Which Seventies Exotic GT Would You Choose?

1972 Maserati Indy Coupe

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1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2

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Multi-cylinder Italian Gran Turismo coupes from the 1970s are near the top of the automotive cool list. Fast, luxurious, super-chic, and hand-built for a very rich and very discerning few, they may not have quite the incredible style of their counterparts from a decade earlier but come pretty close, and for a fraction of the cost. This week we feature a couple of lesser-known models from the hallowed Modena region.

First, from 1974, we highlight a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2. Though broadly similar to the much-maligned 400, it remains nonetheless a very attractive old car. Equipped with a derivative of the Daytona’s legendary V12, this one draws through six sidedraft carbs and no doubt makes some lovely noises—all the better to conduct with a five speed manual, itself sprouting from a highly-angled center console surrounded by honey-colored veneers and scattered with delicate switchgear. With four useable seats, an airy, well-lit greenhouse, and a subdued but striking color combination of navy over natural hide, it’s absolutely spot-on for a bit of understated but exotic, late-summer coastal touring.

And then there was the Maserati, specifically, a ’72 Indy coupe. Originally conceived to replace both the Mexico and Quattroporte, the Indy is similar in style and approach to the sublime Ghibli, but with more of an eye towards comfort and luxury than outright beauty and speed—which isn’t to imply they aren’t beautiful or fast. Claimed to be highly original and with only 29,340 miles from new, this one’s a creampuff. One of only 300 thus equipped, this car comes with the Ghibli SS’s 4.9 V8, backed by a 3 speed Borg-Warner automatic for seemless wafting. Just like the Ferrari, this one’s a four seater, or perhaps more accurately a 2+2, as the back seats are more suitable for kids than the more generous items in the GT4—the fronts, however, look like a wonderful place to watch the scenery go by very quickly.

Which flavor of exotic GT do you prefer?