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1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spyder by Ghia

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1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spyder by Ghia
RM Auctions, Amelia Island, Florida 2015
Sold For $797,500 Including Commission
Chassis No.AM115/S 1087
Engine No.AM115/S 1087
Two Florida owners and 49,000 miles from new
From the collection of Bill Warner, the chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
Still powered by its original engine
Beautifully restored; exceptionally well documented
One of the very finest examples in existence
330 bhp, 4.7-liter dual overhead-camshaft V-8 engine, five-speed manual transmission, independent coil-spring front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 100.4 in.
Maserati’s Ghibli was penned by the talented and young Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working for Ghia, and it all but stole the show when it was introduced at the 1966 Turin Auto Show. It was conceived as a luxurious and sporting grand touring car that was perfect for crossing large swathes of land in a single bound, and it was a spectacular choice for the individual looking for a stylish automobile that had space for two and their luggage yet was still capable of sprinting across Europe or North America. The car was fitted with a 4.7-liter DOHC V-8 engine with dry-sump lubrication, making it just as powerful as it was attractive, as it boasted 330 horsepower and a 0–60 mph time of 6.8 seconds, which lead to a top speed of 154 mph.
The most desirable variant of the Ghibli was the spyder. It was identical in every way to its closed sibling, boasting the same performance and an identical amount of practicality but all with the added romanticism of top-down touring. With minimal effort, the fabric top could be neatly folded away behind the seats, leaving more than enough luggage space in the trunk for both the driver and passenger. Only 125 Ghibli Spyders were built in total, and they rarely become available on the open market, leaving them as icons of design for most and the perfect grand touring car for the fortunate few.
This 4.7-liter Ghibli Spyder was purchased new by Raymond Mason Sr., the financier and founder of the Charter Companies of Jacksonville, Florida, and 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. However, instead of picking the Ghibli Spyder up in Pennsylvania, as most customers would, Mason instead opted to pick up his new car from the Maserati factory in Modena, and from there, he took possession of the car on October 26, 1970. On his maiden voyage with the car, he immediately drove across Europe to his estate in County Galway, Ireland, and the car remained in Europe for his use for the next two years.
In 1972, Mason brought the Ghibli Spyder home to America, shipping it to New York City. Just like he did when he purchased the car new, Mason opted to drive the car from New York to his estate in Epping Forest, the former estate of Alfred I. DuPont, which was located in Jacksonville, Florida. Following its arrival in Florida, Mason’s Ghilbi Spyder continued to see use in the Jacksonville area for many years, but the car was prone to overheating in the humid Florida climate, which was a common issue with early Ghiblis. As a result, Mason was convinced by a local shop to switch the car’s engine with a Chevrolet V-8 to alleviate the problem. Afterwards, Mason drove his Ghibli Spyder for several more years before leaving it to rest in his garage permanently.
It was not until the 1990s that the Ghibli Spyder was discovered and purchased from Mr. Mason by Bill Warner, the chairman of the Amelia island Concours d’Elegance, who decided to restore the car back to its original configuration. With its Chevrolet V-8 still intact, 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 the more sporting and desirable ZF five-speed manual gearbox. Finally, a later Ghibli radiator with dual cooling fans was installed to address its overheating problems, ensuring that this example will run well in any climate. Following the completion of the restoration, it was loaned through Maserati USA for use in the final scenes of the movie Love, Wedding, Marriage, starring Mandy Moore. After its 15 minutes of fame on the silver screen, the Ghibli Spyder was brought back to Brumos for some final detailing, and it was at this time that Ghibli expert Ivan Ruiz called Warner and told him that he had come across a Ghibli engine that might be of interest, as the block was stamped AM115/S 1087, which made it this Spyder’s original powerplant.
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Robert Myrick Photography
Category
Kereta - Car
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