Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years, and is the founder and publisher of this magazine. Keith has also written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, has been an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity. He has received many honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrmann Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame, and more. He has served on the board of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar’s Award. Learn more about Keith here.
Until this weekend, I was unaware that Maserati had built a commercial-grade spin dryer in 1956. That was until SCMer Chris Bright poured me like tube of freshening agent into his replica Maserati 350S and took me on a Friday afternoon blast through downtown Portland and the surrounding hills. During rush hour. Built in Argentina, his car is powered by a 4.9-L Maserati four-cam V8 with four Webers. Just to reaffirm who was in charge, a six-inch flame shot out from a hood louvre as we started. One-half of the unmuffled headers exited near my elbow. I didn’t think turning up […]
Until this weekend, I was unaware that Maserati had built a commercial-grade spin dryer in 1956.
That was until SCMer Chris Bright poured me like tube of freshening agent into his replica Maserati 350S and took me on a Friday afternoon blast through downtown Portland and the surrounding hills. During rush hour.
Built in Argentina, his car is powered by a 4.9-L Maserati four-cam V8 with four Webers.
Just to reaffirm who was in charge, a six-inch flame shot out from a hood louvre as we started.
One-half of the unmuffled headers exited near my elbow. I didn’t think turning up my Air Pods would be much help.
I’ve ridden in a Maserati 200SI and A6GCS, in the Mille Mille in 1991, and the same mechanical essence was easy to remember. These are pure race cars, designed to triumph on the track. Their interiors are bare with a few switches. And they are hot and noisy.
As Chris slipped through traffic one deft shift at a time, I kept wondering when the Portland Police helicopter carrying the big bag to stop street takeovers would swoop down and drop it onto us.
Strangely, although it felt like were going about the same speed as an F-16 doing a carrier takeoff, our illusion was greater than the reality. As we went through the Terwilliger Turns, I noticed the posted limit was 45… and the electronic radar reader board flashed “45” (our true speed) as well.
As we drove through the open farmland, no doubt causing cows to stop giving milk for a week, we reminisced about what it was like in the real Mille Miglia, when these potent race cars were piloted by some of the best drivers in the world, over 1,000 miles and roads they had not likely seen before.
When the ride was over, I cancelled my upcoming massage appointment, as I had just had one.
Chris had this car built as a dream. It has taken four years to bring it to fruition. He wears a wide and deserved smile.
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7 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Mr. Bright’s Wild Ride”
Glenn Krasner
Keith,
Besides Maserati making appliances, just so you know, besides tractors, Lamborghini also made boilers and heat pumps:
“Boilers: A Step Towards Heating
What’s even more surprising is that Lamborghini’s expertise extended beyond tractors and into the world of heating systems, specifically boilers. During the post-war period, Ferruccio’s keen business sense saw opportunities in industries that were essential for reconstruction, and heating was one of them. Lamborghini Calor was established, producing a range of boilers for residential and industrial use.
This venture into heating technology aligned with the growing demand for improved heating systems in the 1950s and 60s. While this aspect of Lamborghini’s business doesn’t get as much attention, it was critical in shaping the company’s reputation for high-quality engineering and innovation. The transition from boilers to heat pumps in the following decades was a logical progression, given the company’s established background in energy-efficient heating solutions.
Lamborghini Heat Pumps: The Unexpected Turn
One of the lesser-known chapters of Lamborghini’s history is its involvement in the production of heat pumps. By the late 1960s, Lamborghini Calor began branching out into heating systems that would help modernise homes. Although Lamborghini is not the first name you think of when discussing renewable energy, the company has, in fact, played a role in developing heat pump technology.
Heat pumps align with Ferruccio Lamborghini’s philosophy of efficient and innovative engineering. These systems are environmentally friendly, reducing the need for fossil fuels and contributing to the renewable energy sector. Lamborghini’s foray into heat pumps is a testament to its forward-thinking approach, always seeking to stay ahead of market demands.
However, it’s massively disappointing that their heat pumps look nothing like their cars. They’re bog-standard, boring white rectangular boxes. Given the Lamborghini name, we would have expected more innovation in design and certainly some bold colour choices to reflect the brand’s iconic image. It seems the aesthetic flair that defines their supercars didn’t carry over to their heating systems.”
In addition, the company Iso, that made the Iso Grifo sports car and Iso Rivolta grand tourer started out as an appliance company mainly known for its refrigerators.
