1969 Maserati Ghibli

The first generation of supercars built during the 1960s was fueled by the loosely enforced speed limits and the lightly trafficked autostradas. Lamborghini introduced its Miura (as a rolling chassis) in 1965 at the Turin Auto Show with the prototype P400 following in 1966 at the Geneva Motor Show. Other European companies were quick to follow, adding supercars of their own to the portfolio, often joining a line of GT and competition models.

Both supercars and grand tourers (GT) were built for high-speed motoring with the GT favoring longer distances, combining both performance and luxury qualities. The Maserati Ghibli favored the latter, built on the company's proven tubular-steel chassis frame and wore a futuristic design penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, then head stylist of Carozzeria Ghia. It was introduced in 1966 at the Turin Salon Show where it was joined by the Dino Berlinetta GT and the Lamborghini Flying Star II concept. Period reviews of the Maserati Ghibli praised it for its attractive styling, aerodynamic profile, stunning performance, and luxurious cockpit. It rivaled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line performance while beating it for price. Throughout its production lifespan, the Ghibli proved itself worthy of the trident badge, known for its drivability at low and high speeds, as well as its predictable, balanced, and forgiving handling characteristics. The Ghibli outsold the Ferrari Daytona and the Lamborghini Miura.

Specification
The 100.4-inch wheelbase, tubular steel frame chassis was derived from those of the Mexico and the Quattroporte sedan. The suspension used leaf springs and a single locating arm in preference to the more complex suspension arrangements favored by its rivals. The front was independent with double wishbones, coil springs, and coaxial dampers while the rear had a live axle. The chassis carried a dry sump, 90-degree V8 engine with two chain-driven camshafts per cylinder bank mated to a standard five-speed ZF manual transmission. The front-placed quad-cam 4,719cc engine produced 306 horsepower and gave the Ghibli a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Sprinting from a standstill to sixty mph was accomplished in a mere 6.8 seconds. The engine directly descended from that fitted in the FIA World Championship contender 450S sports racer.

The Ghibli was Maserati's first 'production' V8 offering following the 31 examples of the bespoke 5000GT built from 1959 to 1964. Its performance was achieved through its near-perfect weight distribution and a low center of gravity. The styling, created by Giugiaro - then working at Ghia, was sleek, elegant, and clean, with its sweeping lines and aerodynamic features perfectly complimenting the performance of its potent powerplant. The low-mounted engine permitted a low bonnet line, while restricting suspension travel ensured that the tires would not foul the wheel arches. The steeply raked windshield connected with a roofline that fell gracefully into the chopped-off tail, resulting in a cabin that was lower than that of almost all the Ghibli's contemporaries. It had pop-up headlamps and rode on alloy wheels. The interior contained sports seats wrapped in leather along with two rear seats consisting of a cushion without a backrest - earning the Ghibli 2+2 status. A three-speed automatic gearbox was optional, as were Borrani wire wheels.

The 2+2 fastback coupe was joined by a Spyder bodystyle in 1969 with a folding top that fit under a flush-fitting body-color tonneau cover behind the front seats. A detachable hardtop was available as an option.

The Ghibli SS was introduced in 1969 carrying a larger 4,930cc engine that had a 4mm (0.16 inch) larger stroke and produced 330 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 355 lb-ft (481 Nm) of torque at 4,000 RPM. In this guise, the Ghibli was the fastest Maserati road car ever produced at the time, having a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).

Production
Production of the Ghibli SS was exclusive with just 45 units built compared to the 425 examples of the coupe. The total Ghibli production, including the Ghibli SS, was 1,295 units with 125 of those being Spyders and 1,170 coupes. After production of the Ghibli ceased in 1973, it was succeeded the following year by the Bertone-designed Khamsin.

Named for a blisteringly hot African wind, the Ghibli was one of the most flexible and easy-to-drive GTs of its era.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022