When a manufacturer shifts its attention from two-seat sports cars to four-seat grand tourers, execution must be impeccable – or customers will decamp. For Maserati – having birthed the Ghibli in 1967 as a follow-on to its two-seaters (the 3500/5000 and the Mistral) – results were mixed. The Ghibli satisfied a niche, but remained a niche. It didn’t help that Maserati was failing financially and about to change hands for the umpteenth time, falling into the arms of Citroen. The Indy was the first Maser-badged car introduced after that short marriage commenced (Citroen itself had to be rescued from bankruptcy just a few years later). Arriving in 1969 and named to commemorate Maserati’s wins at the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940, the Indy avoided stepping on the Ghibli’s toes by downsizing the power plant. While the Ghibli SS was thundering around using a 4.9 liter V8, the Indy made do with a 4.2 liter. Later the engine choices were harmonized, but the Indy was a niche car just like the Ghibli, failing to sell more than 1100 copies. Here on craigslist is a 1971 Maserati Indy, with an asking price of $89,950. Tony Primo passed along this excellent tip – thanks Tony!

The earliest Indy’s engine was a 4.2 liter V8 worth about 260 hp; by 1971, the 4.7 and 4.9 liter versions were also available. Horsepower peaked at about 320 and top speed was 170 mph. The Indy could be ordered with a five-speed ZF manual or a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic. The suspension was rudimentary compared to its competition, but the car was designed less for the twisty bits than for freeway motoring. This car’s odometer reads 55,000 miles.

The worn interior belies the odo reading. Either its owners have been careless or the mileage is higher than the quote. The upholstery is torn in several areas, the carpet is worn, the fitment of the dash components is less than good. That steering wheel needs refinishing, and either the car is running or the gauges need rebuilding as a couple of needles are not settled onto their resting pegs. It pains me to see an exotic deteriorate, and it’s a pain in the wallet too!

Maserati rotated through several coachbuilders – the Ghibli is by Giugiaro at Ghia, while the Indy is by Vignale. Lovely as the design is, this photo raises suspicions. The leading edge of the front end doesn’t line up with the bumper and the hood does not sit flat. After considering the seller’s ad and knowing the landscape in the background is not Bremerton, Washington as declared in the verbiage, I hunted for the “VIN” 21540, and of course that is not a Maserati VIN at all, but the stock number for this car sold by Gullwing. The exact same ad shows up here. Let’s put aside the question of the listing’s veracity, and consider value. This near-perfect 4.2 Indy sold this year at Amelia for $61,600. Larger motors receive a premium, but even so, the ask here is a stretch.