MAZZA AND A FEZZA
ARGUABLY GIUGIARO’S BEST WORK STILL LOOKS THE PART TODAY
IT SAYS A LOT about the design of a car that, over 50 years down the road, it still looks like a formidable bit of kit and pretty modern. The legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro (then working for Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin)is responsible for the lines on this one.
This, the Ghibli, named for a north African hot desert wind, is part of an impressive CV. It includes the equally stunning Iso Grifo, De Tomaso Mangusta, Lotus Esprit S1, the uber-famous De Lorean, plus more humble kit such as the MkI Volkswagen Golf and Alfa Romeo 159. He even dabbled in motorcycle design at one point, penning the lines for the first Ducati 860 GTS of the mid-seventies.
For Maserati, this was a monumentally successful series across 1967-73, even though the production numbers are low by most standards: 1170 coupes and 127 Spyders.
Marketed as a 2+2, it was really a two-seater with steel monocoque body and initially powered by a lusty 4.7lt quad-cam V8, claiming a little over 300 horses. That was matched to a five-speed ZF manual transmission, though you could order a three-speed auto. The engine was later to
“MASERATI UNDERSTOOD HOW TO MAKE YOU FEEL SPECIAL”
be bumped up to 4.9lt, scored slightly larger carburetors, and gained an extra 25-or-so horses. In ultimate SS form, with the larger engine, it claimed a 270km/h top speed.
Maserati clearly understood how to make the occupants feel special. The cabin is sumptuous in leather while the dash achieves that aircraft-like feel several makers emulated, with myriad dials and switches.
When it comes to the exterior, it’s hard to miss those Campagnolo wheels – a brand well-known to enthusiasts of Italian toys, whether on two or four wheels..
This example came across our shores in 1973 and is accompanied by a fair bit of history. It’s had a considerable amount of work done on it over the years. At the new cost of a very good house in the capital city of your choosing, it was the preserve of the seriously wealthy. At $275k it’s still not priced for the faint of heart, but it stacks up well against what else the same money buys.