Introduced in 1966, the Maserati Ghibli was one of the most dramatic Italian grand touring cars of its era. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro while at Ghia, the Ghibli combined an extraordinarily low, angular body with Maserati’s competition-derived quad-cam V8, creating a front-engined GT that competed directly with cars such as the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona and Lamborghini Miura.
The original Ghibli carried Maserati’s internal designation AM115 and was produced from 1967 through 1973. Although its basic appearance changed remarkably little, several important variants emerged during that period. The original 4.7-liter coupe was joined by the open Ghibli Spyder, while the more powerful Ghibli SS increased displacement to 4.9 liters. Automatic transmissions, power steering, market-specific equipment and other running changes further distinguish individual cars.
For collectors, the most important divisions are therefore between the 4.7 and 4.9 SS, Coupe and Spyder, manual and automatic transmissions, and European and U.S.-market specifications. The extremely small number of genuine factory Spyders makes authenticity particularly important, because a number of coupes have subsequently been converted into open cars.
1966: The Ghibli Makes Its Debut
Maserati unveiled the Ghibli at the Turin Motor Show in November 1966, although regular customer production is generally associated with 1967.
The body was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia, shortly before he established Italdesign. Its appearance was radically different from the rounded GT cars of the early 1960s.
The Ghibli was exceptionally low, with a long hood, sharply defined nose, hidden headlights and a steeply raked windshield. A large glass rear hatch provided access to a surprisingly useful luggage compartment, reinforcing the car’s role as a high-speed grand tourer rather than a stripped-down sports car.
Unlike the mid-engined Lamborghini Miura introduced during the same period, Maserati retained a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
Under the hood was Maserati’s all-aluminum, four-cam V8, an engine family with roots in the company’s racing program.
1967: Production of the 4.7-Liter Ghibli Begins
The first production Ghiblis used a 4,719-cc DOHC V8, generally known as the 4.7-liter engine.
With four Weber carburetors and two camshafts per cylinder bank, the engine produced approximately 310 horsepower in European specification, although quoted figures vary among sources and markets.
One unusual feature was its dry-sump lubrication system. By storing engine oil in a separate reservoir rather than a conventional deep oil pan, Maserati could mount the V8 lower in the chassis, helping Giugiaro achieve the Ghibli’s extraordinarily low hood line.
A five-speed ZF manual transmission was standard, while a BorgWarner 3-speed automatic (Type 35 / Type 12 depending on year) became available for customers who wanted a more relaxed grand-touring experience.
The Ghibli used independent front suspension but retained a live rear axle located by semi-elliptic leaf springs. The Ghibli utilized a Torque Arm (Salisbury axle with twin longitudinal torque rods) and a transverse Panhard rod to stabilize the heavy rear end at high speeds. That arrangement appears relatively conventional compared with the independent rear suspensions of some competitors, but it was robust and well suited to high-speed touring.
Four-wheel disc brakes were standard.
1968: The Ghibli Establishes Itself
During 1968, the 4.7-liter Ghibli became established as Maserati’s flagship two-seat grand tourer.
Its combination of a roughly 310-hp V8, five-speed gearbox and aerodynamic body provided exceptional high-speed performance. Depending upon gearing and test conditions, maximum speed was approximately 165–170 mph, placing the Ghibli among the fastest road cars available.
The cabin was considerably more luxurious than the car’s aggressive exterior suggested. Leather upholstery, full instrumentation and carpeting reflected Maserati’s grand-touring priorities. In late 1969 / early 1970, the Ghibli underwent an interior refresh alongside the release of the 4.9 SS. The dashboard lost its drop-down toggle switch panel in favor of flat-mounted rocker switches, and the drop-center steering wheel was replaced.
Air conditioning and other comfort equipment were available, particularly on cars intended for the American market.
The Ghibli was technically a two-seater, although limited space behind the seats could provide additional luggage capacity.
1969: The Ghibli Spyder
The most important new body variant was the Ghibli Spyder, introduced around the 1969 model period. The Spyder was officially unveiled at the 1968 Turin Motor Show (November 1968), with deliveries commencing in early 1969.
Removing the steel roof required structural reinforcement to compensate for the resulting loss of rigidity. The Spyder consequently differed from the coupe in more than simply its roof.
