car the Cinquecento was equipped with independent suspension all round, side impact bars, crumple zones and could be ordered with central locking, electric window’s sunroof and air conditioning the only notable option missing was power assisted steering.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

FIAT commissioned a number of concept versions of the Cinquecento before production ceased in 1998, but none included a flatbed behind the passenger cabin like the example seen here which is currently registered as, SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), being kept off the road.

Thanks for joining me on this “DIY Buckboard” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” which concludes this months series of pick ups. I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 1929 Riley with a 6 litre / 366cui four cylinder aero engine.

Wishing all GALPOT readers a relaxing Bank Holiday Monday.

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One Hundred And Sixty Three Feet – Maserati Coupé

Today’s featured 2002 Tipo M138 Maserati Coupé is a descedant of the original Ghibli, Khamsin, Shamal, 3200 GT line of 2+ tourers.

Maserati Coupé, Bristol Italian Auto Moto Fest, Bristol

As with the Tipo AM115 Ghibli Giorgetto Giugiaro was responsible for styling the Maserati Coupé although he was no longer working for Ghia, a company which had long since been acquired by Ford, but instead ItalDesign.

Maserati Coupé, Bristol Italian Auto Moto Fest, Bristol

The Coupé is powered by a 385hp 4244 cc / 259 cui Ferrari / Maserati F136 R V8 that in this particular vehicle powers the rear wheels through a paddle shift ‘Cambiocorsa’ electrohydraulic manual transmission, instead of the regular 6 speed gear box.

Maserati Coupé, Bristol Italian Auto Moto Fest, Bristol

Reaching 110 mph in a 13.2 second sprint from rest over a 1/4 mile the Coupé, unofficially also known as the 4200 GT, is capable of coming to a complete stop from 70 mph in just 163 feet.

Maserati Coupé, Bristol Italian Auto Moto Fest, Bristol

The owner of this Coupé had a DMS ECU fitted which along with modified rear silencers / mufflers and a BMC Air Filter facilitate 380hp being delivered to the rear wheels.

Thanks for joining me on this “One Hundred And Sixty Three Feet” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I shall be looking a Zepplin powered Maybach Special. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Hot & Dry – Maserati Ghibli

The Lybian term for the hot and dry wind known in Greek as Scirocco is Ghibli.

Maserati Ghibli, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Maserati first used the Ghibli name for their 1967 AM115 2 + 2 grand tourer styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working for the Ghia styling house in 1966.

Maserati Ghibli, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The Ghibli’s steel body was powered by a 310 hp 4 cam V8 which gave the car a rest to 60 mph acceleration time of 6.8 seconds and top speed of 155 mph.

Maserati Ghibli, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

To help cope with the prodigious fuel consumption the Ghibli is fitted with 2 50 litre / 11 imperial gallon / 13.2 US gallon fuel tanks.

Maserati Ghibli, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

With leather sports seats and standard alloy wheels, the rear seats consist of nothing more than a cushion without a back rest, the original 1966 prototype was only equipped as a strict two seater.

Thanks for joining me on this “Hot & Dry” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again far an aircraft powered veteran tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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140mph Tortoise – Gordon-Keeble

Like the Warwick GT the origins of Gordon-Keeble lie in Peerless Cars Ltd. In 1959 co founder of Peerless John Gordon teamed up with engineer and racing driver Jim Keeble to build a GT car for USAF pilot Rick Neilson who suggested fitting a a 4.6 litre 283 cui Corvette V8 into a Peerless chassis.

The steel body for the Gordon GT was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro working for Bertone who crafted it. The Gordon GT was assembled from scratch over 3 months just in time to be exhibited on the Bertone stand at the 1960 Geneva Show, where they it was well received. Autocar would later test the Gordon GT and proclaim that it was “the most electrifying vehicle that it has ever tested.”

Gordon Keeble, Haynes International Motor Museum

The Gordon GT was later taken to the USA where Chevrolet executives gave the green light for the supply of 5.4 litre / 327 cui to be fitted to a production version of the Gordon GT known as the Gordon-Keeble.

During an advertising shoot for Gordon-Keeble a tortoise wandered on to the set and it became immortalised in the Gordon-Keeble badge. The prototype achieved 70 mph in first gear and had a top speed of 140 mph.

Gordon Keeble, Goodwood Revival

Due to problems with the supply of some parts, in particular the Adwest steering boxes which were held up due to ‘industrial action’ by Adwest employees, the Gordon-Keeble did not go into production until 1964, by which time it was decided to use a fiber glass body similar to the Bertone original built by Williams and Pritchard.

Gordon-Keeble struggled financially until 1965 when it collapsed with 91 cars built. The company was almost immediately revived as Keeble Cars Ltd who built 8 more cars to the Gordon-Keeble specification before insolvency struck again. One further example was constructed from parts in 1971.

