Moal Gatto Ferrari 2010

  • Thread starter StarLight
  • 9 comments
  • 4,735 views
6,643
Portugal
Portugal
vd1xj4.jpg

StarLight Presents her first NEW YEAR 2015 suggestion, the Gatto from The House of Moal!
A car that has been done to perfection called the Gatto Ferrari built by Steve Moal and commissioned by owner Bill Grimsley.
This car is stunning in person and leads one to believe this is a special Italian race car from the 1950s or 1960s. But it is so American, a true modern hot rod with an Italian engine and shape.

Read the story underneath and discover this unique and beautiful car.



ng7f9u.jpg

StarLight Garage wish all GTP members a

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!


Even within the rarified coachwork ethic, it takes more than hand, eye, template and tool to create a unique motoring conveyance like this superbly-executed and technologically-advanced high performance coupe. First, there is a translation from passion -- a passion for the automotive arts borne not only of familiarity with elevated driving experiences, but also of a personal fondness for the special forms and sculpted shapes that have imparted timeless notions of speed. Motifs that have for more than a half century signified heritage, tradition, enduring affect. Qualities attached to great automotive marques. Ferrari, Maserati. Porsche. Mercedes-Benz. Alfa Romeo. Duesenberg. Packard. Chrysler.

It is no coincidence, either, that the lineage of many of these automobiles is inseparable from the coachwork tradition, where in a combine of like-minded craftsmen within early carrozzeria ("carriage works" in the Italian) orchestrated a process of assemblage--chassis, body, engine and driveline, wheels, upholstery, instrumentation and appointments-that would culminate in the final production: a unique motor car built to harness the dreams of owner and builder alike. Again, these houses bear legendary names of their masters: Brianza, Pinin Farina, Touring, Zagato, Viotti. That valued heritage continues today in the Oakland, California, shops of Moal Coachbuilders.

To create this remarkable vehicle, coachworks master Steve Moal and owner Bill Grimsley have engaged many of the same processes that guided the carrozzeria masters of the early 20th Century. Grimsley, a retired investment manager, knew he wanted a distinct vehicle that would amalgamate a number of ideas regarding form and function, convenience, performance and efficiency.

An experienced collector, amateur sports car racer and long-time motorsports aficionado, he knew he would like to own and drive a distinctive vehicle that was highly responsive (stiff and with the handling characteristics of a thoroughbred race car), light and lithe (like a Lotus), one that would incorporate front-mounted power and driveline from an iconic engine that bespeaks not only a special aesthetic--but stands at the ready to deliver vigourous horsepower (the Ferrari 250 GTO motor--one long-associated with the Ferrari Testa Rossa sports racer). The vehicle would have to have amenities that in his experience were missing in more traditional sports models: air conditioning, comfortable seating, a fail-safe cooling system, bold, easy-to-read instrumentation, a sure and equitably-matched manual transmission--and the most effective braking system available today. This would be no lawn-locked show car, but a ready-to-rumble backcountry sprinter.

He would also seek the rare unification of design simplicity with functional accoutrements. Unique door handles, cabin and engine compartment vents, filler cap, grille, wheels, body accents. This would be a cumulative challenge that would broach no afterthoughts, add-ons or post-construction modifications.

Ever-present during the evolutionary phases of this coupe's three-year construction, Grimsley remains in awe of the Moal artisans and craftsmen who've created and assembled the vehicle. Everything from the smallest components like door hinges to the Borrani wheels to the substantial chassis itself. He pays tribute to this team for their creative and attentive workmanship, lavishing particular praise on Moal metalsmith Jimmy Kilroy, who so adroitly fashioned the aluminum bodywork as well as many of the exterior metal touches--the Mercedes-like fender vents, the exquisite circular grille, so reminiscent of early Maserati Grand Prix racers, the subtle fender creases that again impart a sense of motion and balance, the graceful, integrated topside cabin vents nestled ingeniously in the small rooftop bubble crevice.

The only disappointment with the final product is that much of the exquisitely crafted handiwork is hidden from view by the body, cabin and motor compartments.


Specifications
Engine: Ferrari 250 GTO Spec
Engine type: V12 3000 cc | 183.1 cu in. | 3.0 L.
Engine location: Front
Horsepower: 300 hp @ 7800 RPM
Transmission: Tremac 5 speed
Drive type: Rear Wheel
Weight: 2300 lbs (1043 kg)
Wheels: Borrani wire
Tires: Michelin 6.00 x 16
Chassis: Semi-monocoque with riveted and glued stressed panels
Upholstery: Custom tubular seat frames covered in leather
Wheelbase: 96" (2438 mm)
Front track: 58" (1473 mm)
Rear track: 57 1/2" (1461 mm)
Fuel capacity: 15 Gallons (57 litre)




2r3b2nm.jpg


3307o0w.jpg


j9brbl.jpg


2dtq977.jpg


256a98g.jpg


dz6xzp.jpg




o0ujuq.jpg





RELATED CAR




OTHER CLASSIC CARS ARE HERE





 
Last edited:

Latest Posts

Back