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 This was used in the 4.7-liter form up to 1970 when it was superseded by the 4.9-liter 'SS' version.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 Dan Vaughan

Convertible by Ghia
Chassis number: AM11S1185
Engine number: S-2360

The Maserati Ghibli was given its name from a hot, dry and dusty Libyan sirocco. The ghiblis in the Sahara pull moisture from the Mediterranean before passing it along to the southern coasts of Europe. The 'Ghibli' was not the first 'wind car' for Maserati; that honor went to the Mistral, the car the Ghibli was replacing.

The Ghibli was Maserati's first V8 GT car. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, then working at Ghia, as a two-seater fastback coupe. It was introduced at the 1966 Turin show where it was powered by a four-cam 4719cc, 330 BHP V8 engine from the four-passenger Mexico coupe. Zero-to-sixty took a mere 6.8 seconds and had a top speed of 154 mph. The production cars were available with either a ZF five-speed manual or a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic. The tubular frame was derived from the Mexico and the Quattroporte sedan. In the front were disappearing headlamps while the interior had leather seats. The car rode on alloy wheels at all four corners.

In 1969, the company introduced a Spyder version. A year later, a larger, 4930cc engine with 335 horsepower was introduced. Total production for the Ghibli was 1,149 coupes, 125 Spyders, and 25 Spyder SS models with the larger engine.

This Spyder is a rarity. It was the subject of a cosmetic restoration in the mid-1990s and was given mechanical improvements and tuning since purchase by the current owner. The odometer shows just 32,000 miles since new. It has participated in both the New England 1000, and the Cooperstate 1000. It is painted in red with a black leather interior.

In 2008, this Spyder was offered for sale at the 'Quail Lodge, A Sale of Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia' where it was sold for $249,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

This 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder is one of 100 produced and has coachwork by Ghia.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible by Ghia

Named after a dry wind blowing across the desert, the Maserati Ghibli was the mastermind of Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro who was only 28 years old at the time. It was initially shown in coupe form during the 1966 Turin Auto Show, the Ghibli broke many design traditions. The body is very low with a massive windshield sloped at a very steep angle.

A convertible (Spyder) was introduced in 1969 and only 125 cars were ever manufactured by this time production ceased in 1973. This Ghibli has 14,000 original miles and includes the rare removable hardtop.

This car is powered by a 4.7 liter, V8 engine with two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, producing 330 horsepower, and capable of 160 mph. The 3,500-pound car sold for $19,900 in 1971. This Ghibli Spyder has only 18,000 original miles and includes the rare removable hard top.

Convertible by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115S1177
Engine number: AM115S1177

The Maserati Ghibli was powered by a race-bred V-8 engine with dry-sump lubrication and two chain-driven camshafts per cylinder bank which helped it accelerate from zero-to-sixty in just 6.8 seconds. Top speed was achieved at 154 mph, a spectacular figure for its time. The Ghibli was also one of the first road cars to be designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was, at the time, working for Ghia.

Maserati produced 125 versions of the Ghibli Spyder. This particular example was part of the Malcolm Pray collection for nearly a decade. It is finished in red with brown leather upholstery. It has an upgraded stereo and a five-speed manual transmission.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible by Ghia

The silver over red Ghibli Spyder was originally ordered by a plastic surgeon from Baltimore, and then drove around Europe in it. The car was ordered with the rare removable hard top and custom luggage. The Ghibli was introduced in 1967 but the Spyder didn't come along until 1969. Only 125 Spyders were built, against almost ten times as many coupes. All were around 330 horsepower. The Ghibli was discontinued in 1973.

Convertible by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115/S 1087
Engine number: AM115/S 1087

The Maserati Ghibli was penned by young Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working for Ghia. It made its introduction in 1966 at the Turin Auto Show. These were luxurious and sporting grand touring cars which offered proper interior room with space for two and their luggage. The 4.7-liter DOHC V-8 engine with dry-sump lubrication offered 330 horsepower and could race from zero-to-sixty mph in just 6.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 154 mph.

