1967 Maserati Ghibli

Maserati was established by Alfieri and Ettore Maserati in a small workshop in Bologna operating as a specialist constructor of racing cars. Their first vehicles appeared in 1926 and competed successfully in the Targa Florio the same year. After Alfieri's death in 1932, the daily operations were handled by the remaining brothers, Ettore, Bindo, and Ernesto until 1937 when they sold their enterprise to industrialist Adolfo Orsi, under whose ownership racing car construction continued to be the firm's focus. The culmination of their endeavors was the Maserati 250F winning the 1957 Grand Prix World Championship by Juan Manuel Fangio.

Maserati streets cars embodied the company's racing spirits including the Ghibli that wore a design at Carrozzeria Ghia by Giorgio Giugiaro and introduced in 1966 at the Turin Auto Show. It was named after a Sahara Desert wind and under the hood was a quad-cam V8 engine that was a slight variation on Maserati's proven racing powerplant. It beat the Ferrari Daytona in price (MSRP of $19,000) and rivaled it in straight-line performance, with a top speed reaching 275 km/h (170 mph). For a two-seater, the Ghibli was rather large, measuring 4.5m long and 1.8m wide, yet had a very low height. The dry-sump lubrication system allowed the engine to be mounted deep within the chassis, permitting a low bonnet line and limiting suspension travel ensuring that the tires did not rub the wheel arches. The steeply raked windscreen met a roofline that fell away from the top to the chopped-off tail resulting in a lower cabin area than nearly all of the Ghibli's contemporaries.

The Ghibli and the Mexico 2+2 both used a shortened version of the Quattroporte saloon's tubular steel chassis in its live rear axle form. While many of its rivals used complex suspension designs, the Ghibli employed leaf springs and a single locating arm. The engine was a 90-degree V8 derived from that of the 450S sports racer and first used in road-going form in the 5000GT. It displaced 4.7-liters until 1970 when it was enlarged to 4.9-liter SS form in order to comply with the increasingly stringent emission laws. The horsepower gain was minimal but suitable enough to keep the Ghibli as one of the fastest vehicles on the road. It was capable of 'supercar' performance levels but with all-around drivability, balance, forgiving handling, and exceptional 2+2 comfort. Breathing through four Weber carburetors, the 4.7-liter DOHC V8 offered 330 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and four-wheel disc brakes provided the stopping power.

The coupe body style was joined in 1969 by a Spyder version and production continued through 1972, with a total of 1,274 examples built. The Ghibli SS was introduced in 1969 and came with a larger stroked engine displacing 4,930cc and rated at 330 horsepower. The top speed of 174 mph made it the fastest Maserati road car ever produced at the time. Total SS production amounted to 45 Spyders and 425 coupes. The total Spyders (including the 45 Spyder SS) were 125 examples.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Ghia

The Maserati brothers' involvement with fast cars dates to 1914 and includes many early Grand Prix cars. In 1926 they founded the Maserati marque and won the Targa Floria that year. Then, in 1937, they sold out to the Adolfo Orsi family where racing success continued. This included multiple Indy 500 wins and Juan-Manuel Fangio world championship in 1957.

The Ghia-styled Ghibli is considered to be one of the most beautiful and practical GT cars ever built. Its low shark-nosed, aggressive posture was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro while designing for Italian coachbuilder Ghia. The car debuted at the 1966 Turin Motor Show to much fanfare. It proved to be the most popular Maserati vehicle since the 3500GT, outselling its two biggest rivals, the Ferrari Daytona and the Lamborghini Miura. The low-slung design necessitated a dry-sump system for the 330 horsepower 4.7 liter V8. It breathes through four twin-barrel Webers and has 310 horsepower (341 ft-lb. of torque) that give it 0-60 times of 6.8 seconds and a top end of 154 mph. It also has four-wheel disc brakes, double wishbone suspension, coil springs and an anti-roll bar up front, plus leaf springs and an anti-roll bar in the back. The car also featured pop-up headlamps, leather interior and alloy wheels. To slake its thirst, twin 13-gallon fuel tanks filled via flaps on either side of the roof pillars were added.

