Originally posted on GarageBoyzMagazine.com Issue # 4
It's not to often you get to see a 1989 Maserati Spyder Biturbo driving around, seeing how there were only about 700 Maseratis made that year. Even rarer do you see one done up in Maserati Red and hot-rod flames. Yes, the purists are up in arms, and the paint job even prompted one of them to say that "Maserati is going to send you a cease and desist order". It also prompted another to say "man that guy ruined it". But, all of this just makes Dale sit back and laugh, and enjoy his car even more. I asked Dale, who is an expert painter, what inspired him to paint it with the flames. I expected to hear a deep philosophical reason, with deep rooted meaning, but his reply was "just to be different". That is the kind of answer that is truly the root of Kustom Kulture. Damning the status quo and doing up his car the way he wanted, and with some tasty hot rod flames, makes this car one that had to be shared with the Kulture Community.
Dale picked this car up from his uncle in New York 6 to 7 years ago. His uncle took great care of the car and was only the second owner. When Dale first laid eyes on the Maserati his first thought was "man, that car would look good with flames". he was able to drive the car home and spent the next five years "playing around with it". There was the typical rust hiding in spots, which he took care of when freshening up the car. Removing the windshield to fix the area took hours, and was handled by the expertise of his friend Mikey. The new Maserati supplied top was installed by Rene & Junior from Classic Auto Glass & Interior in Gaithersburg. The leather and alcantara interior is all original and was in nice enough condition, that it was left alone. A rebuild of the twin IHI turbos was handled by TEC Turbo Engineer Corp. in California. And of course bodywork and paint Dale took care of. The Maserati Red is still the original factory paint,the orange, yellow and white Hot-Rod flames not so much. Cool and unique looks aside, the main thing that makes Dale enjoy this car , is how much fun it is to drive. The fuel injected 2.8 liter V-6 is twin turbo charged and mated to a 5 speed transmission. All of which makes this little car pretty quick. Not only is it unique in its appearance but another rare feature is the 5 lug wheels, in which 1989 is the only year that Maserati imported the Spyder equipped as such. Dale has managed to keep the car pretty original (okay, flames aside) and enjoys hearing the wide range of comments and he gets a big kick out the fact that even his mother wasn't too happy about him flaming the Maserati. Ticking off the purists, upsetting Mom, driving around fun and fast...yup this car personifies Kulture. So if you see the car rolling around town with the top down, be sure to look for the big grin on Dale's face, because above all he's having fun.
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