Of the roughly 1150 Ghiblis Maserati built from ’67 to ’72, only about 120 Spyder convertible versions were built on Ghia’s beautiful Giugiaro design. Of those, the last 45 or so were the bigger-engined 4.9 SS version and this car is one of that select group.
The four-cam, four-carb alloy V8 cars were offered with both automatic and manual transmissions, making this original 5-speed one even more rare. Maserati historians believe only ~29 5-speed cars were made. (We have documents from Maserati Classiche confirming the car’s matching engine & chassis numbers and transmission option).
When Ghiblis were new, their main rival and competitor was the Ferrari 365 Daytona, cars that were also made as coupes and convertibles. Even though the Ferrari Spyder cost a bit more in the 1970s, three times as many were built!
And, while the Ferrari may have had a few technological bonuses, at least the Maserati styling wasn’t copied by a ‘70s Rover sedan!
This car was brought to our shop for restoration in 2012 following our success with several Pebble Beach restorations. You can see the restoration here. Two years and over $500,000 were spent to overhaul the car’s chassis, suspension, brakes, fuel, cooling & electrical systems plus new correct Ansa exhaust. The bodywork was perfected and given a beautiful deep blue finish that emphasizes the body lines. This was complimented by a full new Natural leather interior including door cards, carpets and dash. The car was finished off with chrome Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires and a new black convertible top.
The completed car was shown at Amelia Island where it won Best in Class, the Manufacturer’s Award for the Most Historically Significant Maserati, plus awards at subsequent shows. In the past ten years it has participated in numerous driving tours. It has been back to our shop for regular servicing & detailing regularly over the years to keep it running great & looking spectacular. This investment-grade Maserati is now ready for its next fortunate caretaker.
If you are considering one of the classic or collectible cars on our website, you are encouraged to visit and inspect the car in person. We strive for transparency in our descriptions, but nothing replaces a firsthand evaluation. Plan a few hours so you can see, touch, feel and drive the car, and enjoy a tour of our restoration shop. If your schedule does not allow, we welcome a knowledgeable representative to inspect the vehicle on your behalf. Please understand that sales are final, so all due diligence should be completed prior to purchase. Our vehicles are sold AS-IS, as many are offered on consignment.