With its convertible top lowered, the Ghibli Spyder emphasized Giugiaro’s exceptionally low beltline and long hood even more dramatically than the coupe.
A removable hardtop was also available. Original factory hardtops are rare today and can add considerably to the desirability of a Spyder.
Production of the open car was extremely limited. Only about 125 factory Ghibli Spyders were built across the 4.7- and 4.9-liter versions, compared with well over 1,000 coupes.
That rarity would eventually make the Spyder one of the most valuable road-going Maseratis of the period.
1969: U.S.-Market Ghiblis
The United States was an important market for Maserati, and Ghiblis delivered there could differ from European-market cars in lighting, instrumentation and emissions-related equipment.
Federal regulations increasingly affected Italian manufacturers during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Side-marker lights and other safety equipment appeared on American-market examples, while engine specifications could differ as emissions requirements became more restrictive.
Air conditioning was particularly desirable in the U.S., not least because the Ghibli’s large glass area and low cabin could make the interior extremely warm.
Automatic-transmission cars also found a receptive American audience. While collectors today generally favor the ZF five-speed, the automatic suited the Ghibli’s character as a high-speed luxury GT better than might initially be expected.
1970: The Ghibli SS 4.9
The most important mechanical development in the Ghibli’s history was the arrival of the Ghibli SS.
Engine displacement increased from 4,719 cc to approximately 4,930 cc, creating what is usually referred to as the 4.9-liter Ghibli SS.
Output increased to approximately 330–335 horsepower in European specification, accompanied by greater torque.
The additional displacement made the Ghibli even more effortless at high speed. Maserati claimed a maximum speed approaching 174 mph, making the SS one of the fastest front-engined production automobiles in the world.
The SS designation is therefore much more than a trim package. It identifies the largest-engined and most powerful production version of the original Ghibli.
Both the coupe and Spyder could be ordered in SS form.
1970: Ghibli SS Spyder
The combination of the open body and 4.9-liter SS engine created the most coveted regular-production Ghibli variant: the Ghibli SS Spyder.
Only a very small number were constructed. Published totals vary slightly depending upon how cars are categorized, but approximately 25 factory 4.9-liter SS Spyders are generally recognized.
That places a genuine Ghibli SS Spyder in a dramatically different collector category from the much more numerous coupe.
Because of their extraordinary value, verifying a Spyder’s identity is essential. Over the decades, some Ghibli coupes have had their roofs removed and have been converted to resemble factory Spyders.
A converted coupe may be attractive and enjoyable, but it is not equivalent to an original AM115 factory Spyder.
1971: The Mature Ghibli SS
By 1971, the 4.9-liter SS represented the most developed form of the Ghibli.
The basic Giugiaro body remained remarkably unchanged. Unlike many American manufacturers, Maserati did not introduce annual styling facelifts simply to distinguish one model year from another.
Instead, changes tended to occur during production and according to market requirements.
The Ghibli SS continued with its quad-cam 4.9-liter V8, four Weber carburetors and either the ZF five-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Power steering became available and is found on a number of later cars, improving low-speed maneuverability. This could be useful because the Ghibli was a substantial automobile with wide tires and relatively heavy steering at parking speeds.
1972: Late-Production Ghiblis
By 1972, the Ghibli was approaching the end of its production life.
U.S. safety and emissions regulations were becoming increasingly difficult for small European manufacturers to satisfy, and equipment differences between American and European cars became increasingly important.
Later examples may therefore have lighting, emissions equipment and other details not found on the earliest cars.
The fundamental mechanical architecture nevertheless remained unchanged. The 4.9-liter SS was still powered by Maserati’s charismatic quad-cam V8 and retained the same basic chassis that had debuted several years earlier.
By contemporary standards, the Ghibli was beginning to show its age technically. Its live rear axle was relatively unsophisticated compared with the independent suspension systems used by some competitors, but the combination remained effective for its intended role as a very fast long-distance GT.
1973: End of Ghibli Production
Production of the original Ghibli ended in 1973.
Approximately 1,170 coupes and 125 Spyders were produced, although totals vary slightly among sources depending upon how prototypes and production records are interpreted.
