This Maserati BiTurbo Electric Conversion From Wheeler Dealers Doesn't Have Any Turbos

Kinja'd!!! "DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
06/09/2016 at 13:06 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Maserati, BiTurbo, EV, Electric Conversion, Wheeler Dealers

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Mention the name BiTurbo around a Maserati lover and listen carefully. If he (or a she...it could happen) rave about how great the car is, he probably owns one...but if he moans/groans about mechanical meltdowns, he probably sold it already. Yes, the twin turbo V6 under the hood wasn’t a paradigm of reliability...in fact you could probably say it was about as reliable as gas station sushi.

That is what makes this next BiTurbo so captivating — keep the Pierangelo Andreani (with heavy influence from Giugiaro’s Quattroporte III) styling but add a quiet and planet saving electric drivetrain.

This 1985 Maserati BiTurbo EV is offered for $35,000 or best offer in the Orange County area, CA — email: gregg.wheelerdealer@gmail.com for more details or to make an offer.

From the seller: 1985 Maserati BiTurbo = Red Exterior / Tan Leather Interior, Approx 39K miles, 5 speed Manual Transmission.

History: The vehicle was purchased by the late Martti Nieminen in the early 1990’s. Martti was a successful automotive repair and restoration business owner for over 40 years, master mechanic and fabricator for over 50 years.

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Conversion: In approximately 1993, Martti began stripping the Maserati of all combustion engine related mechanical parts. i.e. Engine, Fuel Injection and Fuel System, Cooling System, Exhaust System to make way for an early electric vehicle conversion, one the earliest of its kind. The electric conversion consisted of (but not limited to) a custom bell housing, electric motor, electric speed controller, electric 110V charging system and battery storage trays to accommodate 22 traditional car batteries. The conversion was successfully completed and the Maserati was capable of 70mph and had approximately a 40 mile range. Martti used the vehicle for commuting to and from his shop in downtown San Francisco.

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Modern Day: After being removed from storage for over 15 years, Martti’s son Henric offered the car to the show to undergo a complete transformation. They instated EV West, one of the most recognized names in the electric conversion business, to bring the car into the modern era. A Curtis Dual-AC- 34 Brushless 96V Single-shaft motor was installed which utilizes new lithium ion battery technology. This modern package yields 36KW/HR and an approximate range of 120 miles. The car itself was updated with new brakes and other maintenance items, as well as sourcing the original Maserati wheels, powder coating them and fitting them with new tires. Other minor cosmetic issues were also addressed from its years of daily commuting duties. What we are left with is a truly unique and One-of- a-Kind vehicle that combines classic Italian styling with a modern power source …

This is a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle and, although no one will guarantee it, there is probably an opportunity to be on the show Wheeler Dealers shaking Mike Brewer’s hand.

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DISCUSSION (7)


Kinja'd!!! TheTurbochargedSquirrel > DailyTurismo
06/09/2016 at 13:23

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Curtis motor controllers. Nice and reliable. Also stupid simple to set up and use. My formula hybrid team use a single Curtis on our car this year.


Kinja'd!!! DailyTurismo > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/09/2016 at 13:25

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Good to know.


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > DailyTurismo
06/10/2016 at 11:16

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If a biturbo has no turbos, is it still a biturbo?


Kinja'd!!! DailyTurismo > Nauraushaun
06/10/2016 at 12:18

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Maybe? The real question is — will society accept it for who it is?


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > DailyTurismo
06/10/2016 at 22:38

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Almost certainly not. When you take an underpowered and over-complicated engine that nobody wants, and replace it with something useful and efficient, people get very upset.


Kinja'd!!! Claudia > DailyTurismo
12/22/2016 at 16:16

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I wish WD would be a little bit more transparent with their cost listings. No way a non-celebrity can get the entire ev setup for only $16k. This episode got a lot of people excited about electric conversions and they will get pretty disappointed when they call evwest and this setup is more like $25k.


Kinja'd!!! carpitect > DailyTurismo
08/24/2017 at 23:15

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Does anyone know what Mike used to recondition the leather seats in this car? It was a two part process & two products.