Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Printable Version

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Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Anthony B - 21st-Jul-20

So back in the day, I was one of the first to find George Turner models , and fell in love with his Maserati 300S with the open Bonnet.
I built it and showed it off on the forum, and the rest is history......

Then about 3 years ago, a fellow collector here in Belgium put up a Maserati birdrcage boatail, with the most unbelievable detailed 'cage'. I was able to purchase it . It was built by the inimitable Phil Smith, who I believe made 2 versions - super detailed and not so - this is one of the not-so  

I know that in the inevitable consolidation/downsizing after retirement, I know I would never sell these 2 cars.

So, I decided I needed something 'to show them off', and decided on 2 further GTM models. hence the Maserati Transporter, and another version of the 300 S with openening Bonnet.

The inspiration to start this build:

Maserati 300s GTM:




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Maserati Birdcage - Phil Smith:


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Fiat Bartoletti transporter:


Some history of the  Maserati factory team's great No. 1 transporter of its World Championship-winning 'Fangio 250F' season of 1957 – and which would also have taken Fangio's Piccolo 250F (chassis '2533') to the last race of his glittering career at Reims in 1958 – it was subsequently acquired by Lance Reventlow for his 'Team America' Scarab assault upon the European Grand Prix road racing establishment in 1960-61.

This Fiat-Bartoletti transporter's next all-American owners then made the most massive impact of the postwar period upon the European road racing establishment – as Carroll Shelby's Cobra operation used this enduring team transporter during its ultimately Ferrari-toppling FIA Grand Touring Car World Championship-winning assault of 1964-65...
This transporter's amazing pure-blood, thoroughbred, motor racing pedigree at World-class International level was then perpetuated as the leading British Ford GT-programme team of Alan Mann Racing, based in Byfleet, England, hauled its cars and associated men and materiel around the World Championship battle zones of Europe.
Ultimately this Fiat-Bartoletti 642 was taken-on by leading Ferrari privateer David Piper – and liveried in his bright tone of 'BP green' – to carry his Ferrari 275 LM and 'P-car' sports-prototypes through the later 1960s until, in 1969-70, it was acquired by Steve McQueen's Solar Productions team to feature prominently – under ever-changing team liveries – in what has now become perhaps the ultimate motor race enthusiast cult movie – 'Le Mans'.
This great transporter was based, just like its Ferrari factory team sisters, upon a Fiat Tipo 642 RN2 'Alpine' bus chassis.

It was powered originally by a 92-horsepower 6,650cc six-cylinder diesel in-line Tipo 364A engine, and was completed with custom-made bodywork and vehicle ramps and hoist by Bartoletti of Forli, Italy. Overall dimensions were 9,085mm overall length, 2,492mm overall width, and 2,924mm overall height. Top speed in original Fiat-engined form was only 85km/h, sufficient for European rural and Alpine roads in period. The transporter could carry three race cars, a considerable stock of spares and tools, and at least seven crew members/mechanics.

Once it had completed its 'Le Mans' filming duties, in Italian-red factory Ferrari look-alike livery, the transporter was acquired and run for a while by Anthony Bamford's renowned JCB Historic racing team in the UK, before passing in later years to Cobra enthusiast and noted 'Cobra-Ferrari Wars' historian and author Michael Shoen for his own marque collection.


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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Anthony B - 21st-Jul-20

GTM Fiat Kit:

I put this up first on a FB page showing work in progress, and one comment that cam back was ' with all that flash I am glad I did not buy it.

This distresses me as the detail is absolutely outstaning and anyone who has EVER attempted casting your own stuff, you will know how difficult it is. The flashing is necessary to be able to cast the 'pole' detail of the carrier, and to ensure that it all casts with no holes or bubbles.

The flashing came off easily with a dremel and a cutting disk. SO do NOT let that put you off:

The start of the build:

All that flash  

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Then the primer. The cast is so good that no holes were anywhere, and it all fitted together.

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Then a couple of days later and where I am at the moment - all painted yellow. Need to let it dry for a few days so that when I mask it for the blue, the paint stays.


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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - DPJ - 21st-Jul-20

What amazing craftsmanship in those 2 cars! Thank you for sharing them. The carrier looks like it's going to be a great build, can't wait to see its progress!

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - JasonB - 22nd-Jul-20

Should make a fantastic group.

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Anthony B - 27th-Jul-20

Some additional work. 


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And then you start assembling..... and suddenly realise it has no gear lever and brake!!

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Ahh well .... ??

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Anthony B - 30th-Jul-20

And so it is finished 

I understand now why the factory made ones are so expensive. Huge amount of detail and enormous amount of work. If I was paid simply basic hourly pay, it would be over 400.00 euros just on labour. Great kit and well worth while.  Ferrari next!!

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And where it for now resides.

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Gordon Steadman - 30th-Jul-20

Nice job Anthony.

Shame it's just a shelf queen!

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - JasonB - 30th-Jul-20

Very, very nice indeed.

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - DPJ - 30th-Jul-20

Great job!! It really looks fabulous loaded up!
What... no video of if going around the track???

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RE: Fiat Bartoletti - Team Maserati - GT Models - Anthony B - 30th-Jul-20

It runs ......but .... the tolerances between the rear tyres and the edge of the body is nil

So  I need to remove them and use a tyre truer judiciously - tbh - needed a break from it - however it will run and I will get a video done of it running

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