How could I resist this evocative image posted to the Cohort by T-Minor? Two of my favorite things: a classic Maserati and the classic Vienna Opera House, right behind it. It reminds me of two memorable trips to Austria; in 1969, when I first encountered the Indy, and in 1980, when we met up with my parents in Vienna and my father took us to the Opera (Verdi’s Falstaff) , a highlight of a few wonderful days there.
It’s only natural that a lover of fine automotive engine music would drive the Indy to the Opera. Or even just for the visual appeal, if not the actual opera. But just what is that big dark sedan brooding off to the right?
As evocative that photo above is, it’s a bit hard to make out the details of the Indy, so I’ll show it a bit more clearly too. The Indy was a bit confusing to me when it came out in 1969, seeing how it seemed to compete in-house with the brilliant Ghibli that arrived two years earlier. Why build two such similar cars, technically and otherwise? The Indy—whose name celebrated Maserati’s two victories at the 500 in 1939 and 1940—sat on the same 100″ wheelbase chassis as the Ghibli, and used the same basic V8 engine, although the early versions of the Indy used a smaller 4.2 and 4.7 versions of the 4.9 the Ghibli used. So what was the point?
A semi-proper back seat. The Indy was a true 2+2, whereas the Ghibli was 2+1 (two in the front, two halves in the rear). Its little seatlet was usually folded down for more luggage and utterly useless for adults.
There were of course other differences, most of all in their design, The Ghibli (above) was one of Giorgetti Giugiaro’s most brilliant designs ever (to how many cars has that phrase been applied?), and the Ghibli was Maserati’s answer to the Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari Daytona. It even outsold them both, but then it was a bit cheaper. But no less beautiful, if a bit more restrained.
The Indy was designed by Carrozzeria Vignale, and actually had a different brief than the Ghibli. It was designed to replace the aging Mexico and gen1 Quattroporte, and at a lower price point than the top-line Ghibli. Although not quite in the same league as the Ghibli, Vignale did an excellent job of disguising the Indy’s four-passenger accommodations. The cockpit was moved forward, and the body was a couple of inches taller than the Ghibli. And the hood couldn’t be raked as aggressively, because it used the taller and cheaper wet-sump versions of Maserati’s DOHC V8s, unlike the dry-sump Ghibli.
As such, it was essentially a competitor to Lamborghini’s Espada, a bolder (and more commodious) shot at a four-passenger Italian supercar. Some 1104 Indys were built from 1969 to 1975, with the 4.9 V8 on the last few years. Standard transmission was a ZF 5-speed; a Borg Warner 3-speed automatic was optional (and joy-killing).
If you’re going to the best opera (Don Giovanni) with just one other, the Ghibli is the preferred way to go. But if it’s a foursome, one could much worse than to take the Indy, eve if it’s just Falstaff. And when it’s in the Vienna Opera House, it’s going to be highly memorable in either case.
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Italian supercars like this are like classical architecture: old perhaps, but not out-of-date. Just saw a GranTurismo this morning. I know it’s a different model, but they’re so rare around here, any is worth reporting.
Falstaff was supposedly inspired by John Fastolf, an able English knight (Order of the Garter) during the Hundred Years War. He was charged with cowardice after his prudent withdrawl from the otherwise disastrous Battle of Patay. Even though he was formally exonerated & restored to the Order, his tarnished popular reputation lasted to Shakespeare’s day.
Nice shot! The car to the right is an Alfa of some sort, I think the angle of the pic makes it look wider than it is though.
It’s either the facelifted 156 or the later 159.
It looks huge!
Alfa 159. Yes, it can do the brooding look very well, with the right colour and those bulging arches.
I’d take on over a 3 series, without hanging about.
And I must post up the Espada/911 combination in a motorway service station that is on my hard disc.
I agree on the lens thing. Some lenses do this sort of distortion at their edges.
Either that or it’s a Quattroporte testing mule disguised as an Alfa.
Or the new Ghibli sedan (disguised)
I know a guy who owns an Indy, I don’t think it cost a lot of money, probably half of what a Ghibli would have which makes a difference to a ‘toy car’ budget. And it is still a quad-cam, quad-Weber Maserati V8! I haven’t had a ride in it, it sort of seems a waste to fire it up for a 5 minute joyride.
Here is another rear shot from Motorclassica. I think the styling is fairly pedestrian for what it is, all the elements are there but there isn’t anything special about it.
This is how owning one of these would be in my mind, dashing off the to opera at night with the lights of the Maserati reflecting off the wet streets, something equally in equally exotic/Bond girl realm in the passenger seat, flicking off rifle precise shifts as the Maserati’s DOHC V8 burbles up and down its rev range, after the opera, some late dinner and champagne then back to the villa.
But the reality would probably be the Maserati off to the side of the road with hood up 5 miles from home.
Ah yes, reverting to Italian and French car stereotypes, once again. You know, this isn’t a Bi-Turbo. The Maseratis from the 60s and early 70s had a well-deserved rep for being exceptionally well built, tough, and durable. That applied to many Italian cars of the era.
Yep, I’m sure its a regular Camry. I think the car is pretty, though I like the Ghibli better, but, really, its a 60’s Italian car its still going to be a troublesome but fun mistress. It wasn’t like the BiTurbo “ruined it” for everyone, the rep is deserved for a reason, even if it is exaggerated at times.
The Miura will always be, to me, the essence of Italian coachbuilding mastery, but the Ghibli isn’t too far behind. Then you have the Iso Grifo and any number of Ferraris…
Of course, in that company, the Indy pales a little, but out of the context of all that was glorious about that time period in automaking, the Indy is a beautiful ride.
Don Giovanni was the first opera I ever saw, about 30 years ago and I’ve had season tickets ever since. The first Maserati I ever saw in the flesh was the Biturbo also about 30 years ago. Seeing it was a lot less memorable.
Never liked the Indy. Fiat 130 Opera would be my choice.