Probably the best in existence- one of 11 European SS versions 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia Private Portfolio No. 055 ● Chassis no. AM 115/S49 1259 Engine no. 1259 One of just 11 European specification 4.9SS Spyders built (manual/ automatic combined) ● Ultimate factory specification with manual gearbox, hard top, Borrani wire wheels, fitted luggage and all other options ● Total ‘ground up’ rebuild completed in 2006 and fully documented history from new ● Price on request A strong contender for the ‘most handsome car of the 1960s’ title, Maserati’s Ghibli debuted at the Turin Motor Show in November 1966. Styled at Ghia by the young Giorgietto Giugiaro and named after a Sahara Desert wind, the Ghibli rivalled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line performance – its top speed was close to 170mph (275km/h) – while beating it for price and – arguably – looks. More than fifteen feet long and nearly six feet wide, the Ghibli occupied an inordinate amount of space for a mere two-seater, but perhaps the most startling aspect of its appearance was the height, or rather the lack of it. 1 1 The Ghibli used a tubular steel chassis with a live rear axle, leaf springs and a single locating arm. The power unit was Maserati’s venerable four-cam, 90 degree V8, an engine derived from that of the 450S sports car and first seen in road-going guise in the 5000GT. This was used in 4.7-litre form up to 1970 when it was superseded by the 4.9-litre ‘SS’ version. Power rose to 335 bhp and performance was stunning, with 100mph (160km/h) attainable in under 16 seconds. Private Portfolio No. 055 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) Even more sensational was the handsome Ghibli Spyder, launched in 1969 and the direct rival of the Ferrari Daytona Spyder. Giugiaro’s styling for an open-top version was arguably even more successful than the coupé and is regarded as a classic of sports car design. Ghibli production ended in 1973 after 1,149 coupés and just 125 Spyder models had been built. Of the latter, 79 were fitted with the smaller 4.7 litre engine (23 with automatic gearbox, 56 with manual transmission) and 46 received the larger 4.9 litre unit (of which 9 automatics and 37 manuals). Like the open Daytona, the Ghibli Spyder sold well in the USA, with 75 cars destined for that market: 40 were the 4.7 litre version and 35 the 4.9 ‘SS’. These build figures were provided to us during a recent visit to the factory archives and are not speculation. Therefore, just 11 Ghibli SS Spyders were built to European specification, automatic and manual versions included. For the record, a total of 35 Ghibli Spyder buyers specified the optional hard top and 20 chose fitted luggage We believe that this is probably the finest Maserati Ghibli Spyder in existence; as its previous owners we are certainly biased, but having known the car for many years, and having tracked it down, sold it three times, researched its history, overseen its restoration and enjoyed driving it, we make that statement with a thorough knowledge of the car and its market. 2 Private Portfolio No. 055 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) Given the amount of detail in our possession, herewith a synopsis of the car’s specification and history: Specification 1971 - Factory invoice Version: Europe Destination: Citroen Cars, Slough, UK Original exterior color: Verde Gemma 106 G 53 Original interior color: Senape PAC 1775 Original Equipment: Air conditioning, power steering, hard top, fitted luggage, Becker radio with electric antenna, stereo with twin speakers, seat belts, overtaking lights in front grille, wire wheels, dashboard and transmission tunnel in Connolly leather, EE plates, European specification Plates: EE (export) Continuous assembly: #1259 Engine: #1259 History 3 February 1st 1971 Order no. MAS/1/71 placed with Mario Tozzi-Condivi of MTC Cars Ltd, 173 Westbourne Grove, London by William Benjamin of Villa Guide, Antibes, France and WA Benjamin Inc, Two Park Avenue, New York 10016. Mr. Benjamin (40 years old) owned a medical publishing group. Base price US$13,750 plus extras totaling US$16,590, delivery in Modena for ‘1st ten days of May, 1971’ February 2nd 1971 Mr. Baraldi at Maserati factory acknowledges order for “Ghibli Convertible…with all extras” and asks UK agent MTC if client will take one of cars offered in previous telex February 5th 1971 Factory confirm new order to UK representative Mr. McDonald at Citroen Cars, Slough, with delivery in 90 days Private Portfolio No. 055 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) April 22nd 1971 Factory telex to Citroen Slough confirming price for “Ghibli 5000 Convertible with European specifications” at $17,792 for which “net cost to Citroen Cars Ltd will be $13,351” and “regretting cannot accept lower price” May 10th 1971 Factory invoices Citroen Cars Ltd for new “Maserati Gran Touring car type Ghibli 4900cc Spyder” at price of US$13,440.00 May 12th 1971 Factory issues Certificate of Origin May 18th 1971 Collected from factory with temporary plates ‘EE7260’ by William Benjamin June 1971 Mr. Benjamin writes to factory complaining of various faults on his “three week old, $17,000 Maserati” with copy to his lawyer July 1971 Factory driver collects car from Antibes and returns to Modena Sept. 1971 Returned to Mr. Benjamin after work completed and invoice issued to owner for jobs not under guarantee May 29th 1972 Factory internal memo to Mr. Baraldi points out that EE plates expired on May 10th 1972 and asks to contact Mr. Benjamin c.1978 Car purchased from Porsche dealer in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, by dealer Sander Van Der Velden, Tilburg, who sends it to Italy for cosmetic restoration, including repainting from green to burgundy and partial retrim Later Wins prize at Zandvoort Concours d’Elegance Nov. 27th 1981 Included on list of stolen cars sent by AL Vanini, Milano, to Maserati factory on behalf of Interpol, requesting owners’ names Dec. 15th 1981 Maserati factory replies to Vanini that it can only supply information to Modena police in person of Maresciallo di Franco 1983 Sold to FW Overlander, West Germany c.1986 Sold to Wolfgang von Schmieder, Blonay and later Cologny, Switzerland, mileage c.80,000km June 6th 1987 Mileage now 80,168km Certificate of Origin 4 Private Portfolio No. 055 