Maserati Will Turn The Boxy Shamal Into A Dreamy Restomod
Maserati, or whoever’s running the social media accounts of its ‘FuoriSerie’ bespoke programme at least, is under no illusions about the shonky build quality of its cars from a few decades ago. “Real talk here: Maseratis from the early 90s had a ‘few’ quality control issues,” an Instagram post candidly states, adding, “We know it, you know it”. Oof.
The company isn’t taking a big dump on its patchy heritage for no reason, though. Noting the “allure” of the boxy wonders the company was making back then, FuoriSerie is hoping to re-imagine the Shamal for the future in something called “Project Rekall.”
Effectively an officially-sanctioned restomod, it’s dubbed a “drivable love letter to that specific chunk of Maserati’s past that is so difficult to ignore”. We’re told that: “Sharp edges, box fenders, up-to-date technology and sci-fi taste is what’s on the menu”. Perhaps that’s why there’s a weird reference to the Judge Dredd universe in the most recent Instagram post about the endeavour.
What’s particularly interesting is that the public is urged to get involved, to “help us make the hard choices”. So, what would you suggest to Maserati FuoriSerie? Perhaps a lightly tweaked body, some modern touches on the inside and a 4.7-litre N/A V8 from the Gran Turismo under the bonnet? Let us know in the comments.
The original Shamal was one of the last BiTurbo derived Maserati models, with production running from 1990 to 1996. In that time, just 369 were made, compared to the 4795 units of the 3200 GT that served as the car’s replacement.
Powered by a twin-turbo 3.2-litre V8, its familiar lines were updated by Marcello Gandini, a man with the Lamborghini Miura, Countach and Diablo on his CV. It was the final car launched under the ownership of Alessandro De Tomaso, with Fiat taking control in 1993.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Oh that’s just pretty.
I mean, they are right. 1990s Maseratis are objectively terrible cars, but their cool factor makes you look past their apparent flaws.
would like to see a Biturbo with a similar treatment but with the engine from the Giulia QV
Boy, if they actually go through with this it’s gonna be insane.
I really like this trend of modernizing or re-launching retro cars.