1972 Maserati Indy

On the heels of the successful two-seat Ghibli, introduced in 1967 and wearing coachwork from Ghia, Maserati introduced a 2+2 fastback grand tourer in November 1968 at Salone dell'automobile di Torino. Dubbed the Indy (Tipo AM116), its name referenced the marque's back-to-back victories at the Indianapolis 500 races in 1939 and 1940. The styling was courtesy of Carrozzeria Vignale, who tasked Giovanni Michelotti with drafting the wind-splitting wedge design. It was the company's first unit-body construction vehicle and features an independent front suspension with rear-wheel drive and leaf springs. The mechanical configuration was conventional in many ways, but it had a modern appearance, benefitted from the latest in body assembly techniques, and had seating for four occupants. The list of standard amenities included air-conditioning and power steering on the '4900' (4.9 liters) model and four-wheel disc brakes. The engine was initially the Modena firm's tried-and-true 4,136cc, four-cam V8, with 4.7- and 4.9-litre versions following. A ZF five-speed manual gearbox was standard, with a three-speed Borg Warner automatic available to special order.

Dimensions and Mechanical Specifications
The Maserati Indy had a 102.4-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 186.6 inches, a width of 69.3 inches, and a width of 48 inches.

Maserati sourced many mechanical components from the Ghibli, including the suspension layout with the front using double wishbones, coil springs, an anti-roll bar, and coaxial hydraulic dampers. The rear relied on a live axle with semi-elliptic springs, hydraulic dampers, a single longitudinal torque arm, and an anti-roll bar. The four-wheel disc brakes were vented and servo-assisted.

The 4,719cc V8 engine boosted output to 290 horsepower, and the 4,930cc version produced 320 horsepower at 5,500 RPM.

Maserati Indy Production
Maserati began accepting orders for the Indy in March 1969 at the Geneva Motor Show, and production continued through 1975. A total of 1,104 examples were built, including 440 examples of the 4200 (4.2 liter), 364 of the Indy 4700 (4.7 liter), and 300 of the Indy 4900 (4.9 liter).

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2025