Like its sisters the Mistral and later the Khamsin, the Ghibli was named after a fierce wind. Unveiled at the 1966 Turin Auto Show, its beautiful flowing lines were penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, then chief designer at Ghia. The styling was long, low, and wide, with hidden headlamps and a grille prominently punctuated by the firm’s trident emblem, foreshadowing the styling of Maseratis to come in the 1970s. Production began in 1967, and the Ghibli quickly proved a worthy competitor against the Ferrari 275 GTB and Lamborghini 400 GT, its chief rivals.

Maserati upped the ante in 1970 with the introduction of the SS model, featuring a 335-horsepower, 4.9-liter engine with solid-state ignition and four Weber 42 DCNF carburetors. At its release it was the fastest car Maserati had ever produced, with a top speed of 175 mph. In total, just 1,170 coupes and 125 spiders were produced over the production run; it is believed that just 413 Ghiblis were left-hand drive SS 4.9-liter coupes.

This example was completed at Modena in September 1971 and delivered new to the Grossman Motor Company in West Nyack, New York. Originally clad in the period shade of Marrone Colorado over Senape leather, as presented today it wears an appreciably louder color combination of Dark Blue Metallic over lipstick red Connolly leather which was applied during a previous restoration circa 2010.

During this restoration, the car’s numbers-matching engine was reportedly overhauled, as was its five-speed ZF transmission, brake system, and suspension. This wonderful and rarified Ghibli SS 4.9 is made ever more attractive by its handsome specifications, which include air conditioning, power windows, Blaupunk radio, Weber downdraft carburetors, and 15-inch Campagnolo wheels wrapped in Vredestein Sprint Classic tires.

This is a car for the Maserati enthusiast seeking one of the finest, best-equipped examples of one of the famed automaker’s greatest, most evocative creations. It would make an ideal entrant for regional concours d’elegance and Italian car shows—or may be appreciated on the open road for its 4.9-liter engine’s smooth torque and muscular performance.