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) Ab o v e: As tested by Octane magazine vs. Ferrari Daytona Spyder, Swiss Alps, July 2007. March 2nd 1988 Mileage now 81,492km Sept 3rd 1990 Mileage now 82,934km Late 1990s Driven on Raid Basel- Paris by von Schmieder Sept. 2001 Shown by von Schmieder at the Louis Vuitton Classic, Parc de Bagatelle, Paris March 11th 2001 Offered at Bonhams Geneva auction of The ‘S’ (von Schmieder) Collection, Lot 115, est. SFR.130,000-160,000, not sold March 2001 Sold post-auction to private buyer, Geneva, Switzerland. Stored in Bern, Switzerland, and not driven Mid-2003 Sold to Ian F Wade, Hong Kong, but still stored in Bern, Switzerland Mid-2006 Sold by Wade to Kidston SA, Geneva, Switzerland Sept. 2006- April 2007 Completely restored in Italy by Carrozzeria Autosport (bodywork and project management), Pietro Cremonini (paintwork), Fratelli Luppi (upholstery), William Gatti (electrics) and Officina Candini (mechanics) to original factory specification including colours 5 April 2007 Shown at Concorso di Eleganza Villa d’Este, Italy May 2007 Swiss road registered ‘GE 18967’ (Geneva) May 2007 Driven by Simon Kidston/ Dougal Fisken on Ecosse Tour, Scotland June 2007 Returned to Italy for further work and fine tuning June 2007 Tested in Italy by Ruoteclassiche magazine for comparison feature article vs Ferrari 365GTS/4 Daytona Spyder (silver) July 2007 Tested in Switzerland by Octane magazine for comparison cover feature vs Ferrari 365GTS/4 Daytona Spyder (red) August 2007 Sold by Kidston to Swiss buyer, now with 2,500km covered, and re-registered January 2008 Offered for private treaty sale by Kidston SA, Geneva, now with 6,500km covered Private Portfolio No. 055 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) So why is this Ghibli SS Spyder so special? Well, first of all, rarity: almost the same number of Ghibli Spyders were built as Daytona Spyders, aimed at a similar clientele and with similar price tags and performance on offer, but only 11 Ghibli SS Spyders were built to European specification, without the ugly add-ons required by US safety and emissions authorities, of which perhaps half were the desirable manual version such as the car offered here. Secondly, the specification: this Spyder was ordered with all possible options, including hard top, fitted luggage, air conditioning, power steering, Borrani wire wheels and Becker stereo system, not to mention Mr. Benjamin’s special request overtaking lights and extra leather in the cabin. Also little known to most experts, late Ghibli Spyders such as this car have a more attractive central dash layout, with chrome bezels surrounding rocker switches rather than plainer lever controls. Thirdly, the car is very well documented, thanks to diligent research over the years and factory assistance. Even the original certificate of origin is with the car, together with copies of all order and purchase documentation which makes for a fascinating read if you’re keen (and if you’re not, this isn’t the car for you). Finally, the depth and quality of the restoration by the best craftsmen in the business. Each has major international concours credits to his name (Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach), and they were given a free hand on this car. 6 The extent of the restoration is too detailed to list here, but this was not a commercial restoration: it was a ‘ground up’ rebuild to cover every single aspect of the car, supervised by Carrozzeria Autosport (Bacchelli & Villa) with close follow up in person and nothing compromised, no corner cut and no expense spared. For example, the distinctive paint colour, a typical period hue rarely seen nowadays, was carefully matched by top painter Pietro Cremonini and the original two-pack formula used, which changes colour depending on light and temperature. As a less significant example, most owners would fit Pirelli tyres to a car of this type, but the period correspondence shows this Ghibli Spyder had Michelins: they cost double and were fitted. Much debate went on about the siting of the Private Portfolio No. 055 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder (manual) Ab o v e: Modena, summer 2007. The restoration team proudly hands over the freshly restored Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder. electric aerial, the hole for which had been previously filled; only after a long discussion between ex-factory employees was the first of the two positions used in period chosen. The engine and gearbox were completely rebuilt by Officina Candini (in the person of ex-Maserati race mechanic Giuseppe Candini), as were suspension, brakes and steering. The rear axle was opened, checked and found to be in good health. The electrics worked fine but were completely renewed by Modenese expert William Gatti and all instruments and switchgear restored. Interior leather of the correct type, very hard to find now that Connolly are no longer in business, was sourced and used in the cabin retrim, paying attention to the first owner’s special request that the dash and tunnel should be in leather. The hood is new and all carpets too. The only discreet divergences are as follows: the carpets are of a finer wool texture than the course type originally employed, the wire wheels (newly made for the car by Borrani) have a 7.5” offset rather than 7” (similar to factory alloys, giving a better look and handling), and the stereo is now a retro-look Becker (the same make as originally fitted) with hidden GPS, iPod connection and telephone facility. All bills are available (try to find another car restored in Italy about which that can be said!) documenting total expenditure in the region of €150,000, not to mention an input of time and effort which would scare off all but the most determined and fastidious owner. A substantial leather bound history and restoration file accompanies the car, which is Swiss registered but supplied with its old Dutch (EU) title document. Since completion of this work last year this exceptional Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder has been carefully run in and is now ready for next summer- and many more- in a collection where only the very best is good enough. Kidston SA 7 Avenue Pictet-de-Richemont 1207 Genève, Switzerland Tel +41 22 740 1939 Fax +41 22 740 1945 [email protected] www.kidston.com 7
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