The Ghibli Helped Save Maserati

I have both a Daytona Spyder and a Ghibli Spyder in my garage right now. The Ghibli engine overheats without adding cooling fans here in SoCal so I added two behind the radiator. The weirdo valves on the York A/C can be a nightmare and the system design apparently changed multiple times during the Ghibli production run. I’ve lowered both cars and have Borrani wire wheels mounted. The rear axle can be a bear to repair. I had to send it out to a rear end shop to dismantle it and they couldn’t even do it until they put the entire rear axle in a cooler overnight and then used a torch. I’ve redesigned the crazy weird headlight lifing assembly so that the lights don’t bounce when they’re up and so that they close properly and line up with the rest of the front end lines perfectly. The seating is so low it’s like sitting in a go kart. The Daytona is twice the car, both engine-wise and handling-wise. I love the looks of both cars!

The Ghibly is my favorite Maserati and one of the most elegant cars of the postwar era. Its lines were very nicely balanced and full of small details. For example, the roof is not flat nor arced but a very subtle arch form, like a bow of bow and arrow. I was fortunate enough to own not only one but, during a short period of time, two identical ones, a black one and a burgundy one. The burgundy had a double clutch setup. We had to replace the discs and were never able to properly adjust the pressure plates, one has to be adjusted in situ, on the engine while it is out (and no way to do it once assembled) and the second one, the traditional way. We pulled the engine numerous times and never arrived at a proper adjustment. We even went to the factory in Italy. We were welcomed with open arms and they were very friendly and helpful. Even drove us 40 miles further to the racing department, but, sadly, nobody could give us advice.
I always preferred the front engined cars, later I had a Bora, basically the same engine but centrally mounted. It was fun to drive, but I still prefer the Ghibly. The Ghibly was more elegant and refined than the Ferrari’s which were rather heavy and bulky looking. Not that I frown on a Daytona, or a 275 GTB (which I almost bought).
The sound of ths V8 with its four double Webers was music, once one spent the better half of the day synchromising so that all barrels sung to the same tune. The gearbox was a massive ZF which required real muscle power to change gears while still cold. The engine was drysump with, if I remember right, had a capacity 12 quarts. It took about 25 miles before the engine attained its operating temperature. But once everything was in tune and on temperature, it was a delight to drive.
The Ghibly, just as all “pure sang” and especially Italians had its peculiarities. So for example, the brake servo lived in the fenderwell, separated only from the slush ans water by a simple metal baffle. This baffle was sealed by an simple rubber which had the habit of parting company. In normal weather this was not so serious, but, in winter, when it was freezing, another story. Then the servo had the habit of freezing and quitting. I can tell you it is quite an experience to try to stop a high power, 2 ton car with four disc brakes, without the help of a servo. Several times I had to put my two feet on the brake pedal and felt the steeringwheel flexing (and cold sweat running down my back) while trying to stop.
Also, Italians are know for having long arms and short legs, if one believed the seat adjustments of the Italian cars. But here, I do not know what criteria they used to boast it as a 2 + 2. The space in back cannot be called a seat. It is a cushion and the back of the front seats almost touches to it, a few inches at most even if the frontseat is normally adjusted, not for a tall person. But then, the headroom is almost non existent. I had a medium sized dog (a Samoyed) and even she could not sit there without stooping.
But then are those idiosyncrasies not the part of the charm of these, and other thoroughbreds ?
Attached are a few shots of my black one (scanned from old negatives – sorry for the poor quality)