Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia
8 Oxford - March 2009

Sold for £230 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

First introduced in 1987, the ‘430’ was one of the final developments of the Maserati Biturbo. Maserati’s mainstream model throughout the 1980s and the first series-production road car to employ a twin turbo-charged engine, the Biturbo was intended to challenge BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the luxury sporting saloon market. Initially a two-door saloon powered by a 2.0-litre, three-valves-per-cylinder V6, the Biturbo gained 2.5-litre, 2.8-litre and four-valve engines as the model range expanded throughout the 1980s to include four-door saloon and spyder variants. Numerous cosmetic changes differentiated the 2.8-litre ‘430’ from the preceding ‘420/425’ models, while beneath the skin there was new front suspension and steering plus a further refinement of the Sensitork transmission in the form a Ranger differential.

This rare, right-hand drive ‘430’ has the four-speed automatic transmission and comes with its original bill of sale and Meridian Maserati number plates. As one would expect of a car of this class it is exceptionally well equipped, boasting climate control air conditioning, central locking, front fog lights, and electrically adjustable front seats and door mirrors. The car has covered only 51,000-or-so miles from new and in the past few months has benefited from £2,000 spent on a full service, using genuine Maserati parts, which included a change of cam belts, spark plugs, all fluids and filters, four new tyres and new front window motors. Finished in silver with grey leather/Alcantara interior, the car is presented in unusually good condition for this model and offered with sundry service invoices, SORN, MoT to May 2009 and Swansea V5. Body coloured sill covers (previously black) are the only notified deviation from factory specification.

Sold for £2,875 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

A strong contender for the ‘most handsome car of the 1960s’ title, Maserati’s Ghibli debuted in coupé form at the Turin Motor Show in November 1966. Styled at Carrozzeria Ghia by Giorgetto Giugiaro and named after a Sahara Desert wind, the Ghibli rivalled the Ferrari Daytona for straight-line performance - its top speed was close to 170mph (275km/h) - while beating it for price and, arguably, looks. More than 4.5m long and 1.8m wide, the Ghibli occupied an inordinate amount of space for a mere two-seater, but perhaps the most startling aspect of its appearance was the height, or rather the lack of it. Dry-sump lubrication enabled the engine to be mounted deep in the chassis, permitting a low bonnet line, while limited suspension travel ensured that the tyres did not foul the wheelarches. The roofline fell away from the top of the steeply raked windscreen to the chopped-off tail, Giugario thus achieving a cabin lower than that of almost all the Ghibli’s contemporaries, albeit one with restricted headroom for rear passengers.

Like the contemporary Mexico 2+2, the Ghibli used a shortened version of the Quattroporte saloon’s tubular steel chassis in its live rear axle form. Perhaps surprisingly, the Ghibli set-up used leaf springs and a single locating arm in preference to the more complex suspension arrangements favoured by its rivals. The power unit was Maserati’s venerable, four-cam, 90-degree V8, an engine derived from that of the 450S sports racer and first seen in road-going guise in the 5000GT. This was used in 4.7-litre form up to 1970 when it was superseded by the 4.9-litre ‘SS’ version in order to meet ever more stringent emission laws. The gain in horsepower was minimal but in either case performance was stunning, with 100mph (160km/h) attainable in under 16 seconds. This neck-snapping acceleration resulted from the V8’s enormous torque, which made the Ghibli one of the most flexible and easy-to-drive GTs of its era. Ghibli production ceased in 1973 after approximately 1,149 coupé and 125 spyder models had been built.

Supplied new in the UK, this rare right-hand drive Ghibli Coupé represents the model in its ultimate form, with effortless 4.9-litre 335bhp ‘SS’ engine, ZF five-speed manual gearbox and air conditioning, plus the desirable option of power assisted steering. ‘HGF 444K’ is a well-known example, having featured in the Maserati Club’s Trident journal and also in Classic Cars magazine. It has also been seen at many club events over the years.

A comprehensive history accompanies the car, including a large number of invoices from specialists and correspondence between various owners, one of which was Adam Clayton of ‘U2’ fame. The body was restored in the early 1990s and the interior re-trimmed at the same time in the original colours of Rosso Fuoco paintwork and black Connolly leather. Since then the car has been looked after by marque specialists including Bill McGrath Maserati, which thoroughly serviced it last year. Offered with sundry restoration invoices, 12 months road tax, MoT to March 2010 and Swansea V5 registration document, ‘HGF 444K’ has covered around 1,000 trouble-free miles since that last service, while the total mileage from new is now circa 34,000.

One of the most stunning looking motor cars ever made, the Ghibli was a worthy rival for the Ferrari ‘Daytona’ and represents exceptional value for money today, just as it did 40 years ago.

Sold for £41,220 inclusive of Buyer's Premium