By Francis G. "Frank" Mandarano
Former President of Maserati Club International

Photos by FGM, unless otherwise noted.

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I can't remember the last time I was in Modena when so many locals were so excited about a new Maserati. Literally everyone I came in contact with was bubbling with excitement. "Nuova Maserati bella!" or "Molto bella nuova Maserati!" The Fiat group, and Ferrari specifically, has done something very special here in producing the all new Maserati, and the car is only part of that accomplishment. In producing this new car, they have rejuvenated an Italian icon. They have brought a renewed sense of pride not only to the work force, but to the citizens of Modena and perhaps to Italy itself. Everyone is talking about the new Maserati.

Ferrari did the right thing when they closed the Factory and stopped production. Time will tell if it was the right business decision, but after years of neglect, the old Factory on Viale Ciro Menotti was run down, to put it mildly.

The Ferrari management went in and completely gutted the assembly lines, staging and work areas. They tore it all out -- the electrical, the plumbing, the works. They brought the building down to a completely bare shell and, beginning with all new ceramic tiles on the floor, new paint on the walls, new graphics and signage, all new plumbing, electrical service, conduit, they completely rebuilt it from the ground up. The assembly lines were replaced with new state-of-the-art over head lifts that actually rotate. They not only lift the car up and down, but rotate the car like a giant barbecue rotisserie. A system so new, it's one of the first to be so equipped.

The same treatment -- all new paint, conduit, lighting, etc. -- was applied in the engine assembly area. The five engine dyno test cells are all computerized and modernized. Here they run each engine for four hours -- now follow me through on this -- which equals two engines per cell, per shift X five cells = ten engines per day. Add a second shift and that brings it up to twenty engines per day -- 100 engines a week, 4800 engines per year -- with relative ease. Under concessions granted by the unions, Maserati has the possibility to add a third shift (an additional 2400 per year) and work on certain Saturdays (an additional 1400 per year), which could bring the total engine production to +/- 8500 annually.

The 3200 GT was introduced in Modena to the motoring press and VIPs in the second half of September. I was honored to be part of this second group. The introduction was held at the Modena University, near the soccer stadium in central Modena. Several classic Maseratis were brought in for the occasion and displays were set up depicting the various components of the 3200 GT and showing it in relation to Maseratis historic past.

The 1939 8 CTF Indianapolis winner driven by Wilbur Shaw was flown in for the occasion, as well as Peter Kaus' Tipo 151, to mention only two. The incredible attention to detail attended to by the staff of Maserati elevated the display to something very near a major international art exhibit opening, on par with Bill Gates introduction of the Leonardo Da Vinci Codex manuscript display. Yes, it was that good.

After a tour of the display which contained numerous wall mural and component assemblies, an official presentation was made by the Mr. Marinsek, Maserati's managing director, and then the fun began. It began with a very brisk drive down the A 1 Autostrada, past Bologna into the mountains, returning to the Piazza Netuno (Neptune) in the center of Bologna for a photo session. There was a break for lunch and then it was back to the Factory.

The official introduction continued at the Paris Auto Show and concluded when Mr. Luca di Montezemolo and Mr. Paolo Marinsek showed true Italian Style when, at the prescribed time, they simply handed out glasses to those assembled and popped the corks on specially produced bottles of "3200 GT" champaign, and officially toasted to the introduction of their new car.

The car itself is an incredible piece of refined machinery. With styling by one of Italy's most respected design houses, Italdesign, Giorgetto Giugiaro has created an understated, yet elegant and sophisticated automobile in the true Maserati tradition. Forgive me if I sound a bit sexist, but this is a car a woman as well as a man would want to own -- it's that beautiful. With 370 horsepower it is by every measure a heat-seeking missile -- ready to glue you to the seat once your foot depresses the gas pedal.

The new 3200 GT is equipped with a myriad of technical features, including hydraulic speed sensitive power steering that incorporates a function that reduces the servo effect as the car gains speed. Ultra-sophisticated traction control ARS, a system supplied by Bosch, manages both the engine and the ABS brakes. The throttle is applied by a sophisticated "drive-by-wire" system that is electronically connected. This is the first Maserati without a throttle control cable. The brakes were designed in partnership with Brembo to match the performance of the car, and include Formula One ceramic technology. The ride can be adjusted by a switch that allows you to select between standard, sport and the off position.

There is so much more to the new 3200 GT, all of which will be addressed in the next issue of Viale Ciro Menotti number 76. More than 40 pages, thirty in full color, will be dedicate d to the newest and very exciting Maserati.

On A Personal Note
Having seen the car in various stages of development well over a year and half ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful end result. I have warm memories of Mr. Alzati taking Janet, our 6 year old son Tony, and myself, on a personal tour through the experimental department in June of '97. There he showed us the new, yet unnamed, 3200 GT, and with the door open gestured for me to sit in the back seat. He was very kind in allowing me to photograph the new engine on the dyno under load with the exhaust headers glowing red, but only under the condition that I wouldn't publish the photos, which I honored. He was especially proud of the multitude of cooling radiators that hung out in front to provide cooling for everything from the power steering pump to automatic transmission to engine cooling.

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