Maseratis make a pit stop in Torquay

CLASSIC car fans may have noticed Maseratis from across the years roaring up and down the Great Ocean Road this week.

The Maserati Global Gathering left Melbourne for the RACV Torquay Resort on Tuesday, travelled to Apollo Bay and back to Torquay yesterday (Wednesday), and will leave Torquay for Bendigo today (Thursday).

The event is the first global gathering for Maserati Owners’ Clubs, and includes 50 of the Italian cars (eight from overseas) and 100 participants (nearly half of whom are from overseas) in the five-day, 1,500-kilometre journey, which will finish in Sydney.

“We’ve been on a number of club tours in various countries, and a lot of people have put a lot of work into those tours and we’ve had a lot of fun out of them, but life’s about giving back, isn’t it?” Maserati Owners Club of Australia president John Gove said.

“So it was our turn to say ‘come to Australia, and we’ll organise an event for you’.

“At the end of the day, it’s the places they take you, the people you meet and the friends you make – that’s what really makes the classic car movement, I think.”

He said Torquay was a natural stop to include on the route.

“The Great Ocean Road’s such an iconic drive.”

Mr Gove said the Maseratis on the tour ranged from a very rare 1956 150S/250S to the marque’s more contemporary cars.

He is not only helping to organise the event but is also bringing his 1964 Mistral Spyder on the trip. The bright yellow vehicle is one of only 14 examples of the model made with right-hand drive.

Mr Gove said the car was originally delivered to a customer in England and made its way to the United States. He bought it in Canada “many years ago” and shipped it back to Australia.

“One of the great things about Maseratis is that they’re built to be driven and used. Unlike a lot of exotica, you can use them very comfortably as an everyday car.”