Why would anyone keep a beauty like this 1968 Maserati Ghibli coupe locked away for 14 years? While we can’t provide an answer to that question, we can at least enjoy this barn find and that the Ghibli spent all this time in a dry environment – thus it can be fully restored to its former glory.
Yes, it will need a complete restoration, but Silverstone Auctions has estimated the value of the car in its current state between £12,000 and £16,000 ($18,100 and $24,150), which leaves room for its new owner to fix the car.
The UK auction house will put the Ghibli on sale at the International Trophy Sale on May 17.
The Ghibli was conceived in 1965-1966 by the famed Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was then chief designer for Italian coachbuilder Ghia. Its graceful looks were matched by Maserati’s most powerful engine at the time, a 330 bhp 4.7-liter V8 unit.
Mated to a five-speed manual, the engine allowed the 1,550-kg (3,417-lbs) gran turismo to reach 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standing start in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 154 mph (248 km/h). Maserati also offered the option of a three-speed automatic gearbox.
One interesting story about this car is that it had such a poor fuel economy that Maserati fitted two 50-liter (13.2 US gallons) tanks on each side of the Ghibli to quench the thirst of the big V8.
The Ghibli coupe was produced from 1967 to 1973 in 1,150 units, while only 125 units of the much rarer Spider version were built from 1969 to 1973.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
