The news has sent shivers down the spines of manual gearbox enthusiasts: in Texas, European Auto Group (EAG) has just unveiled the first Maserati Granturismo V8 converted to a 6-speed manual gearbox. A totally unprecedented transformation that restores to this grand touring coupé what some purists thought had been lost forever.
EAG: Texas craftsmen of the mechanical gearbox
EAG USA, based in the heart of Texas, are not newcomers. Their story is intimately linked to a deep love of prestigious European cars and an obsession: reinventing the driving experience by reintroducing the mechanical gearbox, which has disappeared from Ferrari, Lamborghini or Maserati for over a decade.
Their reputation was built on manual conversions that became cult favorites. Ferrari 360, 430 Scuderia, 575, 599, 612... all found, thanks to them, a chrome lever, a metal grille, and that raw feel that F1 robotized gearboxes can never match. Some of these conversions cost as much as $35,000 to $55,000 - a high price, but one that was well worth the effort: CAD design, advanced prototyping, custom CNC parts, engine and transmission recalibrations, perfect OEM integration. At EAG, everything is based on a simple philosophy: to bring emotion back to cars that have become too digital, and to show that performance is not incompatible with pleasure.
A GranTurismo V8 "rescued" from the F1 system
Until now, Maserati hasn't had its "return to the manual" made in Texas. Now it's back. In their latest video, EAG unveils a Maserati Granturismo V8 equipped with a true mechanical 6-speed gearbox, replacing the original robotized F1 transmission.
"Another Maserati GranTurismo rescued from the F1 system," they proudly announce. The project is complete: new lever mechanism, CNC components designed in-house, specially developed cables, total calibration, and an integration that seems so natural you'd think Maserati itself had approved it. EAG confirms: "Yes, we've just finished developing all the components and cable links. A lot of fun with a manual gearbox. Under the hood, Ferrari's sumptuous 4.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 can finally express itself as it deserves.
Price expected to be around $35,000
EAG has not yet officially announced the price of this Granturismo conversion. But in view of the prices charged for Ferraris and Lamborghinis, everything suggests that the bill will be in the region of $35,000. A considerable investment, to be sure. But for many enthusiasts, it's obvious: a manual Maserati Granturismo V8 is a car that never existed, a unique piece, an instant collector's item. It's also a way of prolonging the life of these Italian GTs by avoiding the weaknesses and sometimes prohibitive maintenance costs of F1 gearboxes.
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