1970 Maserati Ghibli SS
- Engine
- 4.9L V8
- Colour
- 'Rosso Rubino' (ruby red)
The Maserati Ghibli SS, chassis 1668, is one of the most powerful production Maseratis of its era, fitted with the 4.9-litre V8, five-speed ZF gearbox, and factory Campagnolo wheels. Completed in April 1970 in Rosso Rubino over white Connolly leather, it spent decades in Australian ownership, during which it was converted to right-hand drive. A comprehensive three-year restoration by UK specialist McGrath Maserati from 2012 returned it to left-hand drive and original specification, and it was featured on the cover of Auto Italia in November 2017.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £218,500 (≈ $273K)
- 1989 →Acquisition unknownMichael Gostelowpartial documentation
Owned the car only briefly before passing it along to the next buyer.
- → 1994Private saleRichard Princepartial documentation
Brighton, Victoria resident who used the car as a regular driver through 1994.
- 1994 → 1996Private saleDavid Roddpartial documentation
Caulfield, Victoria collector and restoration specialist, at the time a part-owner of a major Australian consumer electronics chain.
- 1996 → 2003-02-01Private saleBrian Telferpartial documentation
Queensland owner who kept and enjoyed the car for approximately seven years before selling.
- 2003-02-01 →Private saleConsignorpartial documentation
This was the first Maserati in the owner's collection. After light mechanical work and modest use, a full three-year restoration was commissioned at McGrath Maserati in the UK starting in 2012, returning the car to left-hand drive and original factory finish.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPeter Garrettpartial documentation
Brighton, Victoria resident who imported the car to Australia and arranged a right-hand-drive conversion through drag racer and restorer Eddie Thomas. Retained the car until his death in the late 1980s, after which Thomas sold it on behalf of the estate.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2012RestorationMcGrath Maserati
Comprehensive three-year refurbishment encompassing a reversion to the original left-hand-drive layout, a full rebuild of the 4.9-litre V8, and a complete cosmetic refinish of the bodywork and interior back to the original factory specification.
Work was completed over approximately three years; McGrath has since continued periodic maintenance as required.
- —ModificationEddie Thomas
Car was converted from left-hand drive to right-hand drive following importation to Australia, carried out through Eddie Thomas, a drag racer who operated a restoration and performance workshop.
Conversion was commissioned by Peter Garrett shortly after the car arrived in Australia.
- —Mechanical
Light mechanical freshening carried out after the consignor acquired the car; scope was modest and the car was then used for occasional driving.
Commissioned by the consignor prior to the full restoration.
- —ServiceMcGrath Maserati
Ongoing maintenance carried out by the restoring workshop following completion of the full restoration.
Described as ad-hoc servicing in the years after the 2012–2015 restoration.
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