Maserati Indy, yesterday as today, only for refined palates

Unique ONES - Let's continue the discussion about the classic car made by the Italian manufacturer Maserati. On this occasion we will discuss a fastback grand-tourer four-seater named the Maserati Indy (Tipo AM116) which was produced by the Italian automaker from 1969 to 1975 and also known as the first model produced after the company was acquired by the French automotive company Citröen.

Maserati Indy is known as an alternative to Maserati Ghibli which offers the same four seater layout and powerd by a V8 engine. (Picture from: Motoristorici.it)

The Maserati Indy model effectively replaces the 'outdated' Maserati Sebring 2+2 designed by Giovanni Michelotti (which is the successor to the Maserati 3500 GT) and the first generation Maserati Quattroporte. It also known as an alternative to the Maserati Ghibli which offers the same four seater layout and powered by a V8 engine, but differ in style; indeed these two car models come from the same time.

Maserati Indy comes a sleek 4-seater fasback designed by Virginio Vairo and Ellio Mainardi of Carrozzeria Vignale. (Picture from: Motoristorici.it)

Two well-known coachbuilders, Carrozzeria Ghia and Vignale, presented their proposals for the Indy design at the Salone dell'Automobile in Torino in November 1968, both based on the 4.2-liter Maserati chassis. At Ghia's stand was Simùn, a berlinetta 2+2 designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro; while at the Carrozzeria Vignale stand comes a sleek 4-seat fastback, created by designers Virginio Vairo and Ellio Mainardi.

Maserati Indyi's cabin is completely covered in well-crafted geniune leather, now a hallmark of Maserati grand touring cars, and features four single seats. (Picture from: Motoristorici.it)

Both coachbuilders have good relations with Maserati, as Vignale was responsible for the Maserati 3500 GT Spyder, Mexico and Sebring, while Ghia had previously released the Ghibli. However, the Vignale prototype was preferred, and the production model was unveiled by Maserati at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1969. The car was named 'Indy' in honor of Maserati's two wins at the Indy 500.

At its launch in 1969, the Maserati Indy was offered with a Tipo 107 V8 engine with four 4.2-liter overhead cams. However, starting in 1970 using a 4.7-liter while the Indy 4700 version was also offered with the 4200, and in 1972 Maserati added a 4900 Indy version to its lineup, equipped with a new 4.9-liter V8 engine.

Maserati Indy production version is debuted at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show and its name taken to tribute the Maserati's two wins at the Indy 500 racing event.  (Picture from: Motoristorici.it)

The Maserati Indy uses a unibody construction, which the suspension layout shares with the Ghibli. At the front it is equipped with a double wishbone, with coaxial hydraulic dampers and coil springs, with an anti-roll bar. Meanwhile, at the rear there is a live axle with semi-elliptical springs, a single longitudinal torsion arm, hydraulic dampers, and an anti-roll bar.

Meanwhile inside its cabin is completely covered in well-crafted geniune leather, now a hallmark of Maserati grand touring cars, and features four single seats, just as the Lamborghini Espada had launched at the same time.

Production of the Maserati Indy ended in 1975 wit a total of 1,104 units have been produced, consisted with 440 units of the Indy 4200, 364 units of the Indy 4700, and 300 units of the Indy 4900 version. *** [EKA [31072021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING.RU | MOTORISTORICI.IT ]

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