In total, Maserati produced just 125 examples of the Ghibli Spyder.

This Ghibli Spyder was sold new by Jacksonville race driver, Peter Gregg, to Mr. Raymond Mason, Sr. It was ordered new by him through Trident Imported Motors Incorporated, of Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Mason specified that the car be finished in Blue Medio (20A173) over a Connolly Bianco (PAC.1544) leather interior, which is the same color combination it wears today. Mason opted to pick the car from the Maserati factory in Modena, and from there, he took possession of the car on October 26, 1970. He drove the car across Europe to his estate in County Galway, Ireland. The car remained in Europe for his use for the next two years.

In 1972, the car was brought to America, shipping it to New York City. Mason picked the car from up in New York and drove it to his estate in Epping Forest, located in Jacksonville, Florida. The car was prone to overheating in the humid Florida climate, so Mason had the car's engine replaced with a Chevrolet V-8. Mr. Mason used the car for a few more years before putting it in storage in his garage.

In the 1990s, the car was discovered and purchased from Mr. Mason by Bill Warner, who decided to restore the car back to its original configuration. A correct 4.7-liter Ghibli engine was sourced to replace it. The car was then completely mechanically overhauled at Brumos Porsche, and it was upgraded from its original three-speed automatic to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox. A later Ghibli radiator with dual cooling fans was installed to address its overheating problems. After the work was completed, the car was loaned through Maserati USA for use in the final scenes of the movie, Love, Wedding, Marriage, starring Mandy Moore.

Ghibli expert Ivan Ruiz was able to find the Spyder's original powerplant; the engine was purchased and immediately shipped back to Jacksonville and installed in the chassis.

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 1564

Wes Farrell, husband of Tina Sinatra, originally purchased this Ghibli in December of 1970. He later sold the car to Frank Sinatra. Frank sold the car to George Hamilton who later sold it to the owner of Wendy's. The car has only traveled 21,000 miles and ever part of the car is as it was when owned by Frank Sinatra.

The Ghibli has unusual features which include limited production taillights and a 'non-mouse fur' leather dash cover, both from the factory and also had pop-up headlights and a handbrake lever sticking out of the driver's seat. It is also equipped with power steering, power brakes, power windows and air conditioning. It has a V-8 engine offering 330 horsepower and was capable of reaching 265 km/h and 2 fuel tanks for 100 liters of gas with fill pipes on both sides of the car.

Convertible by Ghia
Chassis number: AM11551227
Engine number: AM 115/S * 1227

The 1960s saw the introduction of several important, trend-setting supercars including the Miura, introduced at Geneva in 1966; the Ghibli, introduced at the Turin Motor show in late 1966 and the Daytona, introduced at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968.

The Maserati Ghibli wore a design courtesy of Giorgetto Giugiaro while working for Ghia. Production began with a fastback coupe in April of 1967 and was joined by a spyder in 1969. It was named after a Sahara Desert wind and featured a long and sleek hood line, a compact cabin and a cut-off Kamm tail rear. Its height was just five inches taller than a Ford GT40. The dry-sump lubrication system enabled the engine to be mounted deep in the chassis, allowing the low hood line. The race-bred, 4719-cubic centimeter V8 engine featured two chain-driven camshafts per cylinder bank and offered 330 horsepower. The ZF five-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential helped deliver that power to the rear wheels.

1,149 coupes and just 125 Spyders were built. When new, the Ghibli outsold both the Daytona and the Miura.

This particular car wears an older restoration with a known history from new. It was first sold in Atlanta, GA by Baker Motor Cars. It was later owned by collector Gene Ponder, who comprehensively restored the car in brilliant red with a black leather interior and cloth top. It rides on four authentic Borrani wire wheels. It has a five-speed manual transmission, electric windows, air conditioning, power steering, original radio, and there are just over 41,560 miles on the odometer.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible by Ghia

In 1966 Maserati first displayed the Ghibli and it was an instant success. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro this low two-seater exuded elegance and speed. Later a convertible version was introduced of which 125 were built. It has a 330 horsepower 4,719 cc DOHC V-8 engine and a five-speed manual transmission. It has independent front suspension by coil springs and wishbones; rear suspension by torsion bars and radius arms and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes sitting on a 100.4 inch wheelbase. The Ghibli can accelerate from 0 - 60 in 6.8 seconds and top out at 154 mph---both remarkable figures for the time.

