1969 Maserati Ghibli Spyder Conversion: Fraction of the cost of an original

Collector car price guides place the Maserati Ghibli Spyder in the $150,000 – $300,000 range, and with only 125 produced including both the 4.7 litre and the 4.9 liter SS models, they really don’t come to market very often. That’s precisely what makes this car compelling. While it may be a conversion, it looks to the layman every bit like the real deal, and in an attractive color combination to boot. Find it here on eBay in Miami, Florida with no reserve and bidding at a shade under $9,000 as of this writing.

Even in coupe form Ghiblis generally earn $50K or more, so it is refreshing to see a seller offer an interesting collector car in a no reserve auction on eBay. So often, though, eBay sellers test the water with unreasonably high reserves and engage shill bidders to bump prices to the edge of the reserve. Certainly, there is always the danger that this seller could do like many and either sell the car outside of eBay and end the auction early or end it just before it gets to the 24 hour mark if it is not approaching the amount he is looking for. If he’s really shady, he could refuse to sell if it doesn’t go high enough, but eBay tends to get pretty upset about that. Potential buyers should keep all of these possibilities in mind if they are serious about owning this black beauty.

The seller indicates that this car’s motor is correct – which would mean it is a 4.7 – but it is not original to the car. For true collectors, that is obviously a dealbreaker. But then, being a conversion convertible already the motor should not be a deal breaker. While you won’t win at Pebble Beach with it, this car could be a local show star with cosmetics addressed, and those not in the know will be none the wiser.

The red and black interior looks great against the black exterior finish, and the conversion appears well finished and to my untrained eyes looks like a true Spyder. It is interesting that the seller makes no reference to a convertible top either in the photos or the text – could be an oversight or maybe it’s just not there. I’d certainly want to know that before I even thought about putting my money down on it. The modern shift knob is a little goofy, and the lever looks a little longer than it should be, but I haven’t compared against any others. The dash looks good as do the reupholstered seats, and the car has power steering to help offset the hugely heavy front end.

The K&N style cone filter looks a little out of place, but otherwise the car reportedly runs and drives very well, and wears new stainless exhaust from the headers back. The 4.7 liter motor was good for 330hp from the factory, which was great for motivating the car to 60mph from rest in about 6.8 seconds and a top speed in the 155mph range – comparable to the Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari Daytona from the same period. Come to think of it, the Daytona is a great comparison: Daytona Spyder conversions do tend to fetch more than standard coupes but less than real convertibles. Why should the same not apply here? Buy it cheap, address the paint issues, and have a car that looks like a quarter million bucks. Literally.