Photo: RM Sotheby's
When Giorgetto Giugiaro was penning cars for Carrozzeria Ghia, way before the Ford Motor Company acquired the Italian coachbuilding company, the Ghia badge was applied to some of the most beautiful automobiles ever created. The Maserati Ghibli (AM115) is one of those automobiles.
From 1967 to 1973, Maserati built the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Ghibli in Modena, Italy. Initially offered as a two-door coupe (1,170 units produced), the Ghibli spawned a Spyder variant in 1969 that was built in 128 examples if you take into account the 4.9L V8-engined Spyder SS. The yellow Ghibli Spyder in the adjacent gallery isn't one of those 128 cars.
It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most significant Ghibli in the nameplate's history because it is the Maserati Ghibli Spyder prototype. Built in 1968, Maserati Classiche certifies chassis AM115/S 1001 and engine AM115/S 1001 as being the prototype that led to the production version of the Ghibli Spyder. Showcased on the Ghia stand at the 1968 Turin Auto Show and Maserati booth at the 1969 Geneva Auto Show, the prototype is different visual-wise from the production version of the Ghibli Spyder.
The recesses in the door panels where the door handles are mounted, fuel filler doors accessible by opening the boot, the longer boot lid and character line, a trunk-lid release lever that operates inversely to that on production Ghibli Spyders and a radio antenna mounted at the rear of the right-hand side fender are some of those differences.
Following research and development, chassis 1001 was sold by Maserati to an Italian gentleman in October 1969, then it was imported in the United States in the mid-1970s. Other than fresh rubber, stereo speakers, and external mirrors, the 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spyder prototype has neven been taken apart for restoration. It is so original that it even retains the factory Campagnolo stickers on its beautiful alloys.
To be offered at RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction in August, the Ghibli Spyder Prototype at hand was driven only 67,310 kilometers (41,894 miles) and is one of the most jaw-dropping Italian vehicles built in the 20th century. Other than its sheer significance in Maserati history, the prototype's 330 horsepower 4.7-liter dual overhead-camshaft V8 engine with twin-spark ignition system isn't too shabby either.
It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most significant Ghibli in the nameplate's history because it is the Maserati Ghibli Spyder prototype. Built in 1968, Maserati Classiche certifies chassis AM115/S 1001 and engine AM115/S 1001 as being the prototype that led to the production version of the Ghibli Spyder. Showcased on the Ghia stand at the 1968 Turin Auto Show and Maserati booth at the 1969 Geneva Auto Show, the prototype is different visual-wise from the production version of the Ghibli Spyder.
The recesses in the door panels where the door handles are mounted, fuel filler doors accessible by opening the boot, the longer boot lid and character line, a trunk-lid release lever that operates inversely to that on production Ghibli Spyders and a radio antenna mounted at the rear of the right-hand side fender are some of those differences.
Following research and development, chassis 1001 was sold by Maserati to an Italian gentleman in October 1969, then it was imported in the United States in the mid-1970s. Other than fresh rubber, stereo speakers, and external mirrors, the 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spyder prototype has neven been taken apart for restoration. It is so original that it even retains the factory Campagnolo stickers on its beautiful alloys.
To be offered at RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction in August, the Ghibli Spyder Prototype at hand was driven only 67,310 kilometers (41,894 miles) and is one of the most jaw-dropping Italian vehicles built in the 20th century. Other than its sheer significance in Maserati history, the prototype's 330 horsepower 4.7-liter dual overhead-camshaft V8 engine with twin-spark ignition system isn't too shabby either.
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