Howdy, Richard Wright, classic car mechanic, here in Dallas Tx. I just joined the forum. I nearly purchased a 68 Ghibli w a 350 chevy, that has since moved on. I am looking for a coupe, and would entertain cars for sale here on the forum, or leads on one. I also have to possibly trade a series 1 Jaguar E-type coupe w 52 original miles and AC and history back to new. It recently scored a 99.96 in the JCNA concours driven class. Spindrift White w black leather and chrome wire wheels. email me: [email protected] Thanx, Richard
Hi Richard, Welcome... You know Jose over at Drivers Source? He's in Dallas too, I think.. Had had 2 Ghiblis in need of everything last week..
Richard, Welcome to the forum. I think you will find folks here to be knowledgeable and willing to help. I just have to ask ... how can a Jaguar e-type with 52 original miles compete in the "driven" class? Perhaps the definition of "driven" has changed but I would expect more than 1 mile per year to qualify as "driven" Ivan (JCNA e-type judge)
Past times .... About 10 years ago I bought a Ghibli 4,7 Coupe unseen for about 25,000.-- Euro, drove it from Vienna home (more than 800 km), did this and that (as usual, full brake job, all technical rubber parts replaced), drove around for about 5 years, lots of miles, and sold it for about 35,000.-- again. Great time with this car, overall a lot of fun (and some work) all the time for free. Fully sufficient for a petrolhead and 99% () of the time I do not weep over the missed chance of getting a lot more money today ... But it is a gamble. My Jarama, was for sale by a dealer in 1989 for DM 150,000.--. In 1990 he offered it for 90,000.--, in 1991 for 50,000.-- and then I bought it from him for DM 35,000.--. He was so happy to see it part. That is the opposite side of the coin....
All ideas and views are true. But still one thing remains: The Ghibli is as thouroghbred as any Daytona or Miura (and certainly superior to Bizzarini) and therefore people will be prepared to pay very good prices. If that means 200k, 300k or 400k in the future no one can predict, but for sure these cars will never fall in value again, but in the contrary go north!
I respectfully disagree. Compared with e.g. the Jarama, the Ghibli is a very crude driving experience due to rather simple suspension setup. Drives like a truck (my Jarama neither has power assisted steering). The Jarama feels much more sporting and is by far faster, in particular on secondary roads. Even with a car of considerably less power, the Montreal, you can drive circles around a Ghibli as long as you do not compare performance in a straight line only. I may note that the suspension of my Ghibli was in fine order as well... Thats why I sold the Ghibli and keep the Jarama (presently I am completely rebuilding the machanics, so that it will last well for the next 20 years, it will definitely not come up for sale until I quit driving). I must, however, admit, that the Ghibli is most beautiful to look at, simply gorgeous ....
Hi Bernhard, That's somewhat my impression as well with the Ghibli/Indy but I'm an Espada owner and that chassis is much more supple though I have as yet not tried to drive the thing very hard. It's not ready for that just yet and frankly the tires available now versus 25 years ago is rather depressing. It steers like a truck at lower speeds. I don't imagine the Jarama could be much different as it's an Espada up front anyway? I need that electric power steering conversion and probably a reinforcement gusset for the steering box. I've heard wonderful things about that and saw a converted Espada last year in Billings, MT. Gorgeous example too. But where the Lamborghini engine falls down badly when compared to the Maserati is torque and especially down low. It's also much more difficult to work on than the Maserati V8. Spark plugs and carburetion huge advance Maserati whereas the water pump AC compressor on the Indy, Ghibli Khamsin is just plain dumb in my view. Both make wonderful noises just different. The Maserati is rev challenged but I still managed to hit 160mph in the Nevada desert. So it's enough. The old Lamborghini V12 sounds much faster than it really is. As for looks I love the Espada so many would find my taste suspect on that alone! It just screams exotic to me much like the Countach does. The Miura is much more beautiful. Never been a fan of the Jarama's styling but I bet the changes in dimensions and weight make it a better driver than the Espada, Ghibli or Indy. I like them all anyway. Some years of the Indy (proper dash design) are very nicely finished inside, well built and the 4.7 engine in the once I drove was just wonderful. I think these are headed up too if the car is completely restored and sorted. A good cruiser not a canyon chaser but then all of these big front engined GTs are more like that anyway.
Hi Bob, Indeed the Jarama does drive better than the Espada and this is likely the result of the Jarama´s short wheelbase, since the suspension setup is somewhat the same. Additional contribution might result from the engine being placed a bit further back in the Jarama. Low speed steering is heavy, of course, in both in absence of power steering. But i feel that it becomes sufficiently light above 20 km/h already, but I personally prefer heavy steering and I am for this reason thinking of how to reduce power assistance in my 599. I must admit, though, that I am not completely through with the Espadas suspension yet. Anyway, it it always suprising what a difference a new set of tires makes, in particular with the classic sportscars. Anything older than say 8 years negatively effects handling performance significantly. The main difference IMO is that on secondary roads you have to "fight" with the Ghibli, whereas you swing with the Jarama at the same or even higher speeds and g-forces ... It is true, though, that with the Ghibli is it much more easy to draw black lines on the road from a start e.g. at a stoplight with just below 3000 rpm. I really liked that point and to scare the wits out of man and animal on country roads with that roar. My excuse is that I was younger then . However, with the Lamborghini V12 I do not really feel lack of torque at any revs. It is always worthwhile checking/replacing the jets in the carbs and, in particular, the mechanical advance components in the distributor (I would bet that these are almost infunctional in most cars). I also felt no real difference in the maintenance efforts, the Lambo sparks, e.g., are very fast out and in using a silicon hose that you push over the top after having loosened the spark a turn or even just a half turn. That is the way I do it with all cars, by the way. Of course, you will nevertheless need 50% more time, for obvious reasons. Right, the Maserati V8 water pump drive is äh strange and difficult to set up, if you want it to last for more than a few 100 miles . And I always am a bit afraid of downdraught carbs as in the Ghibli or Miura, and would never set off without a decent fire extinguisher .... Indeed, I also believe that the Maserati 4,7 engine is significantly better than the 4,9 for various (technical) reasons, but the market has obviously a different approach . So if not bought for investment purposes, I would always prefer the Ghibli 4,7 over the SS. I did like the Ghibli also, of course. It is more a car for the breast haired guys, somewhat raw, if not brutal to drive. And a better girl catcher than the Jarama, which in comparison is rather decent in general appearance and habits. Maybe a matter of age also . Although I already owned the Jarama when I bought the Ghibli. And am solidly married since almost 4 decades .
