26 LISTOPADA 2015 ADAM
Maserati Ghibli SS to wyjątkowa wersja fantastycznego samochodu. Wyposażony w manualną skrzynię biegów i powiększoną do 4,9 l jednostkę, obiecuje i zapewnia wyjątkowe emocje. Za młodu był konkurencją Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona, dziś można go kupić za połowę ceny wielkiego konkurenta. Prezentowany egzemplarz jest fenomenalnie odrestaurowany i bogato wyposażony, posiada szprychowe koła Borani, wspomaganie kierownicy, klimatyzację, fabryczny zestaw narzędzi i rzadko spotykany zestaw toreb pasujących do bagażnika. Aby wejść w jego posiadanie potrzebne było niespełna 1,3 mln PLN i odrobina szczęścia podczas aukcji „Rolling Sculpture” w Nowym Jorku.
Link: http://www.kenobrothers.com/auctions/1972-maserati-ghibli-ss-4.9-coupe
1972 MASERATI GHIBLI SS 4.9 COUPE
ESTIMATE: $250,000 – $450,000 USD
SOLD: $320,000 USD
Lot: 102
Auction: ‘Rolling Sculpture’ 2015 NYC
19th November 2015 5:00pm EST
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GT EVER CREATED?
The Maserati Ghibli has been considered by many to be the most beautiful Sports/GT car ever created. This particular Ghibli is the much sought-after SS model with the bigger 4.9-liter engine. This matching-numbers car has recently been the subject of a completed nut and bolt restoration, in its original factory colors. It left the factory with the desirable options of wire wheels, air conditioning, power steering, and very rare, fitted luggage. The combination of singular options and exclusive restoration makes this Ghibli SS a unique opportunity for the demanding collector.
Year: 1972
Model: Ghibli
Coachwork: Coachwork: Ghia (Giugiaro)
Chassis: AM115/49 2284
Mileage: 73,768
Exterior Color: Red
Interior Color: Black
Optional Borrani Wire Wheels
Optional Power Steering
Very Rare Fitted Luggage Set
Matching Numbers
Well-Documented History
Original Factory Colors
Excellent Running Condition
Recent 'Nut And Bolt’ Full Restoration
Includes Complete Tool Rool And Jack Bag
“ … Try walking down Fifth Avenue in a $400 suit and a $150 cordovan attaché case. Nobody looks at you. Then drive down the Avenue in a Ghibli. They look – a lot ..”
– Leo Levine, New York Magazine, November 1968
ABOUT THIS CAR:
On a Maserati Ghibli it is relatively easy to verify numbers, as the title, chassis, and engine all share the same number. On this car, the VIN is AM115/49 2284; that same number is stamped on the chassis and the engine and is visible on the dash and door panel plates. As mentioned before, this car left the factory painted “fire red” with black leather interior, just as it is today. While this may seem a common color combination for an Italian car, it turns out that few Ghiblis left the factory painted red. Most examples that are painted red today left the factory a different color. It is rare to find a red Ghibli with documentation that shows it is original.
It was raining when I inspected the car and I did not have the opportunity to drive it. The owner claims that the engine was completely rebuilt and there were receipts to back up those claims. I started the car, heard the engine run and checked the gauges and noted very good oil pressure. I checked the power windows, the air conditioning, and headlight operation. I left feeling rather confident that the car is in good mechanical condition, and very little, if anything, would be required for the car to be put into regular use. Of course, in any similar purchase of a vintage car, I would recommend you have your mechanic inspect the car before embarking on a long journey. The car comes with a good reproduction toolkit. Also reproduced is the fitted luggage set. This luggage option, which was original to this car, is rarely seen.
THIS CAR’S PAST:
I was pleased to have been asked to write about this Ghibli SS as I used to own it in the late 1980’s. My first Ghibli had an automatic transmission and I really wanted one with the 5-speed manual gearbox, and especially if I could find an SS model. I found this car in Dallas, Texas, and it was exactly what I wanted. The car ran well and had been well maintained. More importantly it had the features I wanted, in particular, power steering, and wire wheels. The history of the car is well documented and it even comes with a copy of the original Bill of Sale from Grossman Motor Cars, in New York, and the Maserati factory “build sheet” which indicates the original numbers and colors; all of which match. I sold this car in the early 1990’s and had not seen it until a few weeks ago. Of course, now the car has been completely restored and looks much better than when I owned it.
HISTORY OF THE GHIBLI:
First shown in 1966, the Ghibli was a groundbreaking design that was an instant success with both customers and the press. It is perhaps Giugiaro’s finest design, which is saying a lot when one considers he was chosen as the Best Automotive Designer of the 20th Century.
The Ghibli and the Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona are often compared, as both were priced similarly and were contemporaries. Some people think that it was the Ghibli that set the high bar and the Daytona was Ferrari’s challenge to its success. The Ghibli has been, and will always be, one of the most significant production Maseratis constructed and many consider a Maserati collection incomplete without one.
RESTORATION OR PRESERVATION:
One negative aspect of a 1970’s Italian car is that it was never meant to last 40+ years. The inner metal panels were left unprotected and simply covered with sound deadening material. Over the years, rust will form and sooner or later the car will need restoration. It is said that there are only two types of Ghiblis, those that have been restored and those that need to be restored. This Ghibli fits the category of a car that has already been restored. The car comes with extensive documentation and photos showing the car in bare metal and body panels being repaired using proper lead techniques on the body seams. Not all restorations are created equally and this one seems to have been very comprehensive and well-documented.
MARKET TREND/COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS:
I have been collecting vintage Maseratis for over 30 years, and for most of those years Maseratis have been widely admired for their build quality as well as performance. Over the last 5 years, I have seen a shift in the market values of vintage Maseratis, with their prices and recognition rising rapidly; while future values are impossible to predict, the Ghibli’s prices are still on a strong, upward trend, especially over the last 3 years.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Although very nice, the leather used for the interior does not exactly match the grain and sheen of the original. Also, the carpet appears to be Wilton wool, which is denser than the original. I also have Wilton wool in my personal Ghibli as it is better quality than the original. The undercarriage is extremely well-done and one of the few Ghiblis I have seen in which the suspension and differential were painted and plated correctly. Similarly, the engine compartment is well-detailed. Body panel fit and finish are as good or better than when the car was new.
SUMMARY
The Maserati Ghibli loves the open road and is particularly ideal for long distance driving events, but is always a pleasure to drive. This car has been recently restored to high standards and the work is fully-documented and matches the factory records. This Ghibli is not only the rare SS version but left the factory with desirable options. Regardless of your desire to drive the car or simply add it to a special collection it is a car worthy of special consideration.
– Ivan Ruiz, Maserati Club International Regional Director, concours judge and thecarnut.com