Classic Cars with History: Maserati Ghibli

One of the automotive novelties we have seen this year is the new Maserati Ghibli, a model that sits below the Quattroporte and with which the luxury brand of the Fiat Group aims to offer its customers an entry-level saloon.

But today in Classic Cars with History we want to revisit the original Maserati Ghibli, the one that made its debut at the Turin Motor Show back in 1966. A true sports model that combines the elegance of Giugiaro’s design with a genuine 4.7-litre V8 engine.

The first time the Maserati Ghibli was seen was at the Turin Motor Show in the 1966 edition, sharing the spotlight with other models presented there, such as the Fiat 124 and the prototype of the Ferrari Dino. This coupé stood out for its generous dimensions, as it became one of the largest road cars of Maserati, with a length of 4.590 metres, a width of 1.798 and a height of 1.158 metres. Although it was presented in 1966, series production did not begin until the following year, continuing until 1974 at the Italian factory in Modena.

The exterior design that Giorgetto Giugiaro created for the Ghibli makes it a model that still looks attractive today. The low bonnet height and a long front end headed by the trident badge make the Ghibli eye-catching at first sight, a look completed at night when the retractable headlights are revealed. Although it was initially configured as a two-seater, its generous dimensions and a wheelbase of more than 2.5 metres led to its conversion into a 2+2. Inside, it featured high-quality materials, where leather was a must. Among its equipment options was already the possibility of fitting air conditioning. The mechanical package was led by a dry-sump, 4-cam, 4.7-litre V8 that offered its driver a power output of no less than 320 CV and the ability to reach 257 km/h, with a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just over 6 seconds. The usual transmission was a 5-speed ZF manual gearbox, although an automatic version was also sold. To control this powertrain, Maserati fitted ventilated front brakes with twin-piston calipers.

The following year, Maserati added an alternative engine, a V8 enlarged to 4.9 litres, with less power but increased torque. That same year, a convertible version joined the coupé for those who love driving with the roof down. One of the aspects for which the Maserati Ghibli was criticised in its day was its use of a tubular chassis with steel tubes similar to those of other models from more mainstream brands of the era. The main drawback of this bodywork was the additional weight it implied. Another negative aspect was the use of a traditional leaf-spring rear suspension. Even so, the Ghibli became a very important model in its time, with a very elegant design and a powerful engine, attributes with which it sought to compete with models such as the Ferrari Daytona or the Lamborghini Miura. The end result was that during the seven years of the Maserati Ghibli’s production, around 1,150 coupé models were sold, along with close to 125 of the convertible version.

Photos | autowp.ur