1970 Maserati Ghibli

Maserati has used the Ghibli name on three different occasions, the first was produced from 1967 to 1973, the next was from 1992 to 1998, and the most recent version was introduced in 2013. The name 'Ghibli' is the Libyan Arabic name for the hot dry south-westerly wind of the Libyan desert. The 1966 through 1973 version was designed by the young Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working for Ghia, offered in both Coupe and Spyder configurations. The Ghibli Spyder was launched in 1969 as a direct rival of the Ferrari Daytona Spyder. The double overhead camshaft V8 engine displaced 4.7 liters, was equipped with four Weber carburetors and delivered 330 horsepower at 5,500 RPM. It was derived from the 450S sports car and first seen in the road-going guise in the 5000GT. This was used in the 4.7-liter form up to 1970 when it was superseded by the 4.9-liter 'SS' version. The engine was backed by a ZFS-325 five-speed manual transmission or an optional three-speed automatic.

Maserati introduced the two-seater Ghibli concept car in November of 1966 at the Turin Motor Show. The design featured a low, shark-shaped nose, pop-up headlights, alloy wheels, a steeply raked windscreen, and a roofline that fell away from the top ending in a chopped-off tail. Dry-sump lubrication enabled the engine to be mounted deep in the chassis, permitting a low bonnet line. Limited suspension travel ensured that the tires did not interfere with the wheel arches. The interior featured leather front sport seats and two rear seats consisting of a mere cushion devoid of a backrest, allowing the Ghibli to be marketed as a 2-door 2+2 fastback coupe. The cabin area was lower than that of almost all its contemporaries. The Ghibli Spyder was nearly identical to its closed sibling, boasting the same performance and an identical amount of practicality but all with top-down touring. The fabric top could be neatly folded away behind the seats, with minimal effort, leaving enough luggage space in the trunk for both the driver and passenger. A detachable hardtop was available as an option.

With a top speed of nearly 170 mph, it rivaled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line performance. The Ghibli measured nearly fifteen feet long and nearly six feet wide, offering an inordinate amount of space for a mere two-seater. The tubular steel chassis (a shortened version of the Quattroporte saloon's chassis) was equipped with a live rear axle, leaf springs, and a single locating arm.

the Ghibli SS, introduced in 1969, had an enlarged 4,930cc engine due to a 4mm larger stroke. Horsepower increased to 330 bhp at 5,500 RPM and 355 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM. The top speed was now 175 mph which made it the fastest Maserati road car ever produced at the time.

Maserati Ghibli deliveries began in March of 1967 and production continued through 1973 with a total of 1,170 coupes and 125 Spyders built. It was succeeded the following year by the Bertone-designed Khamsin.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2021