Within those totals, the 4.9-liter SS cars form an important subset, and the SS Spyder is exceptionally scarce.
The Ghibli was effectively succeeded in Maserati’s lineup by the Khamsin, another front-engined V8 grand tourer but one with very different styling and more sophisticated Citroën-influenced technology.
The Ghibli name would eventually return, first on a completely unrelated Biturbo-derived coupe in the 1990s and again on Maserati’s four-door sports sedan beginning in the 2010s. Neither shares a direct mechanical relationship with the original AM115.
The 4.7-Liter Ghibli
The original 4.7-liter Ghibli represents Giugiaro’s design in its initial production form.
Its 4,719-cc V8 provides approximately 310 horsepower, delivered through four Weber carburetors. Most enthusiast-oriented cars use the five-speed ZF manual transmission, although automatic examples were also produced.
For collectors, early 4.7-liter cars can have considerable appeal because they represent the specification in which the Ghibli first established its reputation.
The 4.7 is somewhat less powerful than the SS, but both versions offer fundamentally similar driving experiences and nearly identical styling.
The Ghibli SS 4.9
The Ghibli SS is the ultimate production development of the original coupe.
Its 4.9-liter engine produces more horsepower and torque than the 4.7, giving the car stronger acceleration and greater flexibility.
The SS designation therefore carries genuine mechanical significance, which contributes to its higher collector desirability.
Because engines and components have been swapped during the half-century since these cars were built, an SS should be authenticated through chassis and engine information rather than badging alone.
The Ghibli Spyder
With only about 125 built, the factory Ghibli Spyder is dramatically rarer than the coupe.
Its rarity is compounded by the fact that survivors have frequently been restored, modified or reconstructed. The availability of coupe donor cars has also encouraged conversions.
A genuine factory Spyder should therefore be evaluated carefully for the correct chassis identity and structural details.
Original removable hardtops are also desirable. Because they were easily separated from cars over decades of ownership, surviving factory hardtops are uncommon.
The Ghibli SS Spyder
At the top of the regular-production hierarchy is the 4.9-liter Ghibli SS Spyder.
Combining the rare open body with the largest and most powerful engine makes it the specification most collectors seek.
With only around 25 believed to have been produced, genuine examples are substantially rarer than many better-known Ferrari and Lamborghini models of the same period.
Consequently, provenance and authenticity can have an enormous impact on value.
Manual Versus Automatic Ghiblis
The ZF five-speed manual is generally the preferred transmission among collectors.
It provides greater driver involvement and complements the character of Maserati’s quad-cam V8. Manual cars therefore usually have greater enthusiast appeal.
The optional three-speed automatic should not necessarily be dismissed, however. The Ghibli was conceived as a grand tourer rather than a lightweight competition car, and the V8’s substantial torque makes an automatic Ghibli a capable long-distance automobile.
Transmission originality matters. Converting an automatic car to a manual gearbox may improve the driving experience for some owners, but it does not make the car equivalent to an original factory five-speed example from a collector standpoint.
European Versus U.S.-Specification Cars
European and American Ghiblis can differ in a number of details.
European cars generally provide the cleanest expression of Giugiaro’s original styling and engine specification.
U.S.-market cars acquired equipment necessary to meet American safety and emissions regulations, including changes to lighting and emissions systems. Side-marker lamps are among the easiest visible indications on many cars.
Specifications also evolved during production, so it is risky to assume that every car from a particular year should have exactly the same equipment.
For an important Ghibli, factory build records and chassis information are more reliable than simply identifying a car as a particular model year.
Understanding the Major Ghibli Variants
Collectors generally divide the original AM115 Ghibli into several major categories:
Ghibli 4.7 Coupe: The original and most numerous version. Powered by the 4,719-cc quad-cam V8 with approximately 310 horsepower and available with a five-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Ghibli 4.7 Spyder: Open version of the original Ghibli. Extremely rare compared with the coupe and structurally different because of the reinforcement required after removing the fixed roof.
Ghibli SS 4.9 Coupe: Later high-performance version with approximately 4,930 cc and roughly 330–335 horsepower. Generally more valuable than a comparable 4.7-liter coupe.
