Maserati Mistral B post fabrication.

[@MarilynBell-g8v]

Absolutely Incredible Craftsmanship. You Are an Artist Extraordinaire.

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@MarilynBell-g8v Thank you. Tune in next week for more.

[@chrismichael3420]

This is what I should have done all my life. I now realise(after 20 years of Fulvia Coupe ownership) that it's what I was born to do. I am jealous, wish I had done it as my work for 50 years instead of being a master printer

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@chrismichael3420 I wish that I had done it sooner but the reality was that to make a living I had to repair regular cars for 30 years. Always took the opportunity to get involved with something old and interesting when I could but it was welding up Transit vans and replacing clutches in Nisans for many years. It wasn’t for nothing, I made a living out of it and you still learn about problem solving. I got lucky with this I was given a chance and I grabbed it. It took a while for it to build up into something that could replace the regular stuff. But it has now and I am very much aware just how lucky I am to get to do something that I love. “master printer “ sounds like a rewarding job so I would try not to have any regrets. We just do what we have to. I think it was John Lennon “ Life is what happens when you wear making other plans “

[@chrismichael3420]

@marksitaliangarage My job was rewarding (I was the Queens printer),I just wish I was involved with cars. Can't wait for the Dino to be done.

[@mikeg5877]

Mark... yours is a fairly new channel for me, but I love what you do. I do the same, with considerably less skill, but just as much perseverance. I continually look forward to your Sunday updates. All the best to you for 2025.

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@mikeg5877 Thank you. Check out the back catalog, loots to watch while waiting for Sunday.

[@tho4747]

Great work, and a great channel.

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@tho4747 Thank you glad you like it !

[@moritzhummel9747]

I am wondering how many of us who love to watch this extraordinary chanel could afford to pay for this level of craftmanschip and how many of those who can have the patience and passion to watch. To continue Chris Michael's comment: I am a (not so much master but all average) lawyer in the local car dealer business with modest posessions (a Lancia Y10 GT and a Fiat 124 Spider) but I have loved to work on cars (or whatever technical things that attracted my attention - which are quite some) eversince. Why the heck did I chose a paper profession? Well, to be fair: I doubt I could have achieved Mike's skills. Hey - by the way: Looks as if we are quite an exclusive club here 🙂

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@moritzhummel9747 Thankfully my customers are true enthusiasts who care about the presentation of their cars . They also enjoy driving them and this gives other people the chance to see these lovely old vehicles in use and alive ! There is a monetary value to these cars and possibly even a future uplift to the value. But that’s not really the point. It’s about the passion to save and preserve them . It’s a bit like collecting art , some do it because they love to look at it but some do it just to show off that they can afford to ! I’m glad you are enjoying the channel and it would be great if a community will build around it. I hope that it helps to inspire interest in the old car hobby and especially encourage people to work on their cars.

[@Mitkawatch]

So much nicer than trying to salvage the mangled old one!

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@Mitkawatch Yes, I had already done a lot of work on strengthening the original but I just wasn’t happy with it. Nothing lost as it needed to get straightened to use as a pattern. Getting there. Tune in next week for more .

[@nick_5005]

You are doing a great job and I admire your patience Mark! Probably a long shot but I wondered if, with your Italian connections, would you be able to find if any original tooling remaining for some of these particularly awkward panels?

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@nick_5005 The Mistral was coachbuilt by Maggiora Turin. They also built the Lancia Aurelia B20 and Fiat 2300s coupe. One of their last products was the FIAT Barchetta . Maggiora closed in 2003 . I’m sure that all tooling was scrapped years ago especially the stuff from the 1960s but it would make for a great adventure to visit the old factory and do a bit of urban exploring. I have not actually looked into the possibility that it is even still there. The thing is that I need to continue to develop my skills to overcome the challenges of replicating what is required in these restorations.

[@TK42138]

Nice work.

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@TK42138 Thank you

[@ianxfs]

The last shot: hoping the fairies finish it off for you overnight 🤞🏻You’d have to check their work in the morning mind 😉

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@ianxfs I can’t rely on the fairies, they are as much of a myth as me having any help ! It’s all my work and I have to work alone but I don’t mind, I sort of like it that way.

[@bleizbreizh6264]

Nice work, im envious of your skill! Is that 22 gauge? They like to save a little weight to make them go faster

[@marksitaliangarage]

@@bleizbreizh6264 It’s 1mm so I guess it’s 20 gauge. But on the chart 20 gauge is 0.9 mm. You are correct that the Italians used the thin stuff !

[@mikeg5877]

@@marksitaliangarage 1 mm is 19 gauge... a little challenging to find in the states, but it is available, and is what British cars of the 50s and 60s were built from.