Gordon Keeble, Haynes International Motor Museum

In 1968 John de Bruyne bought the rights to manufacture the Gordon-Keeble and he built a further two cars badged as De Bruynes that were shown at the ’68 New York Auto Show.

The two cars seen here’ at Haynes International Motor Museum and Goodwood Revival were both first registered in January 1965, the blue one on the 12th and the red on the 14th.

Thanks for joining me on this “140mph Tortoise” edition of “Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for a look at an Indy Car tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Fastest Four Seats – ISO Rivolta Fidia

The ISO Rivolta Fidia was designed with a body by Giorgetto Giugiaro then still working for Ghia, to compete with the Maserati Quattroporte first seen in 1963, and was first shown to the public at in 1967 at the Frankfurt Motor Show where it carried the S4 name.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

By the time of the 1969 press launch in Athens the S4 had been renamed Fidia after the artist “Phidias” who was responsible for the friezes that decorated the Parthenon that Lord Elgin controversially sent to England in 1802.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The choice of Athens for the press launch was not the wisest as the local petrol was not of sufficiently high octane to prevent “pinking” which where the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four-stroke cycle.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

At the time of the press launch, with the strap line “The Fastest Four Seats In The World” today’s featured car the second built and first with right hand drive, had already been built and delivered to it’s owner John Lennon for a price in excess of a comparable Rolls Royce.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Until General Motors demanded payment in advance of shipping the Fidia was powered by the 5.4 litre / 327 cui small block Chevrolet motor which gave the car an impressive rest to 60 mph time of 7 seconds.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

From 1973 on the Fidia was powered by Fords 5.8 litre / 352 cui V8 with either a 5 speed manual ZF transmission or Fords Cruise-o-matic automatic transmission.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Despite John Lennon buying three Fidia’s, with 192 built between 1967 and 1975 the Fidia never reached the production levels of the Quattroporte of which 776 had been built when production came to a stop in 1969.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fastest Four Seats” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at an Australian built Land Crab. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Time Machine – DeLorean DMC-12

John DeLorean was an experienced auto industry executive with time spent at Packard and General Motors where he was responsible for overseeing the introduction of the Pontiac GTO and Firebird muscle cars amongst other models in the GM range when he decided he could do it all better himself in 1973 and founded the DeLorean Motor Company with a vision to build a US$12,000 2 seat sports car.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

In 1976 the prototype DeLorean appeared with a body designed Giorgetto Giugiaro featuring gull wing doors and bare metal finish panels clothing a fibre glass body. A centrally mounted Citroen / NSU wankel motor mounted on a revolutionary Elastic Resevoir Moulded (ERM) chassis had been envisaged at this stage.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

As the dead line approached for manufacturing to begin it became apparent that neither the wankel motor or the ERM chassis was not up to job and Colin Chapman’s Lotus was given the task of re engineering the car which included using a steel back bone chassis and suspension similar to that used in the Lotus Esprit but with a Peugeot/Renault/Volvo aluminium block V6 (PRV V6) mounted behind the rear axle.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

By 1981 DeLorean had secured $120m of funding to build a factory in the suburbs of Belfast, Northern Ireland and Renault had met it’s contractual obligations to build the facility. Quality issues had not been fully ironed out as production got underway in January 1981 with a largely inexperienced workforce earning premium wages.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

All DMC-12’s were built with left hand drive as standard, two batches of cars totaling less than 30 vehicles in all were converted by Wooler-Hodec Ltd to RHD specification, today’s featured car seen at last years Goodwood Festival of Speed is not one of them.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Clothed in SS304 brushed stainless steel panels which by design were nearly impossible to paint and repair, most damaged panels having to simply be replaced, the only options on the DMC-12 were manual or automatic transmission and black or grey interior.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Although big enough to comfortably seat John DeLoreans 6′ 4″ frame the DMC-12 was not particularly well received by the press, it’s US spec 130hp failed to give the kind of performance expected from a car with a US$25,000 dollar sticker price. Road & Track recorded a 0-60moh time of 10.1 seconds with a US spec car while the European Spec DMC-12 with 150 hp managed a more respectable time of 8.8 seconds.

DeLorean DMC-12, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

It is thought that 9000 DMC’s were built up until the end of production when the UK Government pulled the plug on the project, at the time US agencies appear to have been involved in entrapping John DeLorean into a drug deal as he attempted to find the funds to save his company. John was arrested but successfully defended himself with a government entrapment plea.

In 1985 a DMC-12 became the star in the first of the Back to the Future film Trilogy. In 2008 DMC-12 production restarted in Humble, Texas on a build to order basis using many original parts that were in stock when the original factory was closed. There are even plans for an electric DMC-12 to enter production this year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Time Machine” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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