Glenn in Broolyn, NY.
AC Buck
Chris way to go and thank you for taking Keith for a ride. I am handicapped and I really appreciate it when one of my friends takes me for a rip in one of their cars. I like it when they take the time To drive me in one of my cars that I can no longer shift. It’s becoming more about the people than the car and the friends that take the time to help somebody out and show them a good time.
That was fantastic. We’ve all had automotive dreams fueled by optimism and occasionally red wine, but few seem to get past the dream stage. Everyone cheers the guys that build rockets or computers in their garages, but occasionally someone builds an actual car in one. Huge congratulations to Chris for seeing this through.
I can envision a nice SCM feature on ‘Dreams Realized’ highlighting these dream-filled fools who make us all wish, on some level, it was us. Racing visor tipped to Chris for doing it and Keith for letting us ride along, eyebrows still intact
jack malacarne
Sounds like a traditional V8. Didn’t Maserati use a flat plane crankshaft?
Todd
This simply begs the question: How the hell did you manage to escape the notice of the local constabulary driving that at rush hour??
Divine intervention?
Todd
This simply begs the question: How the hell did you manage to evade the notice of the local constabulary driving in this at rush hour??
7 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Mr. Bright’s Wild Ride”
Keith,
Besides Maserati making appliances, just so you know, besides tractors, Lamborghini also made boilers and heat pumps:
“Boilers: A Step Towards Heating
What’s even more surprising is that Lamborghini’s expertise extended beyond tractors and into the world of heating systems, specifically boilers. During the post-war period, Ferruccio’s keen business sense saw opportunities in industries that were essential for reconstruction, and heating was one of them. Lamborghini Calor was established, producing a range of boilers for residential and industrial use.
This venture into heating technology aligned with the growing demand for improved heating systems in the 1950s and 60s. While this aspect of Lamborghini’s business doesn’t get as much attention, it was critical in shaping the company’s reputation for high-quality engineering and innovation. The transition from boilers to heat pumps in the following decades was a logical progression, given the company’s established background in energy-efficient heating solutions.
Lamborghini Heat Pumps: The Unexpected Turn
One of the lesser-known chapters of Lamborghini’s history is its involvement in the production of heat pumps. By the late 1960s, Lamborghini Calor began branching out into heating systems that would help modernise homes. Although Lamborghini is not the first name you think of when discussing renewable energy, the company has, in fact, played a role in developing heat pump technology.
Heat pumps align with Ferruccio Lamborghini’s philosophy of efficient and innovative engineering. These systems are environmentally friendly, reducing the need for fossil fuels and contributing to the renewable energy sector. Lamborghini’s foray into heat pumps is a testament to its forward-thinking approach, always seeking to stay ahead of market demands.
However, it’s massively disappointing that their heat pumps look nothing like their cars. They’re bog-standard, boring white rectangular boxes. Given the Lamborghini name, we would have expected more innovation in design and certainly some bold colour choices to reflect the brand’s iconic image. It seems the aesthetic flair that defines their supercars didn’t carry over to their heating systems.”
In addition, the company Iso, that made the Iso Grifo sports car and Iso Rivolta grand tourer started out as an appliance company mainly known for its refrigerators.
Glenn in Broolyn, NY.
Chris way to go and thank you for taking Keith for a ride. I am handicapped and I really appreciate it when one of my friends takes me for a rip in one of their cars. I like it when they take the time To drive me in one of my cars that I can no longer shift. It’s becoming more about the people than the car and the friends that take the time to help somebody out and show them a good time.
Very cool!
That was fantastic. We’ve all had automotive dreams fueled by optimism and occasionally red wine, but few seem to get past the dream stage. Everyone cheers the guys that build rockets or computers in their garages, but occasionally someone builds an actual car in one. Huge congratulations to Chris for seeing this through.
I can envision a nice SCM feature on ‘Dreams Realized’ highlighting these dream-filled fools who make us all wish, on some level, it was us. Racing visor tipped to Chris for doing it and Keith for letting us ride along, eyebrows still intact
Sounds like a traditional V8. Didn’t Maserati use a flat plane crankshaft?
This simply begs the question: How the hell did you manage to escape the notice of the local constabulary driving that at rush hour??
Divine intervention?
This simply begs the question: How the hell did you manage to evade the notice of the local constabulary driving in this at rush hour??
Divine intervention?