The 1970 Maserati Ghibli SS Coupé: an icon preserved by the Maserati family

On the 60th anniversary of the Ghibli’s debut at the Turin Motor Show, Maserati celebrates one of the icons of “Italian Gran Turismo” by certifying, through its Maserati Classiche program, a 1970 Ghibli SS Coupé owned by the Maserati family.

Modena, November 3, 2026 – An extraordinary 1970 Maserati Ghibli SS Coupé, preserved by the Maserati family and now certified by the Maserati Classiche program, takes center stage in the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Ghibli, one of the most fascinating and iconic models in the Trident’s history.

Produced on November 25, 1970 for the Italian market, the Ghibli SS Coupé—chassis no. AM115/49*1948*—stands out for its elegant Ghia-designed body and 2+2 seating configuration. Originally finished in Oro Longchamps, it now sports Giallo Fly paintwork paired with its original black leather interior. Beneath the long hood lies a powerful 4.9-liter, 335-hp V8, fed by carburetors and paired with a ZF five-speed manual transmission, allowing the car to reach 280 km/h. A perfect balance of refinement and sportiness, it continues to embody Maserati’s vision of Italian Gran Turismo.
 

Cristiano Bolzoni, Head of Maserati Classiche, stated: “Certifying this iconic Ghibli SS highlights our bond with the Maserati family and Maserati Classiche’s expertise in safeguarding our heritage. This vehicle, one of the most fascinating expressions of Italian Gran Turismo, connects our origins with the future and celebrates the relationships we have built with those who carry forward the memory of our founders. The intersection of automotive and family history lies at the heart of Maserati Classiche’s mission. Modena continues to bring this history to life through the Collezione Maserati Umberto Panini, a place where memory and passion bring generations of enthusiasts closer to the Trident’s heritage.”

“Through technical expertise, research, and rigorous analysis of each vehicle,” Bolzoni continued, “our certification work attests to the vehicle’s authenticity and contributes to safeguarding the legacy of know-how, expert craftsmanship, and automotive culture that makes each one unique. Certifying means ensuring the continuity of this heritage, helping owners and collectors pass it down to future generations and keeping a bond alive that continues to evolve.”
 

Maserati Ghibli: the origins of an icon
The certification of this remarkable car takes on even greater significance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Ghibli, which was first unveiled on November 3, 1966, at the Turin Motor Show.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Carrozzeria Ghia, the new coupé immediately made an impression with its bold proportions, low and sleek lines, and ability to combine performance, comfort, and refinement. This philosophy continues to live on six decades later in the Maserati GranTurismo, a contemporary expression of the Trident’s distinctive approach to driving pleasure.

The Ghibli’s story began in 1966, when its debut in Turin marked a turning point in the Modena-based brand’s design language. During a period of extraordinary creativity in the Italian automotive industry, Giorgetto Giugiaro created a coupé with an unmistakable personality, featuring a long, low hood, a sleek front end with pop-up headlights, and a clean, elegant fastback rear. With its perfectly balanced proportions, the bodywork conveyed a sophisticated sportiness that was free of excess, setting a new benchmark for automotive design.

The name itself evoked speed and energy: Ghibli, the hot wind of the North African desert, continued Maserati’s tradition of naming some of its models after winds. Beneath its sculpted lines lay sophisticated, motorsport-derived mechanicals, designed to deliver outstanding performance without compromising driving pleasure or long-distance comfort. The use of dry-sump lubrication allowed the V8 to be mounted particularly low, helping define the body’s sleek proportions. It was an immediate success. Following the Coupé’s commercial debut in 1967, the range expanded in 1969 with the striking Spyder, also available with a hardtop. The following year, both body styles received a more powerful 4.9-liter V8, giving rise to the SS variant. The coupé’s appeal soon extended beyond Italy, winning over even Henry Ford II, who purchased one and had it displayed in the lobby of Ford’s Product Development Center in Detroit as inspiration for his own designers.
 

Maserati Ghibli: the celebrations and the journey to the new GranTurismo
The Ghibli’s 60th anniversary celebrations will also bring together the Trident’s international community of enthusiasts. In particular, the Maserati Owners Club Italy will mark the occasion with a visit to Maserati’s headquarters in Modena, a symbol of a legacy that continues to unite generations of owners, collectors, and brand enthusiasts.

Thanks to the contribution of the Maserati Owners Club Italy, the celebrations will feature the presence of vehicles of particular historical and collector interest: a rare Ghibli Spyder belonging to the Collezione Umberto Panini, the armored Quattroporte III already in use at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spadolini), the last Quattroporte III delivered in Italy, a Quattroporte III in the special “Royale” version, and a Ghibli II in the special “Primatist” edition.

