Debuting at the 1966 Turin Motor Show, Maserati presented the Ghibli, a captivating grand tourer designed to succeed both the Mistral and the boutique 5000 GT. Continuing the nomenclature inspired by the Mistral, the Ghibli drew its name from the hot Saharan wind.
With a dominating V8 engine, the two-seater stole the spotlight at the show, boasting commanding aesthetics shaped by the skilled hand of Giorgetto Giugiaro, then working with Ghia. Departing from the curves of the early ’60s, the Ghibli introduced a new design era with its defined lines, wedge profiles, and concealed headlights, hinting at the future.
As Maserati remained an independent entity, engineers economized by adapting the Quattroporte and Mexico’s architecture for the Ghibli, adjusting the wheelbase and tuning. Housing Maserati’s exceptional 4.7-liter four-cam V8, derived from the formidable 450S sports racer, the Ghibli featured dry-sump lubrication and four Weber DCNL (later DCNF) carburetors, delivering 310-335 horsepower. The Ghibli stood as a sophisticated, high-performance Gran Turismo, rivalling the Ferrari Daytona and De Tomaso Pantera in performance while offering refined practicality.
Enthusiasts, including Henry Ford II, lauded its exceptional performance, with rumors circulating that Ford attempted to acquire the entire company due to his admiration for the Ghibli. Giorgetto Giugiaro himself expressed regret for not owning the Ghibli during his career. Initially aiming for 100 units, Maserati’s production eventually reached 1,149 coupes and 128 spiders, including a limited open-topped spider variant for added exclusivity in 1969. The spider production consisted of 82 4.7-liter cars and 46 4.9-liter “SS” models, as per the factory archive.
Source: Bonhams Cars