This car was stored in the late 1980s and is regularly driven on long, fast, trips; much as it was intended.

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: AM1154732
Engine number: AM1154732

The Maserati Ghibli was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1966. Its design was courtesy of Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ghia. The name 'Ghibli' continued Maserati's naming scheme after the wind. Ghibli is the name for a collection of winds blowing across the Sahara desert. It was fitted with Maserati's most powerful engine to date, a 4.7-liter V8 that promised power and performance.

This particular Maserati Ghibli is one of just 1,149 examples producing during the production lifespan, lasting from 1967 through 1973. It is painted in yellow and has a black interior. There is a ZF five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel disc brakes. The engines quad camshafts are chain driven which eliminates the expense of having to replace belts.

This car was owned by a Maserati-Ferrari mechanic for 27 years. In the early 2000s, it was reconditioned both mechanically and cosmetically. In 2009, this 154 MPH Ghibli was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was expected to sell for $100,000 - $130,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for $77,000 including buyer's premium.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $120,000 - $140,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $107,250 inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115 062
Engine number: OASS 4349

The Maserati Ghibli was debuted at the Turin Motor Show in 1966. The car was styled in Ghia's studios by Giorgetto Giugiaro and powered by an aluminum-block V8 engine with double overhead cams. The engine was placed in the front and it rode on double-wishbone front suspension, with a live rear axle held in place by semi-elliptic leaf springs, hydraulic dampers, and an anti-roll brakes. Disc brakes could be found at all four corners.

This particular example was given a restoration that would consume over six-years and more than $200,000. During this time, it was converted to the SS specification, with an enlarged V8 engine that produces 335 horsepower. The car is finished in an Italian shade of red, and it had a tan-and-black leather interior, a wood steering wheel, and factory air-conditioning.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Ghia

Maserati produced the Ghibli from 1962 until 1973 with 1,149 examples sold. This very low, aggressive looking coupe was designed by Giugiaro at the Ghia design studio. Many journalists have written that the Ghibli is the most beautiful Sport/GT car of all time. The 1967 model is rare as there were only 90 produced. The highly desirable 1967 cars are very unique with large front dual calipers, dual disc clutch, no smog controls, head casts for two spark plugs per cylinder, toggle switch dash and wrap around trunk lid.

This vehicle was stored in a controlled environment from 1980 until 1996.

The current owner started the restoration in 2005 and completed it in 2013.

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115 276
Engine number: AM115 276

This 1967 Ghibli is one of the rare hand-built original bodies with a wrap down trunk. it was sold in March of 1968 to a jeweler in Milano and spent many of its early years there. It came to the United States in the 1970s. It suffered a severe engine fire in the early 1980s and was bought by a collector in San Diego, California, for restoration. The restoration was never completed and the vehicle changed hands again before being purchased by the current owner. A five-year, total nut and bolt restoration, was completed in 2006. This was the first year for the Ghibli and it is powered by a water-cooled, double-overhead-cam, 4719cc (4.72-liter), V8 engine, producing 330 horsepower. This engine was a direct descendant of the Maserati competition engines of the 1950s. This engine coupled to a five-speed manual transmission makes this vehicle capable of a top speed of 168 mph.

Coupe by Ghia

The Maserati Brothers' involvement in fast cars dates back to 1914 when they built Grand Prix cars. Racing success continued for many years including Indy 500 wins, and Grand Prix Wins with the legendary race car driver Juan-Manuel Fangio.

The Ghia styled Maserati, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, is considered one of the most beautiful and practical GT cars ever built. This is a very early example of the Ghibli, though it made its debut at the 1966 Turin Auto Show. The production of the Ghibli lasted until 173 with over 1100 of them built. With a 5-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel disc brakes, these cars can be driven as well as admired. The V8 produces north of 330 horsepower through twin-barrel Webers and has a top speed past 150 mph. This car has been owned, driven and loved by the same owner for the last 36 years.

