Maserati Barchetta

The Maserati Barchetta was a mid-engined, two-door, two-seat sports car, like the 350 and 450S, that was designed by Carlo Gaino of the "Synthesis Design", an Italian design house.

Thirteen examples of the racing model were produced at De Tomaso's factory in Modena, plus two prototypes (one racing-corsa, one street-stradale). It featured a mid-engine V6 AM501 Maserati biturbo engine 1996cc (red intake manifold for the Corsa) an evolution of the AM490 (black intake manifold used for the Stradale), a central frame holding an integral fuel tank and a very light glass fiber/carbon fiber spyder body, accelerating the car to about 180 mph (290 km/h). The development of a road version was stopped at a late stage. However, today some racing cars hold a road title in Europe, after minor modifications to allow road compatibility.

The racing series Grantrofeo Barchetta was held 1992 and 1993. It featured sixteen races in total, most of them in Italy.

The central-frame concept survived in the De Tomaso Guar�, but the frame was around 13 cm (5.1 in) longer because it was engined by a longer V8.

This was thought as a way to inject much needed excitement and enthusiasm for Maserati that saw its reputation badly ruined by years of exciting but maintenance sensitive products, eventually culminating in Maserati's withdrawal from the North American market at this time.

It is also true that the amount of delicate maintenance necessary to take care of these high output small engines was not compatible with the auto repair industry in several territories.

This model has become a collector item valued at several times its introduction price.

Comments

Westfield XI

The Westfield XI or Westfield Eleven is a British sports car and kit car based on the Lotus Eleven. In 1982 Westfield Sportscars, responding to the popularity of the original Lotus XI, started production of a replica with a fiberglass body available as either a finished car or kit car. Initially called the Westfield Sports, the factory-finished cars were usually fitted with an uprated 1,275 cc (77.8 cu in) BMC A-Series engine, although some factory cars were fitted with Ford Kents. The majority of Westfield XIs are sold as self-build kits without engines and designed to accept the 1275cc A-series from a donor MG Midget or Austin-Healey Sprite. Owners have fitted a variety of engines, including Coventry Climaxes, Lotus twin-cams and Alfa Romeo engines, although engine fitment is limited by the small size of the engine bay. The kit is designed to utilise other components from a donor Sprite or Midget: the rear axle (modified by Westfield), gearbox, driveshaft, front upright/brake assembl...

ZIL-112 Sports

ZIL-112 Sports was a soviet sports car made by Zavod Imeni Likhacheva in 1961 and competed in races from 1961 to 1969. Two cars were built. The 112S initiated a number of firsts for cars produced in the USSR such as controlled slip differential, disc brakes, radial-ply tires etc. One ZiL-112S was powered by a 6.0 L V8 with 230 hp. A second ZiL-112S was equipped with a 270 hp 7.0 L V8. Both engines were developed from the ZIS-110 engine. Depending on the engine, the top speed was 260�270 km/h (160�170 mph). It could do 0�100 km/h in 9 seconds. The total weight was 1,330 kg (2,932 lb). Steering and front suspension came from the GAZ M21 Volga. In the rear, it used De Dion suspension with triangular levers. The transmission, like the engine, was from the ZIS-110. The body was similar to the Ferrari 250. In 1962, one ZiL-112S was rebuilt with a more aerodynamic body for an attempt at a Soviet land speed record. The ZiL-112RG was taken to the Baskunchak salt lake to attempt the record, but ...

Bricklin SV-1

The Bricklin SV-1 was a gull-wing aperture sports car accumulated in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The anatomy panels were bogus in a abstracted bulb in Minto, New Brunswick. Bogus from 1974 until aboriginal 1976 for the U.S. market, the car was the conception of Malcolm Bricklin, an American millionaire who had ahead founded Subaru of America. The car was advised by Herb Grasse. Due to Bricklin's abridgement of acquaintance in the auto industry, accompanying with the allotment problems, the Bricklin branch was not able to aftermath cartage fast abundant to accomplish a profit. As a result, alone 2854 cars were congenital afore the aggregation went into receivership, attributable the New Brunswick government $23 million.

The Best Sport Cars Collection

Search This Blog