Vehicle Description
Chassis No. AM115/49 2316
Engine No. AM115/49 2316
The world was first introduced to Maserati Ghibli during the 1966
Turin Motor Show. Giorgetto Giugiaro, then chief designer at Ghia,
was given no small task of designing the sleek and low-slung 2+2 to
compete against the formidable competition of the Ferrari 365 GTB/4
Daytona and Lamborghini Miura. While it might not have had a V12,
the refined Maserati was never short on power, with its 4.7-liter
dry sump V8 producing 310 horsepower. Maserati would up the ante in
1969 with the introduction of the Ghibli SS. Power would spike to
335 hp with the engine's displacement increase to 4.9 liters. The
additional power would make this the fastest Maserati road car
produced to date, with a top speed of 174 mph. It was equipped with
two twin-servo-assisted ventilated discs with three pistons per
caliper to match this formidable speed.
While power and the resulting speed are lovely, a true Gran Turismo
car must also transport its occupants in total comfort. The Ghibli
SS came equipped with leather upholstery, heat-insulated glass,
power windows, an anti-theft steering lock, reclining seats with
headrests, an electrically heated rear window, and air
conditioning. Pair amenities such as these with sports car
performance, and the result is a marvelous GT car, one that exudes
the unique blend of style and performance that 1970s Maseratis are
known for.
This particular Ghibli was finished in June of 1972 and features a
known ownership history starting with the original purchaser, the
famed baseball player Bo Belinsky. Belinsky's Ghibli SS was the
perfect fit for the ballplayer who was known as, 'The Playboy
Pitcher.' As a result of their divorce, ownership of the Maserati
would pass to his then-ex-wife, Jane Weyerhaeuser Belinsky. Records
on file indicate she would sell the car through Alfa Romeo of
Tacoma, Washington, to Gary Snyder on 31 December 1980 with a mere
14,000 miles.
In 1989, courtesy of the second owner, the car received a repaint,
at which time the original Argento Auteuil (silver) was changed to
the current shade of Black that it wears today. Never needing a
complete restoration, this car benefits from regular service work.
Starting in early 2012, a four-year mechanical restoration would
commence. The main focus of the work was to remove and rebuild the
original engine and pair it with a new stainless steel exhaust
system. With a fresh engine, the complete brake system was
overhauled, along with a refinish of the Borrani alloy wheels. A
list of work completed during this period can be found in the
receipts included with the history file from Alfa Romeo of Tacoma,
Washington, totaling in excess of $60,000. A dedicated long-term
owner, Gary Snyder kept the car for the following 36 years until it
was sold in 2017 to the current consignors.
One of only 1,170 Ghibli coupes produced from 1966 to 1974, this
fine example of a Ghibli SS benefits from a known ownership chain
and each of those owners' careful and conscious dedication to
preservation rather than a complete restoration. With research
strongly suggesting the displayed 61,600 miles to be original, its
fourth owner should be prepared for all of the thrills and
excitement this thoroughbred 1970s Italian GT provided to the first
three.