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115.532
Engine number: AM115.532

This Maserati Ghibli is powered by a V8 engine backed by a 5-speed gearbox. It is a left-hand-drive example and, although its early history is not known, in 2000 it was given a restoration. It has a Blaupunkt radio with modern Pioneer speakers. The exterior is finished in black with a light grey interior.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115.074
Engine number: AM115.074

The Maserati Ghibli was introduced in coupe form at the Turin Motor Show in November of 1966 wearing styling Giorgetto Giugiaro of Carrozzeria Ghia and named after a Sahara Desert wind. It was over 4.5m long and 1.8m wide, had seating for two, and a top speed of nearly 275 km/h (170 mph). The dry-sump lubricated engine was installed deep in the chassis, permitting a low bonnet line, while limited suspension travel ensured that the tires did not foul the wheel arches. Styling features included a steeply raked windscreen and a chopped-off tail.

This particular Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe was completed at Maserati's Modena workshops in July of 1967. It is an early-production Ghibli that was built with left-hand drive. It is finished in Blue Sera over Senape leather interior. When new, it was delivered to Firenze, Italy, and documentation states it had an Automatic Borg Warner gearbox. When the car later went through a thorough restoration, no signs of an earlier automatic transmission were found, and the Ghibli is known to have been a 5-speed manual car for decades. It is believed that its first owner, Roberto Benelli (president of the Mugello Racing Circuit, Tuscany, Italy) had the five-speed manual gearbox installed during his ownership.

This early-production Ghibli has the smooth non-vented hood, chrome bumpers, Campagnolo alloy knock-off wheels, a lower rear hatch design, a wooden steering wheel and shift knob, and toggle switches The early history post its home-market delivery remains unknown and has recently come out of a nearly three-decade Wisconsin-based custodianship. Finished in its original color of Blue Sera over Senape leather interior, this coupe received a 26-month rotisserie restoration completed in December of 2020 by Milestone Motorcars in Delray Beach, FL.

by Dan Vaughan

The Maserati Ghibli was put into production in 1967 but it was the prior year at the Turin Auto Show where it made its debut. The 2+2 coupe body was designed by Giugiaro, an employee for the Ghia design studio. The headlights were pop-up configuration adding to the sleek and aerodynamic design. Powered by a 4.7-liter eight-cylinder engine, the vehicle produced 340 horsepower. The rear suspension was comprised of a live axle with leaf springs and an anti-roll bar while the front used an independent suspension with double wishbones and coil springs plus an anti-roll bar. The Ghibli sat atop a Mexico chassis that had been shortened and received increased stiffness and rigidity. Ventilated disc brakes were placed on all four corners and a five-speed manual gearbox helped send power to the rear wheels. In 1968 a three-speed automatic was offered as optional equipment.

In 1968 a convertible was offered, also designed by Ghia. To add to the versatility, a hard-top was offered on the convertible, making the vehicle suitable in all types of weather and driving conditions.

In 1970 the Ghbli SS was introduced featuring a 4.9-liter engine capable of producing nearly 360 horsepower.

During the production lifespan, ending in 1973, 1149 Coupes were produced. Only a very small number of convertibles were created, adding to the exclusivity. 125 Spyders and 25 Spyder SS models were created.

by Dan Vaughan

Maserati has lately reinvented its presence in the U.S. market. After being driven out in the very early 1990's by pitifully slow sales of the underappreciated Biturbo, Maserati made a return to the U.S. for 2003. It brought with it an entirely revamped product line consisting of some phenomenal cars. Fast forward to now, and Maserati had just released a beautiful new coupe, the GranTurismo. Its name may not be the most creative or interesting label for what is, after all, a grand touring car, but its message is clear: Maserati is back, and it hasn't forgotten its roots.

While many would argue that Maserati's real roots were in racing cars, the fact is that the company never achieved real success as a production car manufacturer until it turned its efforts toward producing stunning GT automobiles. The Ghibli was one of those spectacular machines.

