Maserati’s Ghibli was penned by the talented and young Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working for Ghia, and it all but stole the show when it was introduced at the 1966 Turin Auto Show. It was conceived as a luxurious and sporting grand touring car that was perfect for crossing large swathes of land in a single bound, and it was a spectacular choice for the individual looking for a stylish automobile that had space for two and their luggage yet was still capable of sprinting across Europe or North America. The car was fitted with a 4.7-liter DOHC V-8 engine with dry-sump lubrication, making it just as powerful as it was attractive, as it boasted 330 horsepower and a 0–60 mph time of 6.8 seconds, which lead to a top speed of 154 mph.

The most desirable variant of the Ghibli was the spyder. It was identical in every way to its closed sibling, boasting the same performance and an identical amount of practicality but all with the added romanticism of top-down touring. With minimal effort, the fabric top could be neatly folded away behind the seats, leaving more than enough luggage space in the trunk for both the driver and passenger. Only 125 Ghibli Spyders were built in total, and they rarely become available on the open market, leaving them as icons of design for most and the perfect grand touring car for the fortunate few.

This 4.7-liter Ghibli Spyder was purchased new by Raymond Mason Sr., the financier and founder of the Charter Companies of Jacksonville, Florida, and it was ordered new by him through Trident Imported Motors Incorporated, of Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Mason specified that the car be finished in Blue Medio (20A173) over a Connolly Bianco (PAC.1544) leather interior, which is the same color combination it wears today. However, instead of picking the Ghibli Spyder up in Pennsylvania, as most customers would, Mason instead opted to pick up his new car from the Maserati factory in Modena, and from there, he took possession of the car on October 26, 1970. On his maiden voyage with the car, he immediately drove across Europe to his estate in County Galway, Ireland, and the car remained in Europe for his use for the next two years.

In 1972, Mason brought the Ghibli Spyder home to America, shipping it to New York City. Just like he did when he purchased the car new, Mason opted to drive the car from New York to his estate in Epping Forest, the former estate of Alfred I. DuPont, which was located in Jacksonville, Florida. Following its arrival in Florida, Mason’s Ghilbi Spyder continued to see use in the Jacksonville area for many years, but the car was prone to overheating in the humid Florida climate, which was a common issue with early Ghiblis. As a result, Mason was convinced by a local shop to switch the car’s engine with a Chevrolet V-8 to alleviate the problem. Afterwards, Mason drove his Ghibli Spyder for several more years before leaving it to rest in his garage permanently.

It was not until the 1990s that the Ghibli Spyder was discovered and purchased from Mr. Mason by Bill Warner, the chairman of the Amelia island Concours d’Elegance, who decided to restore the car back to its original configuration. With its Chevrolet V-8 still intact, a correct 4.7-liter Ghibli engine was sourced to replace it. The car was then completely mechanically overhauled at Brumos Porsche, and it was upgraded from its original three-speed automatic to the more sporting and desirable ZF five-speed manual gearbox. Finally, a later Ghibli radiator with dual cooling fans was installed to address its overheating problems, ensuring that this example will run well in any climate. Following the completion of the restoration, it was loaned through Maserati USA for use in the final scenes of the movie Love, Wedding, Marriage, starring Mandy Moore. After its 15 minutes of fame on the silver screen, the Ghibli Spyder was brought back to Brumos for some final detailing, and it was at this time that Ghibli expert Ivan Ruiz called Warner and told him that he had come across a Ghibli engine that might be of interest, as the block was stamped AM115/S 1087, which made it this Spyder’s original powerplant. The engine was purchased and immediately shipped back to Jacksonville to be reunited with its proper chassis and body years after being separated.

In January, the interior was restored by Lesch Designs, of Tallahassee, and they were tasked with installing factory-correct leather and wool carpeting to bring the interior back to its original state.

This incredibly well documented Ghibli Spyder comes with all of its correct service and parts manuals, the original owner’s manual, and factory documentation from Maserati, including a Certificate of Origin. A matching set of fitted luggage by Randy Cox, of Cox Designs, resides in the trunk, along with a copy of Love, Wedding, Marriage. The consignor notes that it is a delight to drive and it performs wonderfully, “with an exhaust tone that would impress even the most jaded aficionado.”

It goes without saying that this Ghibli is one of the finest in existence, as it boasts just two owners to its name, with the current owner being Bill Warner, as well as a fresh restoration; and a cameo role in a Hollywood film. The Ghibli Spyder, rarer than a Daytona Spider and arguably more attractive and civilized, is considered by many to be one of the finest grand touring cars Maserati has ever produced, and it is often mentioned in the same breath as such Italian icons as the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona and the Lamborghini Miura. For cruising the Sunshine State in top-down Italian style, there truly is nothing better.