The Ghibli is a strong, warm wind in North Africa that carries a lot of sand with it. At Maserati, this name was not chosen purely by chance; rather, it refers to the speed of the car and the "warmth" of its technical and stylistic characteristics.
For the premiere of the Ghibli, Maserati opted for a vehicle with a sporty but unobtrusive appearance: the engine was redeveloped on the basis of experience with the 8-cylinder engine that had proven itself in Mexico. The 4,700 cc engine had an output of 330 hp. It was followed by an even more powerful one with 4,900 cc.
In order to be able to realize the flat front end, the engine was fitted with a dry sump lubrication system, largely familiar from racing, and was mounted very low down in the chassis. This solution gave the Ghibli its typical brash and sleek appearance, which played a major part in the car's success.
Ghia, where Giorgetto Giugiaro was head of the design department at the time, was commissioned with the design. Probably the most important design feature, which represented a decisive change compared to the predecessor models of the Ghibli, was the seamless connection between the body and the passenger compartment. There was no separation or overlap here. Instead, they joined together as a continuous surface. With geometric and taut lines, Giugiaro's signature ensured that the feeling of stiffness was softened.
Particularly impressive was the style-defining front section, which was used for the first time at Maserati and featured fold-out headlights and a slim radiator grille that extended across the entire front. Although the trident logo was still in the center, it was significantly smaller than before.
Viewed from the side, the sleek lines of the Ghibli are even more evident: the elongated hood, the steeply raked windscreen, the perfect proportions without superfluous ornamentation. The triangular rear pillar developed its own identity and became a characteristic component that was later used by Maserati on other successful models.
The changes compared to the past were also evident in the design of the interior. The two-seater's display instruments were integrated into an overall design.
The result was a Gran Turismo that made no compromises in terms of exclusivity, luxury, style, performance and comfort, but which in no way wanted to deny its racing origins and thus stood for exactly what Maserati vehicles are famous for.
After the premiere of the Ghibli at the Turin Motor Show on November 3, 1966, the market launch followed in 1967. The following year, the interior was redesigned and an automatic transmission and a 5-speed manual gearbox were added as options. The Spyder followed in 1969, and a version with a hardtop was also available. One year later, both models also went on sale with a 4,900 cc engine under the name Ghibli SS. With this equipment, the market position of the sports car was further expanded.
From 1967 to 1972, a total of 128 Ghibli Spyders and more than 1,200 Ghibli Coupes were produced. One of the famous buyers was Henry Ford (the grandson of the company founder), who had his example installed in Ford's development center in Detroit, where it was to serve as a model and source of inspiration. This "Maserati muse" still drives the brand with the trident today.
