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Issue No. 37
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Monterey By Maserati: 2009 Quattroportes Debut
The Quail, Pebble Beach and Monterey Historics with the Trident
Monterey Automotive Week is the high point of the annual car enthusiast social calendar, starting with the exclusive and delectable Motorsports Gathering at The Quail, and ending with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and all the while up the road at Laguna Seca Raceway are the Monterey Historic Races. A variety of other events, including a few worthwhile auctions, take place too, and as the celebration has grown even the core events have begun to spawn side-activities. Nothing quite compares to Monterey in mid-August, and as a leading manufacturer of fine Grand Touring cars, Maserati is at the forefront. A sponsor of The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Maserati used these two exceptional events to give enthusiasts a sneak peak at the new 2009 Quattroportes.
At The Quail the restyled Quattroporte was introduced to all of the 3000 attendees – like Maserati ownership, attendance at The Quail is exclusive and limited. The event is themed each year, and there are always some extremely desirable classic Maseratis on display. This year they included a 2000 GT Allemano, a 3500GT, a Mexico and a 450S sports racing car. The new Quattroporte, in a fetching forest green, was admired on the lawn in between a 2009 GranTurismo and the very limited 2009 GranTurismo S. For those who wished, Maserati North America and some of its California dealers offered the opportunity to drive 2009 GranTurismos. So many Quail guests wanted to experience driving a Maserati that every GranTurismo in attendance was constantly on the road throughout the day, and the line of people waiting for their turn in the cars stretched down the hill and into the Maserati pavilion. As a further treat La Jota Vineyard wines were available for tasting after the drives. To call the reception a resounding success is to understate its impact as Maserati catered to drivers until the very end of the day, and was among the last to pack up and leave.
On Saturday in Carmel Maserati celebrated its new partnership with Omas pens, makers of the exceptional limited edition Maserati silver fountain pen and roller ball. Parked on a red carpet outside Bittner Pens, the local Omas dealer, a Maserati GranTurismo S drew enthusiasts well into the evening. It is traditional for owners of some very interesting sports cars to park along Carmel’s Ocean Avenue on this Saturday each year and present their machines to the public. Incredible cars were on show, but none gained more attention nor had more cameras trained on it than the GranTurismo S. A number of Maserati owners took a break from cruising the area to stop by the S and take a look as well, parking alongside to see the changes and remark on the color and rim combinations they chose for their own S they have on order with their local dealers. Not just a visual display but an aural one as well, Maserati’s representatives fired up the GranTurismo S’ sonorous V8 throughout the day to the cheering delight of onlookers. The crowd’s overwhelming verdict: the GranTurismo S was by far the best sounding car on Ocean Avenue.
Tony and Belle Schwartz’s 1955 200SI
At the Monterey Historic races Maserati sports racing cars were very well represented. The 450S seen at The Quail was joined by some others including 200 SI’s, 300S’ and a number of Birdcages. At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, meanwhile, Tony and Belle Schwartz’s 1955 200SI took center stage as it won its class. This superb example is the first of the highly successful model and it is shown exactly as it was when Sir Stirling Moss tested it, in bare metal with aluminum welds clearly visible. Sir Stirling, a judge at the 2008 Concours, was reunited with the car but was unfortunately not judging its class otherwise it might just have been guaranteed a win!
Maserati North America chief Marti Eulberg (right)
sampling a signature drink by Danny Louie, the molecular mixologist
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On the Concept Lawn Maserati showed the class of 2009 sport sedans, the new Quattroporte S featuring the all new 4.7 liter 425 bhp V8. The crowd’s approval was palpable and the product specialists showing the grigio sedan were kept busy answering questions throughout the day. At Maserati’s suite overlooking the reviewing green, invited guests took refuge from the unusually cold Pebble Beach day and enjoyed a superb buffet. Special cocktails were provided as a form of both fascinating entertainment and enjoyable libation by Danny Louie , the molecular mixologist, and a few discerning car enthusiasts such as Patrick Dempsey and his wife Jill stopped by to chat with new Maserati North America chief Marti Eulberg and enjoy the hospitality.
2008 saw another triumphant Monterey Automobile Week for Maserati, a great precursor to what is expected t be a most successful 2009 Model Year. If you could not be at Monterey this year, drop by your local authorized Maserati Dealer for some hospitality and a personal Ride and Drive.
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