Lot 250: 1973 Maserati Indy

Two Owners from NewDuring the 1960s Maserati gradually gave up the idea of motor racing and turned more to road cars, although they harked back to the marque's days of glory on the race tracks. Nowhere is this dichotomy better illustrated than in Maserati's V8 cars. 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 'quad-cam' 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 originated in the 1960s shared the same basic floor pan 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 quad cam 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 Maserati was been delivered new to Germany in 1973. With only 2 registered owners, the car was part of a big collection for some time and presents itself in largely original condition.Fitted with the larger 4.7 litre engine and finished in metallic copper / bronze, this Vignale bodied sports icon of the 70's comes with original black leather interior, 5 speed gearbox, tinted windows and alloy wheels, an older expert evidence and German paperwork. Seulement deux proprietaires de neuf ont savoure cette icone des annees 70. Decrit par le vendeur comme etant dans un condition original, cette Mistral est fourni avec un interieur en cuir original, une boite a 5 vitesses et des papiers allemands.