Beskrivning
For sale in our forthcoming auction during Le Mans Classic, on 30 June 2023:
Extraordinarily rare 4. 9L model, mechanical gearbox, European specification
Swedish title
Châssis n° AM115/ S49/* 1255*
Moteur n° AM1157S49/* 1255*
- Same owner since 1987
- Original engine
- Delivered new in Italy
- Extraordinarily rare in this 4. 9L version, mechanical gearbox, European specification (around 15 produced).
According to its "Avviso di spedizione", this car was delivered on 18 May 1970 to the Turin Maserati dealership, Concessonario Walter Bordese, 11 Piazza Adriana. Dark blue with mustard leather upholstery, it was equipped with a hard-top, power steering, radio, tool kit and five standard Ghibli wheels.
Its history can be traced back to the 1980s, in the "Foglio Complementari" issued by the ACI, which lists a certain Flavia Arrigoni, a resident of Milan, as the registered owner.
The documentation accompanying the car also includes a document, dated September 1986, in which Signor D. Pace, who lived in Milan and died in 1985, bequeathed the car to his wife Flavia Arrigoni. She in turn passed on ownership of the Ghibli to her three children. They sold the Ghibli in early 1987 to Mr A. Morelli of Empoli, who in turn sold it to our vendor, a Swedish Maserati collector, who came to Modena to collect it in September 1987.
At that time, the Ghibli was already in metallic grey with a mustard interior, and it no longer had its hard top. Our collector, who travelled tens of thousands of kilometres in Maseratis, returned to Sweden by road. Having encountered engine problems during the journey, he then had the entire engine rebuilt.
Over the years, he has taken part in many international Maserati club meetings, as he was president of the Maserati club in Sweden, both with this car and with other models in his collection. During a trip with his wife in the 1990s, he veered off the road, fortunately without serious consequences for the couple. He kept the car as it was, thinking that he would restore it to enjoy in his retirement and leave it at his property in the south of France. It must be said that our collector felt no urgency in completing the restoration of the car on display, as he owned a second 4. 9-litre Ghibli Spyder! Over the last decade, this Ghibli has been restored by a Swedish specialist in Stockholm. It has only been back on the road since last year. It is on account of his advanced years that the owner has now decided to part with this car, with the intention of keeping his Mexico to take part in select Maserati meetings.
While this is one of the most beautiful Maseratis in the brand's history, it is also one of the rarest: only 125 Ghibli Spyders were produced, 35 of which were 4. 9-litre models with manual gearboxes and around just 15 of which were 4. 9-litre models with manual gearboxes and European specifications: hardly any of them ever reached the market.
As well as being incredibly rare, this model is one of the most beautiful in the brand's history, and is an ideal way to visit the Côte d'Azur. This is an opportunity not to be missed by enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Photos © Peter Gunnars
Auction estimate: €600 000 / €800 000
