74 Maltese
 

I started a thread in the restoration section. But it was recommended to put it here.

After driving out to Chicago to pick it up it sat in my yard for a few years. After finishing other projects I finally get to start on this one.


http://tomsprojectboats.shutterfly.com/

I will try to keep both threads updated.

Maltese HIN #
 

Tom and I have been researching this Maltese and it is either the # 1 or 31st built. We will get a better look at the numbers written in grease pen when he pulls the deck. Take a look at his photos. Wish him luck...Bud

Tom was there a name on the side of the boat???

Cool...love to them saved.

No names, sides or transom. Tangerine, volvo cut outs, and the numbers I gave you. The boat is in a part of my shop that doesn't have lights and I have to work the store til tuesday. Sunday is an early day and I am hoping for the chance to recheck those numbers then.

Wow, that transom looks like it was at the St. Vallentine's Day massacre... Great project, any plans yet for power, color etc?

Bud, I never noticed before that the Maltese does not have the 3 foward bulkheads like the sport/starfire ... I guess the deck is stronger from the shape?

- Marshall

Yeah, that was the joke of the day. 179 holes not counting the exhaust and drive cutouts. Drilled 1 more just to make it an even number. Just going with standard 350's and volvo duoprops

Oh yeah, everything orange will be blue.

Massacre,,:eek: that Maltese transom pic looks like my transom did. A few pic's before & after.

Saved another one
 

And they all look beautiful when they are done.

Also Tom's Maltese has a 50 gal.front gas tank.Fairly rare in the Maltese,and he has either the #1 or 31st one built. Bud

I think whoever had mine before me drilled numerous holes along the bottom trying to get it dried out.

The album has been updated. the transom is in, the stringers are in, other small stuff taken care of. Next on the fiberglass list is to redo the floor panel over the fuel tanks. Man this job is moving so slow it's almost like working for the government. I have faith tho, took me 8 years to get the excalibur done, 4 years to get the Sidewinder done. Hopefully now things are moving on tthe Magnum not too much longer.

I happened to be looking over at some of my Magnum pic's from Florida @ Magnum around 1973, and I saw this Maltese, could this be yours ????

h2o, There were no signs of any race #'s or names on the side of the hull when I sanded the black off. Once down to the orange I could see clearly the old Il. registration numbers. No sign of the offset stripe either. No unexplained screw holes where they had the throttle pod mounted on the race boat. Last but not least screw hole still in the floor panel for the original pedistal mount seats. Would love to find out that this boat had some racing history. At this point I will be happy to know for sure that it was #1 out of the mold.
Tom

74 Magnum Maltese
 

Both of the Magnums in Question are 1974's.Toms came out of Chicago and mine came out of the west coast.We will keep looking if Tom's is truly # 1/ Bud

If your hull is #1 the one listed as #1 is Tangerine in color & may be yours. This one has a invoice date of 7/17/75. That may explain why no race evidence of a race boat, as my pic is from around December of 1973. You can see there are two Maltese's in that pic from 1973. Magnum may have raced there first Maltese, then rehabbed it back to stock & sold it in 1975 ???
As a side note hull # 5 was this White Maltese that was raced as DAMN YANKEE out of Emerald City. It too had a 1975 invoice date & was sold as a race boat, yet that pic is from 1974. From what I heard Magnum wanted these early Maltese's out there racing to boost there sales as a race boat & a Mag with a useable cabin.. Mark

Mark...haven't seen that pic of the orange Maltese. You're still 'holdin' out'....

Let's see all your pics!...:)

Magnum # 1
 

Mark,that makes a lot of sense...I just want to talk to some one who was around in 74/75. Bud

If we can find out for sure if Flagship used volvo stern drives would be a big step in the right direction. As Bud said, trying to find out from some body that was there.
Mark, what you are saying does make sense. Would love to have that proven. That would also clear up some mysteries. 2 compass holes, on the side next to where the windshield would mount (flat surface 90 degrees to windshiel) there are 2 holes drilled at an angle. Placement and angle leads me to believe that they were for trim indicators. the flat plate type, where the cable end was the pointer. Being an ex racer would also lend itself to reason for all of the holes in the transom. Volvo drives with the "custom" hydraulic trim system, It appears to have had early K planes, external dual ram steering and all of these had external hoses and cables.

I wonder if that's my Maltese next to this one. Mine is that color and has that exact cover.

BBJ, is yours a blue and white Maltese?

Yes, mine is dark blue and white with a white tonneau cover.

