BACK ISSUE INDEX OF Viale Ciro Menotti (VCM)

1996

ISSUE #70
April 1996

• FEATURE: Designing the Fiat Bravo and Brava. Mike Robinson, the Chief Designer of the European Car of the Year, takes us through the process and the new philosophy at Fiat's Centro Stile.
• FEATURE: Maserati Factory Tour by Francis Mandarano. Maserati Club representatives from around the world tour the factory, enjoy an open house and dinner while discussing the new Giugiaro coupe and upcoming international club events.
• FEATURE: Automotive Scandal of the Century. The fact-is-stranger-than-fiction account of Lord Brocket's attempted insurance fraud and destruction of several rare Italian automobiles and engines -- including a Maserati Birdcage, a Ferrari 340A and several Maserati engines.
• FEATURE: Ghibli seriesFour To Choose From. The new Ghibli Coupe, debuted at the 1995 Bologna Auto Show, is deailed is its available four versions. Includes technical specs.
• MASERATI IN THE NEWS: Fiat's financial outlook for 1996 and Paolo Cantarella's replacement of Cesare Romiti as chief executive of the parent Fiat Group.
• RETROSPECT: As Maserati Club International marks its 20th anniversary, club publications from 10 and 20 years ago are excerpted. Classifieds, photos and commentary.
• REGIONAL NEWS: John Asmus of the Northern California Chapter provides news and photos of the annual Maserati--Lamborghini Holiday Party and upcoming club activities.
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Shinichi Ekko's article and photos of the Maserati Club Japan's second "Maserati Day;" Great Social Maserati Happenings in Australia, as reported by Douglas Huntley (with photos) and excerpts from the German Maserati Club's and Maserati Club UK's latest newsletters.
• TECH TIPS:
  • WebTech18#253 - CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE (89 and later) Basic Installation Overview, by Stuart Avery
  • WebTech19#254 - STARTER, NOT CRANKING (all Biturbo), by Mitchell Poe
  • WebTech49#255 - AFTER CLUTCH INSTALLATION, reprinted from Import Service
  • WebTech13#256 - QPORTE TRANSMISSION Questions from David Cracchiolo; answered by Mitchell Poe
  • WebTech51#257 - IN THE CHIPS: EPROMS AND EEPROMS, reprinted from EuroSport Car
• MEMBER TO MEMBER TECH TIPS
  • #258 - BITURBO BOOST CONTROL MONITOR by Paul Stark
  • #259 - BITURBO BOOST, HANDLING AND EXORCISING ELECTRICAL DEMONS by Paul Stark
  • #260 - BITURBO BOOST by Steven Lovesey (in response to Jeff Clark's "Biturbo Boost" tip in issue 69)
  • #261 - BITURBO EXHAUST HEAT by John Brush, including diagrams from his service manual.

ISSUE #71
October, 1996

• FEATURE: Concours Italiano '96. Overview of this year's event. Article and photos by Matt Stone. Five pages devoted to the full day's program, including the Bertone display of prototypes brought over from Turin, The Alfa 'B.A.T.' cars and an extensive display of Bertone-bodied production cars. In addition, the Lamborghini display (this year's featured marque) is highlighted, along with the Italian fashion show hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue and of course, the Maserati contingent.
• FEATURE: Maserati Days. Four pages by Janet Mandarano, who captures the elegance and excitement of the entire 'Monterey Weekend' from an insider's point of view. Who better to give the inside scoop, since she and her husband are the Concours Italiano and Maserati Days organizers! Included is a list of Maserati Day's Attendees and the Historic Races. Complete with many photos.
• FEATURE: Biturbo Line-up. Five pages, richly illustrated with 'multo photos' and information about the "Beautiful B's" from 1981 through 1990. A must-see and read for any Biturbo owner or fan .
• FEATURE: Interview with Francis G. Mandarano by Wally Wyse. Readers get a glimpse into the mind of the quintessential Maserati enthusiast. Frequent Pantera magazine contributing writer Wally Wyse is a recognized expert on DeTomaso cars and author of DeTomaso the Man and the Machines. It's truly a meeting of the minds as these two automobile lovers careen down the information highway and supply us with a wealth of knowledge about Italian cars, the Concours and Francis's respect and admiration for Maserati Automobiles.
• FEATURE: Journey of The Vignale Spyder. Follow in the tire tracks of #AM101.1333 as Douglas Reinhard shares the journey of this amazing car. Manufactured on May 30, 1961 in Modena and brought to the United States to its first owner in Nebraska, Reinhard acquired this gorgeous automobile in 1973 (w/ 48,722 actual miles) and painstakingly recounts every detail of the cars restoration from '73 through to present. ending happily with the final journey back to it's homeland. Written like only a Maserati enthusiast could tell.
• MASERATI IN THE NEWS: Articles include-Ghibli Open Cup canceled, Maserati returns to New Zealand, New Fiat boss warns of manufacturing job cuts, Giovanni Alberto Agnelli- the man who could be king of Fiat, Maserati plans financial turnaround by year 2000, Maserati on the verge of making a profit, The man behind the modern Maserati, Quattroporte owner's letter from the Daily Telegraph/ London and the fabulous Quattroporte.
• RETROSPECT: Looks back to August 1988, the year Maserati was a featured marque at the Laguna Seca Historic Races. Nostalgic and packed with fantastic photos.
• REGIONAL NEWS: John Asmus, Regional Director, writes about Concours Italiano '96, The Third Annual Maserati vs. Lancia Bocce Concours and the growing concern for Maserati owners over the California Smog II HC and CO requirements.
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The German Maserati Club at Techno Classica in Essen- February, 1996 is featured. Also: The Australian Maserati Club's 'Double Bay Italy Day'-April 28, 1996
• event, which included the arrival of a Prototype V8 Quattroporte.
• NEWS & PEOPLE: Harvey Taylor, Brian Richards, David Chan, Takaaki Kuaroda, Stan Williams, The Larson Family and the newly married Mr. & Mrs. .Richard & Linda Toplin are featured, as well as snippets of news, photos and anecdotes from members.
• TECH TIPS:
  • #262- BITURBO TRANSMISSION R & R TIPS
  • #263- TIMING THE BITURBO ENGINE
  • #264- Q & A- BITURBO CUTS OUT
  • #265- ANOTHER BITURBO CUTS OUT
  • #266- MASER 430-RESTRICTIVE REV LIMITER
  • #267-ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONS: PART 11
  • #268-BRAKE SQUEAL
  • #269-FAULTY CHAIN CAUSES ON-GOING PROBLEMS
• MEMBER TO MEMBER TIPS:
  • #270-OVERHEATING IN BITURBOS
  • #271-1971 MASERATI INDY
  • #272-MEMBER TIP NO. 258 IN VCM #70