November 3 also holds special significance in Maserati’s history. Exactly ten years after the Ghibli’s debut, on November 3, 1976, the Quattroporte III, project AM330, was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. Destined to become one of the brand’s most prestigious sedans, it would eventually be used by the Italian Presidency. Two very different automobiles, both embodying an unmistakably Italian vision of elegance, performance, and exclusivity. The anniversary also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the world record in the powerboat category set by Guido Cappellini on November 4, 1996, aboard the Primatist vessel, powered by a Maserati engine. The Ghibli II “Primatist,” dedicated to that achievement in 1997 and produced in just 36 examples, will also be present at the celebrations.

If the 1966 Ghibli helped redefine the concept of “Italian Gran Turismo,” the New GranTurismo builds on that legacy with technologies and solutions designed for contemporary mobility. Six decades of automotive evolution separate the two, yet they share the same ambition: to create cars that captivate at first sight, deliver outstanding performance, and transform every journey into an unforgettable experience. Harmonious proportions, a long hood, a cabin designed to offer exceptional comfort, and an instantly recognizable design language form the common thread linking the two eras. Today, this philosophy lives on in a GranTurismo range that combines Italian design with cutting-edge technology and a choice of internal combustion and electric powertrains.
 

Maserati Classiche, custodians of an extraordinary legacy
The certification of the Ghibli SS highlights the importance of Maserati Classiche, the program established in Modena in 2021 to preserve and promote the historic vehicles of the Motor Valley’s longest-standing Brand. Today, the division is part of BOTTEGAFUORISERIE, the project that safeguards the Trident’s heritage and carries it into the future through technical expertise and Modenese craftsmanship. This heritage is protected on several fronts, from the work of the Officine Classiche, dedicated to the certification of historic models, to the preservation of archives and museum spaces, such as the Collezione Maserati Umberto Panini in Modena. Together, these efforts make this history tangible and accessible, allowing it to continue to inspire. The centerpiece of the program is the Certification of Authenticity, overseen by a committee of experts who conduct an in-depth analysis of each vehicle’s technical characteristics, historical documentation, and records in the Maserati archives. The certification applies to automobiles over 20 years old, as well as special models and the Brand’s limited series.

Maserati S.p.A.
Maserati produces a complete range of unique cars that are immediately recognizable by their extraordinary personality. With style, technology and an innate exclusivity, they delight the most discerning, demanding tastes and refined tastes, always setting a benchmark in the global automotive industry. A tradition of successful cars, each of them redefining what makes an Italian sports car in terms of design, performance, comfort, elegance and safety, currently available in more than 70 markets internationally.

The Maserati line-up includes the Grecale SUV; GranTurismo, the iconic Italian grand tourer; and GranCabrio, the Trident's new convertible; all models characterized by the use of the highest quality materials and outstanding technical solutions. A range equipped with 4-cylinder hybrid powertrains, available for Grecale, and V6 petrol with rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, embodying the performance DNA of the Trident Brand. GranTurismo is available with both the high-performance V6 petrol engine and a 100% electric version, the GranTurismo Folgore, the first car in the Modena-based brand's history to adopt this solution. The full-electric range also includes Grecale Folgore and GranCabrio Folgore. The top of the Brand's range is the MC family, which consists of the MCPURA coupe and its MCPURA Cielo convertible version, powered by the innovative V6 Neptune engine, 100% Maserati, which incorporates F1-derived technologies into the power unit of a standard production car.  Completing the Brand's commercial offering is the Maserati GT2 Stradale, the road-legal version of the GT2, which brought Maserati back to the track in covered-wheel championships, while Maserati MCXtrema is the limited series of only 62 units, a track-only homologated racing car that pushes Trident performance to the highest level and is dedicated to racing car enthusiasts.

Maserati's mission is to write the future of mobility in the luxury segment by focusing on its customers’ requests. In order to achieve this mission, the Brand is also strongly focused on the Maserati Fuoriserie customization program, the Maserati Classiche activities, and the intensive Maserati Corse racing program.

For further information:

MASERATI
Andrea Pallard, Maserati Global Communications - andrea.pallard@stellantis.com
Roberta Marchetti, BOTTEGAFUORISERIE Communications Manager - roberta.marchetti@maserati.com
Davide Kluzer, Maserati Product Communications Manager - davide.kluzer@maserati.com