1968 Maserati Ghibli Spyder prototype
- Engine
- 4.7L V8 dry-sump, 310 hp, Weber carburetors, with twin-spark-ready cylinder heads
- Colour
- Giallo (yellow)
Chassis AM115/S 1001 is the first Maserati Ghibli Spyder ever built and the first shown publicly, unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in October 1968 in Giallo yellow over Testa di moro leather. As both a prototype and production pioneer, it differs from subsequent cars in door-handle recesses, boot-lid proportions, antenna placement, and twin-spark cylinder-head provisions. After factory development use, it passed through two Italian owners before being imported to the United States, where it spent nearly thirty years in storage before being carefully recommissioned. Its authenticity is confirmed by Maserati Classiche documentation.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$990,000
- —Auction saleSold US$995,000
- 1968 → 1969-10-01Factory deliveryMaserati (factory)full documentation
Retained by the factory for testing and development after public debut at Turin; production of subsequent units commenced during this period.
- 1969-10-01 → 1975Private saleAntonio Capuanopartial documentation
Italian private buyer; first non-factory owner of the car, based in Italy.
- 1975 →Private saleLibero Girardipartial documentation
Italian-born Ferrari technician residing in Rhode Island; brought the vehicle to the United States from Italy and arranged repainting in the original yellow shade shortly after acquisition.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJohn Ferropartial documentation
Son-in-law of Girardi; used the car occasionally for leisure driving before placing it in long-term storage around 1986, at which point the odometer read just over 66,144 km.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent custodianfull documentation
Purchased the car from Ferro and commissioned a full mechanical recommissioning at a specialist restorer in Michigan; subsequently exhibited the car at concours events.
Competition
- 20142014 Concours d'Elegance of AmericaDebut Award
First public appearance of the car in roughly three decades; held in Plymouth, Michigan.
- 20142014 Hilton Head Island Concours d'ElegancePalmetto Award
Shown in a highly competitive Maserati class assembled to mark the marque's centenary.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1975Bodywork
Repainted in the original Giallo shade shortly after the second registered owner acquired the car; stereo speakers and external mirrors were also fitted at this time.
The paintwork applied at this time was still present at the time of cataloguing, exhibiting age-appropriate wear.
- —ServiceClassic and Exotic Service
Following extraction from nearly three decades of storage, the mechanical systems were recommissioned: oil reservoir removed, cleaned, and refilled; oil filter replaced; all four Weber carburetors rebuilt; brake master, clutch master, slave cylinder, water pump, and brake calipers rebuilt; belts, hoses, and wiper blades renewed; hose clamps re-plated; both thermostats replaced; camshafts and chains inspected and oiled; and wheels fitted with correct Pirelli Cinturato tyres. Interior required only a thorough cleaning.
Work carried out by Brian Joseph in Troy, Michigan, following purchase from Ferro; the car was found to have been well stored and needed no major remedial work beyond standard recommissioning. The convertible top, headlamp mechanisms, and horn system were also checked and the horn circuit rewired.
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