1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder
1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder s/n 1227, the 114th of only 125 Maserati Ghibli spyders built and the most user-friendly of all the early 1970s Italian supercars. Named after a Sahara Desert wind, the Ghibli features stunning good looks with a long and sleek hood line, a compact cabin and an abrupt cutoff Kamm tail rear. Power comes from Maserati’s race-bred, dry-sumped 4.7-liter V8 fed by four Weber carbs that evolved from the 450S sports-racer and was first seen in road-going guise in the 5000 GT. The mid-mounted 4,719-cubic centimeter V-8 engine features quad chain-driven camshafts producing 330 horsepower and acres of torque while a ZF five-speed manual and a limited-slip differential put the power to the ground. Thanks to power steering, a silky-smooth ZF five speed, a light clutch and A/C, the Ghibli is user-friendly and easy to drive. The Ghibli rivaled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line performance – its top speed was close to 170mph and with 1,149 coupés and only 125 Spyders built, the Ghibli matched the Daytona and outsold 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 center of gravity. 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.
1970 Ghibli Spyder s/n 1227 is well-maintained and matching-numbers with an older restoration and a known history back to its first selling dealer. First sold in Atlanta, GA by Baker Motor Company, 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 wheels and comes with a large photo and document binder outlining the service work done back to 1987 and the restoration work done in 2008. Comes with a copy of the original build sheets, a copy of the Certificate of Origin and a copy of the centerfold poster from the Viale Ciro Menotti (Maserati Club) newsletter of 1992. It is equipped with the desirable five-speed manual transmission and runs and drives extremely well. The odometer shows just over 41,578 miles, which appear to be from new and which attest to the car’s current condition. It is also fitted with almost all the desirable options when ordered new, including Borrani wire wheels, more than adequate air conditioning, electric windows and user-friendly power steering. With only 125 Ghibli Spyders built and with Ferrari Daytona Spyders at $2.5m plus 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 from new. Comes with a substantial photo album documenting the ownership history and restoration as well as a replica owner’s manual . The most user-friendly of the three iconic 1970s Supercars
