Introduced in 1966 at the Torino Motor Show, the Maserati Ghibli was an immediate sensation, owing its genius to Ghia head stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro. The long, low, razor-edge sports car had a refined yet brutal appearance. With a four-cam, dry sump V-8 engine and a top speed in excess of 160 mph, the Ghibli was among the fastest production cars of its day.

In 1969, Maserati unveiled the elegant Ghibli Spider, for which Mr. Giugiaro received more acclaim. The following year, Maserati offered the 4.9 SS variant that produced 335 hp – an increase of 25 hp over the original 4.7-liter engine. As a result, the 4.9 SS could reach 100 mph in a staggering 16 seconds and claimed a top speed of 170 mph. Maserati justifiably described their car as “powerful and ultra fast, smooth and dependable, modern and efficient.”

Like most exclusive open sports cars, the Ghibli Spider was aimed at the all-important North American market. Of the 128 Ghibli Spiders built by the factory, 70 were originally destined for the US. Of the 30 Ghibli 4.9 SS Spiders that were sold new in the US, only 24 were equipped from the factory with the desirable ZF five-speed manual gearbox.

Today, this example of those elite two dozen stick-shift cars matches its original guise of period Oro Longchamps (Longchamps Gold) paintwork with Marrone (Brown) Connolly leather upholstery, according to accompanying factory records sourced by Maserati historian Dr. Adolfo Orsi Jr. Additional details of its build include Campagnolo cast alloy wheels, Pirelli tires, a Blaupunkt AM/ FM radio, and Veglia instruments calibrated in miles per hour.

The Maserati’s certificate of origin was issued on December 7, 1971, and, in January 1972, it was shipped to the US and supplied to Grossman Motor Car Corporation, the official Maserati dealer located in New York. On April 28, 1972, it was delivered to its first private owner, Irene Young of Westport, Connecticut. Factory records document service work carried out by Grossman through fall 1972, but little else is known about the car’s earliest history. In 1987, Florida-based exotic car dealer Ed Waterman acquired the gold Ghibli Spider, then showing approximately 54,000 miles, in a package of cars sourced by Bruce Haley of New Jersey. The Maserati was then sold to Midvo Leasing Inc. of Worthington, Ohio, and remained in the US through the early 1990s.

By spring 1993, the car had been sold to Swedish Maserati importer Ulf Sundberg and was shown at the Maserati Classic International at Goodwood in 1999. Soon after, the Ghibli was sold to Lennart Liden of Vence, France. After this, the Ghibli Spider returned to the US and was owned by Jacques Pozzo di Borgo, the owner of Maseratisource and MIE Corporation, two of the foremost Maserati parts specialists. It was sold in 2020 to a previous owner, a serial enthusiast of the model.

By then, the Maserati had gained a triple black color scheme, which was showing its age. The new custodian elected to give the car a “birthday,” returning it to its stunning original color palette, as well as systematically going through the car on the technical side, including an engine rebuild. As a personal preference, the US side-indicator lights and bumper over-riders were removed to match the purer European looks.

Passing to its current owner in 2022, a period hardtop was sourced and painted to match the car. Its rebuild complete and resplendent in Oro Longchamps, the immaculate Maserati was selected to appear at this past year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, alongside a full set of postwar classics of its breed.

Included with the sale is an extensive report prepared by Maserati historian Dr. Adolfo Orsi Jr., which includes a chronological history and copies of important factory documents, together with numerous photographs and invoices for its 2020s refurbishment.

Among the most exclusive of all road-going Maseratis, the 4.9 SS Spider is one of the most sought-after, high-performance Italian exotics. This exceptional car is ready to be enjoyed for tours or shows and to relive the avant-garde 1970s style.