Ghibli SS 4.9 Spyder: The rarest and most desirable regular-production variant, with only around 25 examples generally believed to have been produced.
Five-Speed Ghibli: Equipped with the ZF manual gearbox and generally preferred by collectors and enthusiast drivers.
Automatic Ghibli: Uses a three-speed automatic. Less sought after by many collectors but consistent with the Ghibli’s high-speed grand-touring mission.
European-Specification Ghibli: Generally closest to the original styling and mechanical specification, without some of the equipment required for the American market.
U.S.-Specification Ghibli: Built or equipped to comply with American emissions and safety regulations and therefore potentially different in lighting, emissions equipment and other details.
What Matters to Collectors
The most important factor in understanding the original Maserati Ghibli is recognizing that body style, engine displacement and original specification can create enormous differences in value.
A standard 4.7-liter coupe and a 4.9-liter SS Spyder look closely related, but their rarity is dramatically different.
The roughly 1,170 coupes make the closed Ghibli relatively obtainable by the standards of 1960s Italian exotics. The approximately 125 Spyders are another matter, and the roughly 25 SS Spyders represent one of Maserati’s rarest important production road cars.
That disparity makes authenticity especially important.
A coupe converted into a Spyder should never be confused with an original factory open car. Proper authentication should involve the chassis number, factory records and examination of the body and chassis construction.
The same principle applies to the SS. Installing a 4.9-liter engine or SS badging on an earlier 4.7-liter car does not transform it into a factory Ghibli SS.
Original color combination can also influence desirability, particularly when supported by factory records. Ghiblis were offered in a wide range of sophisticated colors, and returning a car to its documented original paint and interior combination may matter more to collectors than simply choosing the most visually dramatic scheme.
Mechanical condition is equally important. Maserati’s quad-cam V8 is a sophisticated and expensive engine to rebuild correctly. The dry-sump lubrication system, Weber carburetors, cooling system and valve train all require knowledgeable maintenance.
Rust can be an even greater concern. The Ghibli’s complex steel body can corrode in structurally and cosmetically difficult areas, and a poorly repaired body can consume considerably more money than initially expected.
Buyers should also investigate accident history. Replacement panels and trim can be difficult and expensive to source, while restoring Giugiaro’s crisp original body lines requires considerable skill.
The 4.7-liter coupe represents the most accessible route into the original Ghibli and provides essentially the same extraordinary styling as the rarest versions. The 4.9 SS coupe adds greater power, torque and collector desirability. The 4.7 Spyder combines rarity with one of the most attractive open bodies of the period, while the 4.9 SS Spyder sits at the top of the hierarchy.
Regardless of variant, the AM115 Ghibli occupies an important position in Maserati history. Unlike the mid-engined Lamborghini Miura, it retained the traditional front-engine GT layout, but Giugiaro wrapped that conventional architecture in bodywork that looked every bit as futuristic.
Its combination of a quad-cam, dry-sump Maserati V8, five-speed gearbox, hidden headlights and extraordinarily low Ghia body made the Ghibli one of the definitive Italian grand tourers of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The fact that the basic design required so little visual alteration during its production life is perhaps the strongest testament to Giugiaro’s original work. More than half a century later, an early 4.7 coupe and a final 4.9 SS remain immediately recognizable as the same automobile — and as one of the most distinctive Maseratis ever built.
Important Sales Reviewed by SCM Experts
Each month for the past 38 years, SCM’s analysts have reviewed 5 to 7 significant cars sold at auction, and discuss what options, history, or details made that particular more or less valuable. They give their expert opinion on the market for these cars, and whether this car was well bought or well sold. If you’re thinking of purchasing a Maserati Ghibli, you’ll likely find these profiles critical in helping you make the right decision.
