Lot 143: Maserati Indy 4.7

During the 1960s Maserati gradually gave up the idea of motor racing and turned more to road cars, although these harked back to the marque's days of glory on the race tracks. Nowhere is this dichotomy better illustrated than in Maserati's V8 models. The engine was commissioned with the intention of winning the Indianapolis 500 but then the commissioner ran short of funds and withdrew from the project. Maserati could not allow a wonderful large-block, quadruple camshaft, engine to gather dust and so gave it gainful employment in the 450S sports-racer which almost won the 1957 World Sports Car Championship. The front-engined cars originating in the 1960s shared the same basic floorpan although crucial dimensions changed according to whether it was to support the lithe Ghibli or the corpulent Quattroporte. By 1968 it was felt that the road car designs were rather plain so shortly after the exotic Ghibli the Indy was introduced, a striking gran turismo with four seater coachwork by Vignale. With servo-assisted disc brakes on all four wheels, monocoque construction, a 260bhp quadruple camshaft V8 engine and five speed gearbox this was, for its day, a thoroughly modern and potent motor car, capable of a claimed maximum speed of over 150mph. In 1970 a larger, 4.7 litre engine became an option, with improved performance and greater refinement This excellent Maserati Indy 4.7 was delivered new to Germany on February 2nd 1972. Having subsequently resided in Denmark for many years, where it was mostly exhibited in a prestigious car dealer's showroom, the car then formed part of a German collection and has only recently been restored to its current excellent condition. Repainted in a dark shade of Maserati blue, with excellent magnolia hide trim, Alcantara headlining and matching carpeting, the Indy sits on new tyres on Campagnolo wheels; a Becker wireless is also fitted to this classic sports car. A perfect addition to any high class Italian sports car collection, the car is supplied with assorted bills, Classic Data evaluation and German registration papers. Not to be missed ! Riverniciata nel classico blu Maserati con interni in pelle è oggi, dopo il restauro, dotata di nuove ruote Campagnolo e Becker. Offerta con documenti tedeschi.