The odd thing about this particular vehicle is that it had been converted to an electric propulsion system.
Information about the car (Courtesy the DailyTurismo)
Mention the name BiTurbo around a Maserati lover and listen carefully. If he (or a she…it could happen) rave about how great the car is, he probably owns one…but if he moans/groans about mechanical meltdowns, he probably sold it already. Yes, the twin turbo V6 under the hood wasn’t a paradigm of reliability…in fact you could probably say it was about as reliable as gas station sushi.
That is what makes this next BiTurbo so captivating — keep the Pierangelo Andreani (with heavy influence from Giugiaro’s Quattroporte III) styling but add a quiet and planet saving electric drivetrain.
This 1985 Maserati BiTurbo EV is offered for $35,000 or best offer in the Orange County area, CA — email: [email protected] for more details or to make an offer.
From the seller: 1985 Maserati BiTurbo = Red Exterior / Tan Leather Interior, Approx 39K miles, 5 speed Manual Transmission.
History: The vehicle was purchased by the late Martti Nieminen in the early 1990’s. Martti was a successful automotive repair and restoration business owner for over 40 years, master mechanic and fabricator for over 50 years.
Conversion: In approximately 1993, Martti began stripping the Maserati of all combustion engine related mechanical parts. i.e. Engine, Fuel Injection and Fuel System, Cooling System, Exhaust System to make way for an early electric vehicle conversion, one the earliest of its kind. The electric conversion consisted of (but not limited to) a custom bell housing, electric motor, electric speed controller, electric 110V charging system and battery storage trays to accommodate 22 traditional car batteries. The conversion was successfully completed and the Maserati was capable of 70mph and had approximately a 40 mile range. Martti used the vehicle for commuting to and from his shop in downtown San Francisco.
Modern Day: After being removed from storage for over 15 years, Martti’s son Henric offered the car to the show to undergo a complete transformation. They instated EV West, one of the most recognized names in the electric conversion business, to bring the car into the modern era. A Curtis Dual-AC- 34 Brushless 96V Single-shaft motor was installed which utilizes new lithium ion battery technology. This modern package yields 36KW/HR and an approximate range of 120 miles. The car itself was updated with new brakes and other maintenance items, as well as sourcing the original Maserati wheels, powder coating them and fitting them with new tires. Other minor cosmetic issues were also addressed from its years of daily commuting duties. What we are left with is a truly unique and One-of- a-Kind vehicle that combines classic Italian styling with a modern power source …
This is a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle and, although no one will guarantee it, there is probably an opportunity to be on the show Wheeler Dealers shaking Mike Brewer’s hand.
What Wheeler Dealers did to the car….
Work Completed: Electric propulsion system renewed with more modern system consisting of 12 new battery packs, new AC brushless induction motors, new motor controllers, new radiators, new wiring and regenerative braking system, increasing power, torque, and range, clutch assembly replaced, leather seats refreshed by oiling and conditioning, missing glove box installed, original graphite grey wheels and new tyres installed, dents repaired and resprayed.
Notes: First electric car in the series. Purchased in Brisbane, California. Previous owner, who converted the car into an electric car in 1993 and had it garaged for the past 15 years, offered it for free, but Mike gave her a Boston to Montreal cruise package in return. Restored car taken to a solar farm for its test drive, where it did 0-60 in 8.1 seconds. Sold at asking price.