Coupe by Ghia

The Maserati Ghibli was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and bodied by Ghia. The Ghibli was a Gran Turismo produced by Maserati between 1966 and 1973 in both Coupe and Spyder versions. The 4.7 liter double overhead cam V8 employed four Weber carburetors and produced 330 horsepower at 5500 RPM. The transmission is a ZFS-325 five-speed manual. The top speed was nearly 170 mph.

This was the 1970 Chicago Auto Show car as noted in factory documents. New old stock parts were used in the lengthy restoration. It is finished in original Verde Bosco Metalizzato with tan interior and has the very rare optional matching luggage.

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115.1568
Engine number: AM115.1568

This Maserati Ghibli 4.7-Liter Coupe was completed at Maserati's Modena workshops in December of 1970. It is a late-production example that was built as a left-hand drive coupe, equipped with a ZF 5-speed manual gearbox, and destined for the North American market. It was a special order example finished with a Blue Sera exterior color over a white leather interior. It was optioned with power steering and brakes, Borrani wire wheels, and AM/FM radio.

This Ghibli was delivered new to Hillsborough, California, where it is believed to have resided for at least four decades. In the last decade, it was given a comprehensive restoration, focusing on both mechanical and cosmetic details. It currently wears its factory-correct color with its matching-numbers engine. It rides on alloy wheels shod on Michelin XWX tires. The interior has a wood-rimmed steering wheel, correct Veglia gauges and the factory Becker Europa radio.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible by Ghia
Chassis number: AM115S.1081
Engine number: AM115S.1081

The Maserati Ghibli Coupe was introduced in 1966 at the Torino Motor Show with the Spyder following a few years later, in 1969, and was strictly a two-seater with a fabric folding roof. One hundred examples of the Spider were equipped with a 4.7-liter, DOHC V8, and 25 examples with the larger, 4.9-liter unit.

The Ghibli rested on a tubular steel-frame chassis with the engine being placed in the front and powering the rear wheels. In the front was an independent suspension while the rear employed a live axle on semi-elliptical leaf springs. Disc brakes at all four wheels provided the stopping power.

This 4.7-liter Spider was specially ordered from Maserati by Bruce McCashin from Bob Grossman's dealership, Foreign Car City in West Nyack, New York in July of 1969. It was a U.S.-specification example that was dispatched with quad exhaust tips, bolt-on Borrani wire wheels, seat belts, a Becker Grand Prix AM/FM radio with electric antenna, and a left-hand door mirror. It was given the paint scheme of Mercedes-Benz Tobacco Brown (DB 423) over Senape (Mustard) leather interior, with matching tunnel and dashboard upholstery.

Mr. McCashin planned to pick the Maserati up from the Modena factory, but that never came to pass. Foreign Car City eventually took delivery of the car in March 1970 before placing it with a new owner. The Ghibli has resided in the New York area ever since.

This Maserati Ghibli Spyder currently wears a silver paint scheme with a red interior and a standard Ghibli twin-tip exhaust.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible by Ghia

Like its sisters the Mistral and later the Khamsin, the Ghibli was named after European winds. Maserati, a small boutique manufacturer, shared the Ghibli tubular chassis with other cars in the company repertoire; the Quattroporte sedan and the Mexico coupe. Unveiled at the 1966 Turin Auto Show, the beautiful lines were penned by Giorgio Giugiaro, then chief designer at Ghia. Production began one year later. A 330 horsepower 4.7-liter V-8 lies underhood. Maserati upped the ante in 1970 with the introduction of the SS model featuring a 335 horsepower 4.9-liter engine. In total, just 1,149 coupes and 125 convertibles were produced over the production run which ceased in 1973.

This car was originally sold to a professor in Michigan. The current caretaker is its third owner.

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