That's not to say that the Ghibli was a mere gentleman's luxury car as some GT vehicles were. For as superb and smooth a GT as it was, the Ghibli's design was teeming with racing heritage. Its engine was a perfect example. Derived from the V8 powering the successful 450 S racecar, the 4.7L V8 in the Ghibli had a good compression ratio of 8.5:1 and was fed by a quartet of Weber carbs. Its most impressive feature had nothing to do with compression or carburetion, though, but with its advanced lubricating system.

The Ghibli's V8 employed dry-sump lubrication. As opposed to the traditional wet sump that stores oil in a pan beneath the engine, dry-sump systems use a separate reservoir to hold oil, from where it is pumped into the engine for lubrication and then recirculated back into the reservoir. This design, popular on racing cars of the era and even today used almost exclusively in high-performance applications, gave many advantages. First, and perhaps most important to the Ghibli's menacing shape, was its allowance for an engine with as little vertical height as possible. With no need for an oil sump beneath the engine, the Ghibli's motor could be lowered in the car's frame to allow for a low center of gravity and, of course, the car's mean, low hoodline. Dry-sump lubrication also prevented oil starvation and provided better oil cooling, making the Ghibli's engine comfortable on any track.

The impressive V8 coupled to a ZF five-speed gearbox of equal quality. This team fed a limited-slip differential, which supplied power to the rear Campagnolo mags with ferocity. Though wire wheels were also available, the Campagnolos seemed a better choice with their light weight and nice design that complemented the Ghibli‘s shape.

Performance figures were staggering. From a standstill, the Ghibli could achieve 60mph in a scant 6.4 seconds. The quarter mile passed in 14.5 seconds. When the Ghibli SS was introduced in 1970 with an updated 4.9L V8 producing 335hp, this Maserati became capable of reaching incredible speeds. The Ghibli SS could reportedly exceed 280 kilometers per hour. Converted to a measurement we can fathom, that meant over 170mph. That type of speed was unreal in 1970, and it turned the Ghibli, which was named after a rapid wind, into a legend more than capable of living up to its label.

The Ghibli's imposing posture was the work of one of Italy's most prolific car designers, Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Ghia badge adorning the Ghibli's body designated the design house for which Giugiaro was then working, Carrozzeria Ghia. Giugiaro had a hand in styling some of history's best remembered cars, and the Ghibli's shape continues to impress today.

Pop-up lights and the dry-sump allowed for a low hood and an imposing frontal aspect featuring a wide grille of black mesh with the trident standing proudly at its center. The windshield's aggressive rake continued the theme, and it swept up to a low roof (the Ghibli stood just 45 inches tall). That roof was tilted towards the rear of the car, and it met the backlight seamlessly where it continued its downward slope to endow the car with a clean fastback shape. The rear was finished with a tight Kamm tail.

A convertible version of the Ghibli was also produced. Called the Spyder, it was made in much smaller numbers. With its sloping trunk lid, the Spyder was able to carry on the theme of the Ghibli's design successfully without the use of a fastback.

Not to leave anyone fooled by the sweeping lines and motorsport-inspired powertrain and drivetrain, the Ghibli's sumptuous interior reminded that this really was a GT car. With a generous trunk and comfortable seats, the Ghibli was set to erase miles quickly on the open road.

Throughout its production run from 1967 to 1973, the Ghibli proved itself worthy of the trident badge. It was a well-engineered machine clothed in fine Italian style, and it is remembered today as one of the finest road-going Maseratis ever produced. A success for its parent company, 1,149 Ghibli coupes were produced along with 125 Spyders. The relatively high production numbers once made Ghiblis easy to pick up for reasonable prices. Collectors are catching on, though, and values are on the rise. These stunning Maseratis are sure to be remembered as one of the company's greatest achievements.

Factual information in this article supplied by http://www.thecarnut.com/ and http://www.qv500.com/. The site http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/ also supplied helpful information, and is an excellent source for the histories of all Maserati models.

by Evan Acuña