When the Maserati Ghibli debuted at the Turin Motor Show in 1966, it turned heads, and those heads have never looked away. It was styled in Ghia’s studios by future legend Giorgetto Giugiaro, and it offered buyers perfect proportions wrapped around an aluminum-block V-8 engine with double overhead cams, which had evolved from the racing mill used in the Maserati 450S. The engine was mounted in the front of the Ghibli chassis, and it rode on double-wishbone front suspension, with a live rear axle held in place by semi-elliptic leaf springs, hydraulic dampers, and an anti-roll bar. Disc brakes were also present at all four corners.

In his book, Modern Classics, Rich Taylor described the Ghibli as a “purebred work of art…a glorious, brilliant masterpiece, no matter how you look at it…austere, functional, taut…the Ghibli is all of these. It’s also the most perfect solution yet devised to the problem of beautifully packaging two adults in style and speed for trips at insanely high speeds.” It is no surprise that, in its time, the Ghibli outsold both the Ferrari Daytona and Lamborghini Miura. Few cars commanded such presence or delivered as much high-speed joy back to their passengers.

The example offered here was restored over a six-year period, with more than $200,000 being spent on the restoration, which was under the care of Maserati expert Carlos Maduro. During this time, it was converted to the most desirable SS specification, with an enlarged V-8 that could produce 335 horsepower. It was finished in a very Italian shade of red, and it features a fresh tan-and-black leather interior, a wood steering wheel, and gauges that were rebuilt by Palo Alto Speedometer, as well as a rebuilt factory air-conditioning unit.

Then, as now, the Ghibli is the ideal of the gran turismo motor car, and it is one of the most beautiful and exciting Maseratis of all time. This car, handsomely restored to the most desirable specification, with the comfort of air conditioning and the assurance of quality workmanship, is a superb chance to enjoy that excitement.