Hooniverse Goes to Monterey (Day 2): Astons to Zagatos

securedownload-1 That there is no mere Maserati Biturbo. It’s a maxi version called the 228. The execs at Maserati, in their infinite wisdom, built 469 of these between 1987 and 1991 to compete with the likes of the Mercedes 300CE, BMW 635CSi, and the Bertone Volvo 780. This being Hooniverse, I focused my Saturday down in Monterey on the unusual, the obscure, the Hoontastic. Make the jump to see the unusual, the obscure, and the Hoontastic. You won’t be disappointed. I started the day at Concorso Italiano in Seaside. I expected to see all things Italian. Imagine my horror when this Youabian Puma greeted me at the entrance. I don’t know what the company paid the event organizers for the prime spot. But I guess it can afford it, as the car is for sale for $1.1 million. And trust me when I say that I took the picture from its good side. securedownload After the shock and awe of the Puma, the show officially begun with seven Zagatos displayed in a semi-circle and an eighth, a Lamborghini 5-95 GTZ, in the center of the semi. My favorites were this Aston Martin DB9 Spyder Centennial and… securedownload-16 …this Dodge Viper-based Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale. securedownload-17 The 228 sat next to a twin turbo, V8-powered Shamal. Maserati pulled out of the American market just before the Shamal was introduced. securedownload-2 securedownload-7 I had to circle back to the 228 when the owner let us peek inside the GT’s interior. securedownload-8 The Quattroporte I is a highly sought after classic saloon, despite all its faults, as described in the September 1967 issue of Car & Driver:

  • Competition include Mercedes 600, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Jaguar Mark X, Cadillac Fleetwood.
  • Though it is touted as the fastest sedan in the world, the writer believes a well tuned American sedan with a 428 engine is faster.
  • Costs $15,000.
  • Sitting in front seats for more than an hour will require chiropractic treatment.
  • Speedometer optimistic, by 12%.
  • American-made A/C is noisy and hard to adjust.
  • Power windows don’t disappear completely into the doors and they whine like power winches.
  • Test vehicle had 6,000 miles and was already missing several trim screws.  Driver’s power window was broken.

securedownload-3 securedownload-4 securedownload-5 Gypsy plate. securedownload-6 This was the highlight of the Lamborghini corral. A real life Lambo tractor! securedownload-9 This faux t-top on the Lamborghini Jarama is one of those little details that stops me in my tracks. According to Hooniverse alum and Autoweek worker drone Jay Ramey, a similar Jarama was to be auctioned nearby. securedownload-10 securedownload-11 The Espada is just one of those bonkers Lambos that is both coveted and abhorred. securedownload-12 Just look at that cockpit! securedownload-13 The Espada’s engine bay is so linear, flat, and expansive, you could grow 200 bushels of Iowa corn. securedownload-14 For comparison’s sake, here is the engine of an earlier 350GT. So tidy. securedownload-15 We’ve all seen Countachs from every angle, but have you ever noticed the intricate wiper arm? Where does one source the smaller rubber blade? securedownload-23 Now, you know how much you should pay for a turntable for your Malibu estate. securedownload-24 I walked past about a hundred Ferraris of various vintages before I stopped to admire this Mondial. The design has aged well, no? securedownload-20 Another vendor recycles exotic cars. It brought this example, a Ferrari 458 Italia split in two. securedownload-26 securedownload-27 securedownload-25 securedownload-18 The recycler also had this engine on display, just tempting me to build a second coffee table. securedownload-19 At the risk of sounding like a broken record, cars in the parking lot at these shows are sometimes just as interesting as those displayed at the shows. Here is a Mazda MX-6 GT. When was the last time you saw one of these on the road? securedownload-21 And this pair, a Triumph GT6 and a Porsche 928, were spotted at the Pebble Beach parking lot. securedownload-22 securedownload-28 Saturday was capped off at Aston Martin. Our chief blooger kindly got me an invite to the marque’s estate up in the hills, where I promptly downed a mocktail and signed up for a drive… securedownload-29 securedownload-30 …in this gorgeous Vantage Roadster… securedownload-31 …with the top down. It was 72 degrees, clear, and humidity-free. The drive capped off yet another perfect day in paradise. securedownload-32 Images source: Copyright 2014 Hooniverse/Jim Yu

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here