You might be forgiven for thinking that 2024’s on-trend automotive evolution is the electric SUV or quad-motor EV hypercar or somesuch, but to guarantee the best column inches, the restomod is where it’s at. From Lancia to Lamborghini, via Porsche, we’ve seen them all. Or have we, because here’s another, and it’s an interesting choice.
Yes, established in 2022 to build restomods, Modena Automobili is branching out into upgrading classic Maseratis. It’s no surprise that the firm is giving a supercar from that back catalogue the treatment given its Founder Franco Righi and co-founder Luca Stefani are both car-loving industriasts from the area. We wouldn’t have expected them to go with the visually-challenged Shamal, originally built between 1990 and 1996 – instead of something in a more classic in style such as the Bora, Khamsin or (original) Ghibli.
The Shamal was one of the final cars produced by Maserati before its takeover by the Fiat Group in 1993, and despite being fast and dramatic looking, it was saddled by its ageing Biturbo-based underpinnings, and a general lack of development budget. In the end, just 369 were made and stood as a testament to how far the Biturbo could be developed.
So, what’s the story with this one?
Project MA-01 was kicked off in 2022, after the firm’s co-founders spotted the opportunity to create its own take on the burgeoning trend for restomods by, ‘reimagining an iconic masterpiece of the 1990s into a unique, modern, beautiful, muscular and fast car of our times.’ That’s what they say, anyway.
The team behind the car are serious. It’s based on a Biturbo (like the original), using an original donor car’s monocoque, which has been stripped to its constituent components and re-engined with a Maserati Ghibli S power unit, tuned to deliver 500bhp.
In addition. It also receives that car’s eight-speed ZF transmission. Interestingly, Modena claims it’ll turn 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds and a maximum speed of 180mph, which is impressive – and we can assume right now, an educated guess.
…and the looks?
The designers responsible for this cash in of re-imagining of the Shamal are Paolo Ferrari and Antonio Bonatti, both talented 3D modellers working for BNC Design. They’ve already created some very tasty-looking modern takes of the Lancia Fulvia and Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, but if Modena gets the MA-01 off the ground, then this will be their first car to transition into the roadgoing reality.
It stays reasonably faithful to the original, although things do start to go awry at the rear. The redesigned front-end gets a set of must-have LED headlights surrounded in carbonfibre, while enlarged air intakes and an aggressive front spoiler give it even more purposfulness than the original. Additional ducts in the bonnet and wheelarch blisters complete the look.
At the back, you get modest flying buttresses that meld into a bootlid spoiler that takes you straight back to the 1990s. The rear lights are slimmer than the original, which is a shame, as that was probably the best looking aspect of the car. Project MA-01 also looks to have some interesting underbody aerodynamics – or it might just be a ruse to add even more visual clutter between the quad exhausts.
How much is it going to cost and when can I buy it?
There’s a countdown on Modena Automobili’s website, which points at a spring 2025 launch. Although the firm has issued several CGIs of the car, we’ve yet to see it in the metal, and are looking forward to that. The Shamal is an interesting car, and one that stands apart from the more obvious restomod fodder we’ve seen of late.
We hear that it’s going to cost €585,000 (£490,500), which put it in the same ballpark as the glorious Kimera 037 (£414,000) and Singer 911 Turbo (£500,000), but more expensive than the Lancia Delta Integrale Futurista (£300,000). Don’t hold your breath…
