Maserati Classiche will verify the authenticity of a classic Maserati.
Maserati announced the launch of Classic Maserati Tuesday to create a division similar to that of other European automakers, including Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover.
The purpose of the department is to preserve the originality and heritage of the brand’s cars by assisting customers and collectors. The department can also certify the authenticity of a vehicle, a service that helps maintain the value of a collector’s car.
Service is already in operation
The first car to be certified by the program is a silver Maserati Mistral 3700, built in March 1969. The vehicle was certified after 300 tests and checked against the Maserati company records.
The program includes minor repairs, routine maintenance, and detailing. To qualify for the service, the Maserati must be more than 20 years old or a special series such as a Quattroporte special edition or the MC12. The program also includes restoration assistance for those restoring a Maserati to ensure that every detail is the same as the original vehicle. Older Maserati owners can go online and request a Maserati Certificate of Authenticity.
Maserati Classique will offer minor repairs, with more robust services in 2022.
Maserati Classiche is only just beginning. The operation will expand the service in 2022 to include restoration assistance as well as the replication of spare parts for those that are no longer available with the original designs. However, the new parts are built using state-of-the-art technology for improved reliability, rather than being built as originally. For some collectors and restorers, this will be a non-starter; others won’t care.
The company didn’t say it will offer full factory restorations like some other Classic Centers do.
But wait, there is more
The Maserati Classiche website also includes a new clothing collection, with t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, jackets and hoodies. The collection is mainly focused on men’s fashion, but among the 27 items there are also clothing options for women and children.
The new collection arrives just in time for the holidays.
Other automakers offer restoration services
Maserati Classiche also offers a new line of branded clothing.
No doubt, Maserati models its program on Ferrari Classiche, which can authenticate vehicles older than 20 years as well as all Ferrari F1, sports cars and sports prototypes and issue a certificate of authenticity, which is only available from Maranello. The center also provides maintenance and spare parts support.
Operating in Irvine, California since 2006, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center can inspect your Mercedes classic car and prepare a report that documents the condition and originality of a vehicle. You can also fix any problem your classic Mercedes is having or do a full factory restoration. The center also sells restored vehicles, but expects top prices – and for good reason.
Likewise the BMW Group Classic Center, based in Munich, can authenticate, maintain or restore a vehicle, regardless of whether it is a BMW motorcycle or a car. It also sells vehicles. You can uniquely ask the head office to find a certain classic BMW for you.
Maserati Classiche manufactures old parts for your classic Maserati, built with the latest technology.
With 54 parking spaces and space for 480 vehicles, the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Center based in Coventry, England, has specialist teams that manufacture and supply parts for classic Jaguars and Land Rover, and build limited edition New Originals of the Jaguar E-Type and XKSS as well as the Land Rover Defender Works V8.
In 2017, Mazda has set up its MX-5 restoration service for “NA” models of the first generation. It is based in Hiroshima. Every car takes two months to restore. First of all, the roadster is completely gutted, the body is brought back to bare metal and repainted by hand. While the engine is being rebuilt, chassis components are refurbished or replaced and the interior trimmed.
Finally, Nissan’s NISMO Motorsport division started a factory restoration program for Skyline GT-R in 2020. As with the Mazda program, your Skyline will be broken down to the base metals and then reprocessed from there. The engine is completely rebuilt and built to original specifications, but can also be upgraded by NISMO if you prefer. But the process takes a lot longer than Mazda and takes anywhere from six months to a year.
More than a profit center
The volumes of the classical centers are small, but their value goes beyond mere dollars and cents. In addition to keeping the company in touch with some of its most die-hard customers, the centers also serve as a marketing tool to ensure that its heritage is adequately represented at classic car shows and concours. These outlets serve as an indirect marketing tool that automakers have long used. Maserati is smart enough to get involved.
The question remains when the domestic automakers will realize what they are missing out on.