1972 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS SpyderWith just 46 examples built, the Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder is among the most exclusive of all road-going Maseratis and one of the most sought-after high-performance Italian exotics of the early 1970s. These extraordinary automobiles rarely appear for sale, either at auction or privately, as most are fixtures in major collections. This particular example, with […]Read more
1971 Maserati Ghibli SS 4.9 by GhiaThe Ghibli was Maserati’s first supercar. Launched in 1966 and named after a hot wind blowing across the Sahara Desert, the Ghibli was styled by the young Giorgetto Giugiaro, then working at Ghia. The mechanical design was the work of Maserati’s chief engineer, Giulio Alfieri. This example, a 4.9-liter SS version, was delivered new in […]Read more
1970 Maserati Ghibli CoupeThe styling of the Daytona, while certainly attractive, has not achieved the timeless elegance of the Ghibli A strong contender for the “Most Handsome Car of the 1960s” title, Maserati’s Ghibli debuted at the Turin Motor Show in November of 1966. Styled at Ghia by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Ghibli rivaled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line […]Read more
1967 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 CoupeWhy, with all its aesthetic beauty, adequate performance, and driveability, does the Ghibli continue to sell for just a quarter the price of a Ferrari Daytona? {vsig}2004-8_1214{/vsig} Giorgio Giugiaro penned the striking lines for Maserati’s Ghibli, which debuted at the Turin Auto Show in 1966. Sporting a quad-cam V8 making 335 hp, the car was […]Read more- 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS SpyderThe remarkable thing about this car is that for many years it was used by its owner to commute from San Francisco to the campus of Stanford University, where the owner was professor of neurosurgery. It is rare that a car such as this is driven on such a regular basis. It has been both […]Read more
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Past Auction Sales – Maserati Ghibli
Average Maserati Ghibli Sale Price by Year from SCM’s Platinum Auction Database:
Maserati Ghibli Sales from SCM’s Platinum Auction Database:
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 3+
Apr 24, 2026
$127,954
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 5-
Feb 10, 2026
$57,225
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 2-
Jan 29, 2026
$164,482
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Jan 23, 2026
$145,600
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 3
Sep 7, 2024
$64,762
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2+
May 30, 2024
$567,500
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 2
May 10, 2024
$157,427
Artcurial
Condition: 3+
Feb 2, 2024
$125,834
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 2
Feb 1, 2024
$155,451
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 4-
Dec 4, 2023
$77,000
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 4+
Aug 18, 2023
$84,000
Bonhams
Condition: 4+
Jan 27, 2023
$134,400
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 2+
Oct 14, 2022
$280,000
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 2-
Aug 18, 2022
$173,600
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2+
Jun 19, 2022
$383,000
Bonhams
Condition: 4+
Jun 5, 2022
$134,400
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 3+
Mar 4, 2022
$687,000
Bonhams
Condition: 3+
Jan 27, 2022
$196,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Nov 19, 2021
$728,388
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
Oct 10, 2021
$572,087
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 2
Aug 13, 2021
$274,400
Bonhams
Condition: 3+
Aug 13, 2021
$179,200
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
Jul 9, 2021
$223,611
Bonhams
Condition: 1-
May 20, 2021
$240,000
Mecum Auctions
Condition: 3
Mar 18, 2021
$154,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 4+
Jun 3, 2020
$156,035
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Mar 20, 2020
$84,700
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 2+
Mar 6, 2020
$753,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Feb 5, 2020
$183,809
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Oct 24, 2019
$514,242
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
Aug 15, 2019
$142,000
Bonhams
Condition: 2
Jul 5, 2019
$321,188
Artcurial
Condition: 3
Jun 17, 2019
$107,127
Bonhams
Condition: 2
Jun 2, 2019
$156,500
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3-
Apr 11, 2019
$185,856
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
Jan 17, 2019
$229,600
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
Sep 8, 2018
$269,314
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Sep 5, 2018
$280,164
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
Sep 5, 2018
$243,621
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 3+
Aug 23, 2018
$170,500
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
May 11, 2018
$314,262
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Feb 7, 2018
$873,685
Bonhams
Condition: 4-
Jun 4, 2017
$146,300
Bonhams
Condition: 3-
May 21, 2017
$195,409
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
Jan 19, 2017
$286,000
Bonhams
Condition: 2-
Dec 4, 2016
$256,383
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3
Nov 25, 2016
$320,302
Bonhams
Condition: 3+
Aug 19, 2016
$176,000
Artcurial
Condition: 3+
Nov 1, 2015
$328,307
Bonhams
Condition: 3+
Aug 14, 2015
$242,000
See all 109 sales of Maserati Ghibli cars from SCM’s Platinum auction database.