Love your boat. Yours is one of the reasons I'm thinking of going with Awlgrip Marlin blue and white on this one.

Maltese Restoration
 

Good Luck Tom! Anything we can do to help let us know. My Dad and I are doing #17 as we speak. My Dad has become quite the expert on the Maltese and having owned an original since 1982 I pretty much know this boat inside and out.

Best of luck and thanks for keeping the legend alive, there is no better boat out there.

Jeff and Dennis

Jeff she has come a long way from this pic. :ernaehrung004:

Jeff and Dennis,
Is your boat the one that had the volvo dp drives on it? At least I think it was dp's, know for sure it was the swedish volvo's with trim. If so and you did away with the volvos I am looking for shield parts

Jeff n Dennis,
I just went back over your resto thread. You are reusing your drives (270T) I am using the SP/DP shields (would like to end up with dp drives). So for the most part stuff you have won't work with what I am using. However, I read where you replaced you windshield. I need the 2 side panels and aluminum plates to connect to the front piece. I can make the plates if need be. Thanks, Tom

You may be thinking of this one. It was Bobs [wideawake] Maltese, he sold to Ralph Crocker back here in Michigan. This one has the Volvo dp drives, & power trim..

that is the 1

logo
 

T is this the logo you wan't ? Artie

Wnow that you have me thinking about it. The Malteses Magnum with the cross would be the coolest.

Hey Mark,
Any more pictures of the orange racing Maltese? Specifically the helm/seat area. In the picture you posted a page back, there apears to to be something on the deck along the side of the seat. On my boat there appears to be holes drilled for cables (judging by the diameter and angle) and ahead of that maybe a plate. Which from some of things I have seen over the years may have been an indicator for the tabs.

Ok, recent news has caused a few changes to take place. The biggest one, it will be orange again. The next decision, re-gel it or awlgrip it. I have never shot gel, but done a couple of awlgrip jobs. Soon as I get all of the glass work finalized that bridge will be crossed.

Magnum Maltese # 1
 

Had a meeting with Sonny Miller last week in St.Augustine FL.who was one of the people Don Aronow had on his payroll from Thunder-Bird till Cary.I presented all know facts on the Magnum that Tom is working on and he has agreed that it is most likely correctly titled as # 1. The boat has an invoice date of 7/17/1975 to Apeco Marina Chicago who owned Magnum at that time.It most likely it was built around 10/1973 which would not be uncommon seeing they would have used it as a display model.Sonny indicated the 1st Maltese pulled was Tangerine in color Tom,I will try to get a letter from Magnum to that effect. Congratulation...Bud

I hear that shooting gel now with Duratec makes it much easier. Jeff H did the bottom of his Donzi & now his Magnums engine hatch. I'm sure he will chime in, or send him a PM.
Mark

I deal with Sea-Hawk Paints and they have come out with a line of gel coats that follow the Awl grip color chart. They come packaged complete, hardner and wax in the proper quantities. Trying to get a 2.4 nozzle for my gun now. going to give it a try on the engine hatch to see how it goes.

My dad's race boat was hull 28-43 delivered to Maximo Moorings Marina in St. Pete. Won the 1975 APBA Production II national title and set the kilo record at 63.737mph in Marina Del Ray, CA. I've been looking for the boat for years to no avail.

Mike I feel you pain I to have been looking for my old race sport that was the Damn Yankee, SHOWDOWN & COME AGAIN. with no luck. There was a red & White Maltese that was raced by local racer Dave Feder called Bee HAVEN M-8. Unfortunately this Maltese had some delamination problems & It was sold, & I lost track of it. Here is a pic of it from a Lake St Clair race around 1979, could it be your Dads Mag??? Someone here on OSO may remember it ... Mark

Mark,

I remember the Damn Yankee 27' Sport. We raced against it in and a purple Sport named Lil' Chip A Dee (?) in Pt. Pleasant and won, then got drubbed a few weeks later in Sandusky, OH. Everyone protested each other too! What a mess. As a result, we went West to Marina Del Ray and San Francisco, won both races and the 1975 National Title.

I actually have a picture of the Damn Yankee Sport, P-222, docked next to the Wolverine Sport, and the 40' Cig Bounty Hunter. Lemme know if that's yours and I'll email it to you.

Yes thats my race Mag when Danny had it new back in 1975-6. I had her from 1981 to 1986. Here is a pic from when Danny had it.. Danny would later own the Seminole Spirit Spirit. Mag, & a pic as I raced it as P-88 BELIEVE It.