I recently purchased a 68 Maserati Ghibli. Three owners in 38 years, all in S. calif. The body and chasis are very tight, all the lines reveal beautifully, doors are crisp and heavy. No rust, very original interior in superb condition and now mechanically very well sorted. I bought the car in Sept. but left it in LA at the shop that had serviced it for the last 7 years to some major engine work, incl rear main seal, clutch, radiator rebuild, valve job and and very nice dyno tuning to top her off. I drove 3 hours in bumper to bumper on a hot afternoon and the temp never went above the normal running position. I wish I could say the same for me!! I hate traffic and it is almost unheard of up where I live so my patience is thin, at best. I took her to Crystal Cove and got me meet more of the wonderful S. Cal fchat crew. (Even got a ride in Jeffreys new CS, very impressive.) For those of you from normal places in the country, like me, CC is almost obscene! It is just not right that any one small area of the country should have so many awesome cars. WOW. And again. Old, new, unusual. Check out the weekly pics in the s. cal section if you have not already. Just awesome gathering and what fun to see AND hear the cars. Much more interactive than just walking around and looking at parked cars no matter how beautiful. But I digress, after finally leaving LA behind, I got to let the old lady stretch her legs on some fine lightly traveled roads and put 1300 miles on her in two days. Not bad for an almost 40 yo car. She prefers travelling at speeds quite a bit higher than the highway patrol would like to see, so it was a nice dance of moderate restraint and moderate release. What a great engine, 4.7 liter, double overhead cam, 4 downdraft webers, dry sump. Very much a racing heritage engine from early 60's Maserati racing program. Very elastic with a super flat torgue band and very responsive with a GREAT sound. Very deep, nice cam profile background and for sure a muscle car attitude, Italian style. Drove most of the length of CAlifornia in great comfort and style and at wonderful speeds where applicable. I now understand the vintage draw. Everything is slowed down but the driving is still just as much fun or more so, without all the assistance and interference. VEry clean, direct experience. Can't wait for some more road trips. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
What a beauty John! Congrats and please take me for a ride in her Now you got me thinking about getting a vintage ride ...
Thanks guys. Mike, this car was made for your country. You could storm up and down Nevada all day long. Not as fast as the 575, but it feels like it, thats the cool thing.
Beautiful car. Congratulations and thanks for bringing it down to CC. I think it's the only Ghibli to ever visit us there. Although we've seen a couple of nice Boras and that Indy America that was there Saturday, the Ghibli is one of my favorites, and yours was probably the best looking Maserati ever at CC. Happy motoring.
wow, thanks Frank. I will have to get the garage wired so she can see all the nice compliments!! OK MIke, I will race you for pinks. Standing mile. YOu spot me, hmmm, lets say 100' per year. That should be fair.
Great looking car John, I'm very jealous. I'd say enjoy it, but it sounds like you're already doing just that. Cheers Simon
Beautiful. The Ghibli was one of the "Big 3" of the era that I lusted after-- the others being the Miura and the Daytona. In Italian, "gh" is pronounced with a hard "g"; the "i" llike "ee"; however, I would imagine most American owners pronounce the "i" like in "jib". It's their cars, they can pronounce it however they like! Enjoy, Wilkie
What a beautiful car. Your right-on with that 4.7 v8, thier works of art. Sound beautiful and go like stink. Enjoy. Darrell.
Makes me wish that I had antyed up $7500 to save the Ghibli that was being slowly destroyed by vandals behind a garage about 15 years ago. Flat tires, broken windshield, hood loose, cylinder head loose, etc. Don't know whatever happened to it. But I couldn't see paying $7500 for a junker that some other idiot wouldn't even bother to protect from the elements. More like $2500 and then I would have taken it.
Yes, hopefully right after you get back from Holiday. Have a good one, John Simon, I would invite you over for a drive but it is a bit far! thanks Horsefly, shame about the car, but agree $7500 might have been a lot, although values are likely up enough where you would have done very well. A nice one recently sold in the $60's, which is a nice rise from a year ago or even last season. Most will not bring that, but they are coming into increasing demand. Thanks all. Mick, car was originally bronze but painted red in the very early 80's. Motor has of course had major work, but remains very original in its parts and the interior is still original and in excellent condition. Makes you feel like a pilot with all the toggles switches and the big glass.
With the price of Daytonas heading sky high again I think these cars are a real bargain. The only thing better than a Ghibli is a convertible Ghibli! I'd seen a coupe this past year that sold on EBay for about 30K. Interior was perfect (tan) and the exterior (light metallic blue) needed some light paint work. But, the engine had had a rebuild and had been switched over to electronic ignition and Redline Weber style electronic fuel injection. At first glance you couldn't tell they weren't real Webers. I suspect that was the reason for the low selling price on the car. For me it would have been a plus but, for a purist... well we all know the argument that ensues. The car was in Arizona. No rust. Wish I'd had the money lying around. Great looking car. Don't forget Frank Sinatra used to have a silver one.
