- BODY: Aurora Model Motoring
- WHEELS & TIRES: Road Race Replicas
The Aurora body of the Mazz 3500GT is not quite as rare or expensive as the real car, but damn, its gotta be close! As every T-jet enthusiast knows, this body had a limited production life because it was never made as a “Cigar Box” car, and it is also very fragile and easily broken, so it’s very hard to find in-tact and in good condition. Most examples are missing part or all of the front or rear bumper and light assemblies, and many have broken or missing A and B pillars. So, when I find one in good condition in a color I like, I’m willing to pay for it.
Well, honestly, red is far from my favorite color, but since it’s doubtful I’m ever going to pay the hundreds of dollars for the rarest versions in maroon or dark blue, I’ve still done okay, as an outlay of a small fortune has netted me 4 nice examples, of which this red one here was the 3rd I acquired. Aurora made this car both with and without the off-center racing stripe, but I happen to think it looks better with the stripe. And it is a beautiful car, both at 1:1 and in HO!
Originally bearing racing number 4 and wearing a set of Vincent “Alpina” wheels, the car changed hands a while back and, under the ownership of Italian-born Leonardo “Leadfoot” Leoni, was refitted with competition Borrani wire wheels and renumbered 22. While powered by its original inline 6 cylinder engine with dual ignition, it has been significantly modified, being fitted with triple Weber sidedraft carbs with a cold air box and a significantly modified clutch and transmission for greater durability. Courtesy of the Outlaw Garage, it has also been completely rewired from bumper to bumper, a process the Outlaw’s mechanic and vintage race car builder Brad Metzger refers to as “taking the pasta out.”
Well, even if the “pasta” is gone, there’s still a lot of Italian character and flair left in this car, and it shows in its performance, which is better than ever after Metzger’s careful tuning and attention. Leoni took 2nd place in a recent Sportscar “Enduro” race, beat only by the “King of the Hill” Cheetah: an impressive performance for any car! The future-past will reveal what victories await this Italian stallion so aptly dubbed “Matador.”
Taking the pasta out, I really like that and it is very true now that I think about it! Those old Maserati’s are one of my favorites. I don’t know a lot about foreign cars but I have always had a fondness for this model!