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www.QV500.com - Maserati Barchetta Part 2: Barchetta Stradale |
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By the end of 1992, Maserati were actively promoting a road-going Stradale version of the Barchetta. However, after the prototype was destroyed (chassis LAC), only two further examples were completed by the factory, both of which featured subtly different detailing. Little was changed in the Barchetta's transition to a road car, the official brochure revealing the same twin turbocharged two-litre V6, albeit with the redline reduced from 7200 to 6250rpm. Consequently, output was rated at 306bhp as opposed to 315bhp. Other alterations included new ‘Frog-Eye Headlights', extra spot lamps, indicators and enlarged door mirrors whilst the rollover bar and adjustable rear wing were ditched. Officially, weight was increased from 775 to 905kg. After the aforementioned prototype was destroyed (chassis LAC), a Corsa (chassis LLH) was fitted by the factory with a ‘Frog-Eye' Stradale front end. This otherwise race-spec car (rollover bar, rear wing etc.) was subsequently lent to the Australian Maserati concessionaire for use in the 1994 Northern Territory Cannonball Run. |
Comprising a return trip from Darwin to Ayers Rock, chassis LLH won outright and handed the Barchetta its only multi-marque period race win. The other factory built Stradale was chassis LAE, a road car from new. Equipped with many unique details, among them 'Covered Headlights', special door mirrors and wheels, this car languished at the factory for many years before going into the collection of Modena-based industrialist, Umberto Panini. Several other Corsa's have since been modified to make them street legal, some of which adopt the bare minimum changes required by law whilst others opt for LAE-style front bodywork with covered headlights (as seen on chassis LAD depicted in the final three photographs). That wasn't quite the end of the story though as the Barchetta lived on in the form of the De Tomaso Guara for another ten years… |
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