Cat D 2 Seater Strad Anyone?

Messages
1,687
I have another reason, not to buy the car in question. Or a million reasons, depending on how you look at it.
The owner of the business selling this car, set up a 'charity' in 2017. Purporting to assist Iraqi children who had lost a parent.
The Charity Commission investigated the 'charity' and found that the trustees couldn't account for a penny of the roughly £1m collected and supposedly disbursed. It found that outgoings included five figure payments to the Chair of Trustees for 'his own purposes'. I've deliberately not mentioned the sc*mbag in question. However the relevant links follow:
Companies House Info
Charity Commissioners Investigation
The Charity Commissioners dissolved the 'charity' and disqualified those identified as trustees. However, although it identified
various criminal offences that had been committed, its unclear whether the trustees were reported and a file sent to the Crown Prosecution Service. That's what I found from only five minutes Googling. Imagine what I might find if I reached out to old friends.
Reported to the FCA investigatory dept. as possibly having criminal convictions pending, plus the actions of the Charity Commissioners. Can do no more.
 
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Lewis Gregory

Junior Member
Messages
43
Hopefully fortune favours the brave - I’ve bought the car. I’ve had 5 masers, currently have a GS, also a few alfas and a Ferrari. I’m a Mechanical Engineer by trade, not scared of working on cars and run a car themed meeting venue in the Peak District (ignition cars and coffee). The guys selling it really didn’t appreciate what they had, I spotted a cracked rear disk do negotiated hard and bought the car with my eyes wide open. I spent a day cleaning, removing tints, stickers and number plates. It looks a lot better already. Pirelli’s are being fitted this week, and new rear discs and pads are on order. The car actually drives very well, so hopefully a bargain - plus the hilarious story of its past makes for a great taking point.
 

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conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
35,181
Well done, as you point out, everything is doable with a bit of time and some invested engineering…if the purchase price works.
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
5,026
Well done, as you point out, everything is doable with a bit of time and some invested engineering…if the purchase price works.
And the Pirellis don't push you off the blacktop.

Congrats on the buy and the bravado! Keep us posted...
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,354
Well done, it has good bones and the faults that these cars can have have all been explored and discussed so there hopefully won't be any insurmountable issues
Good luck
 

Lewis Gregory

Junior Member
Messages
43
Thanks for all the well wishes. Only gremlin I’ve found is a noise when shifting load on the rear axle - either changing gear slowly, or moving into drive or reverse. I’ve read about worn drive shaft splines, wondered if it could be gearbox mounts? Something like that.
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,461
Were the tints internal? Did they come off ok without damaging the heated screen elements?
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,999
Clearly you have gone in with your eyes wide open and have the skills and expertise to sort the car- fingers crossed no surprises- good luck and keep us posted.
Building a history file from now on will help with any future sale.
 

cheburator

Member
Messages
188
I thought about buying it as the only really scary thing on these cars is the retarded MC Shift system. Before I get jumped on, I have studied in detail and it is really hard to argue against the unnecessary complexity. No two ways to argue about it... Everything else is relatively simple old school stuff... The two seats only put me off - could not justify another GT3 look-alike in the garage, hence buying the MC Sport 10 days ago... I hope you get it to be in a condition to your liking and get many trouble free miles driving it. Start a separate thread... I am tempted to do the same with mine...
 

midlifecrisis

Mancunian
Messages
16,714
Good luck Lewis, I sincerely hope you got it for a good price and you sort everything out especially that knocking noise. It could be something simple like low or old oil. Keep checking back in with all the fixes, you've done as no doubt others with learn from your experience.
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,354
Thanks for all the well wishes. Only gremlin I’ve found is a noise when shifting load on the rear axle - either changing gear slowly, or moving into drive or reverse. I’ve read about worn drive shaft splines, wondered if it could be gearbox mounts? Something like that.

Does it happen when the car is stationery or only when moving? If the latter, it could be the floating brake discs or a wheel bearing?
 

Lewis Gregory

Junior Member
Messages
43
I also noticed on a past thread about 2 seater MC stradale’s that someone made a roll cage for it? I’d like to go down the route of cage and harnesses if anyone knows the supplier?
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
7,127
I also noticed on a past thread about 2 seater MC stradale’s that someone made a roll cage for it? I’d like to go down the route of cage and harnesses if anyone knows the supplier?
I fitted the roll cage and harnesses to mine. All the parts came from Maserati, and it took a few months to assemble them as not all were instantly available. I have the list somewhere, if you need it. Not a cheap or easy job though - maybe around £5k from memory. Matt and Ashley at SportsItalia did it for me and I don’t think they’re overly keen on doing it again!
 

midlifecrisis

Mancunian
Messages
16,714
I also noticed on a past thread about 2 seater MC stradale’s that someone made a roll cage for it? I’d like to go down the route of cage and harnesses if anyone knows the supplier?
It was a Maserati supplied item, I believe, but I'm sure any UK based coach builder or racing outfit would happily do the work.