Excellent older restoration. Red/Black, dry-sumped 4.7 V8, A/C, P/S.

There is no doubt that Italian design firms were, and still, are the trendsetters in the world of automotive design, pushing the limits of sleek styling, ascetic-yet-elegant interiors and state-of-the-art performance.. The 1960s brought us the best of the per-safety-bumper, pre-smog Italian supercars;, the Miura, introduced at Geneva in early 1966; the Ghibli, introduced at the Turin Motor show in late 1966 and the Daytona, introduced to the public at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968. indeed, the concept of a car that transcends the norm in terms of speed, performance and their relevance to regular traffic is first associated with the Lamborghini Miura when CAR magazine editor Leonard John Kensell Setright called it “The Supercar”!

The Maserati Ghibli was the hit of Italy’s 1966 Turin Auto show. Designed by the brilliant young Giorgetto Giugiaro while working for Ghia, the Ghibli served the same rarefied market as the Lamborghini Miura and the upcoming Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’. Production of the Ghibli began with a fastback coupé in April 1967, joined by the spyder in 1969. Named after a Sahara Desert wind, the Ghibli featured phallic good looks with a long sleek hood line, a compact cabin and an abrupt cutoff Kamm tail rear. The most startling aspect of its appearance was the height, or rather the lack of it as it was only five inches taller than a Ford GT40. Dry-sump lubrication enabled the engine to be mounted deep in the chassis, permitting the low hood line, while a stiff suspension ensured that the tires did not foul the wheel arches. Behind beautifully integrated pop-up headlamps, Maserati fitted a race-bred, dry-sumped 4.7-liter V8 fed by four Weber carbs, evolved from that of the 450S sports-racer and first seen in road-going guise in the 5000GT. The mid-mounted 4,719-cubic centimetre V-8 engine featured two chain-driven camshafts per cylinder bank producing 330 horsepower and acres of torque while a ZF five-speed manual and a limited-slip differential put the power to the ground. The Ghibli rivalled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line performance - its top speed was close to 170mph and with 1,149 coupés and only 125 Spyders bult, the Ghibli out sold both the Daytona and the Miura when new. While the Ghibli was capable of the supercar performance levels of the Daytona, the Ghibli was also known for its drivability at low and high speeds, as well as its predictable, balanced, and forgiving handling characteristics, attributable to near-perfect weight distribution and a low centre of gravity. According to a recent road test in Classic & Sports Car magazine, “The truth is, you could learn to drive in this car or you could learn your racing lines in it.”

According to information complied by Historian Mike Sheehan, 1970 Ghibli Spyder s/n 1227 is outstanding example of a well-maintained, older restoration and matching-numbers 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder with a known history back to its first selling dealer. First sold in Atlanta, GA by Baker Motor Cars, this Ghibli Spyder was featured on the 1992 Maserati International Club poster. Later owned by collector Gene Ponder, correctly and comprehensively restored in brilliant red with a black leather interior and cloth top, it sits on four authentic Borrani wire and comes with a large photo and document binder outlining the work done. Just treated to a full engine out re-seal, service and engine bay detail by Rod Drew’s F.A.I. in Costa Mesa. It is equipped with the desirable five-speed manual transmission and runs and drive as extremely well. The odometer shows just over 41,564 miles, which appear to be from new and which attest to the car’s current condition. It is also fitted with nearly all the desirable options when ordered new, including Borrani wire wheels, more than adequate air conditioning, electric windows, user-friendly power steering, and the original radio. With only 125 Ghibli Spyders built and with Ferrari Daytona Spyders at $2.5m the dry-sumped 4.7 litre Ghibli Spyders are the bargain of the 1970s drop-top supercars. Fully serviced and matching numbers, of course. Well documented history for new. Comes with a substantial photo album documenting the ownership history and restoration. The most user-friendly of the three iconic 1970s Supercars.

Because preserving history and documentation is important to us, the original owner's manual and a substantial photo album documenting the ownership history, restoration and engine-out reseal and service will both be available for inspection at the auction.