The 90s Maserati you forgot exists is back with a vengeance—and a price tag that’ll make your wallet weep.
Modena Automobili’s Project MA-01 resurrects the Shamal, Maserati’s forgotten muscle car from an era when the brand was more troubled than triumphant.
Modern Heart, Retro Attitude
The original Shamal packed a 3.2-liter twin-turbo V8 that was more temperamental than a toddler denied ice cream.
This restomod ditches that grenade-with-a-pin-pulled engine for the Ghibli S’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, tuned to produce 507 horsepower.
It’s paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. No manual. Because apparently even restomods have forgotten what driver engagement means.
The performance numbers read like a modern sports car spec sheet:
- 0-60 mph: 4.7 seconds
- Top speed: 177 mph
- Transmission: ZF eight-speed automatic
The carbon fiber body kit maintains the Shamal’s distinctive squared-off proportions while adding modern touches like LED lighting and an integrated spoiler.
Exclusivity Has a Price
Only 33 units will be produced. Exclusivity is guaranteed—as is the certainty of never seeing another one on the road.
The price? A wallet-vaporizing $638,000.
That’s supercar territory for what’s essentially a heavily modified 30-year-old Maserati. You could buy a new MC20, a vintage Shamal, and still have enough left over for a loaded Grecale.
Performance vs. Heritage
The original Shamal was the last Maserati developed before Ferrari took control of the company. It represented the final chapter of an era.
This restomod bridges that heritage with modern performance. The twin-turbo V6 delivers more reliable power than the original ever could.
But the question remains: does modernizing a cult classic preserve its soul or simply create an expensive tribute act?
For the 33 buyers willing to part with more than half a million dollars, the answer is clear. For the rest of us, it’s an academic exercise in what happens when nostalgia meets unlimited budget.
The Project MA-01 proves one thing definitively: even forgotten classics can find new life—if you’re willing to pay the resurrection fee.
