50th Anniversary Of First Maserati Indy Coupe Delivery Celebrated

Yesterday, July 1st, marked the 50th anniversary since the first Maserati Indy built for a customer left their historic headquarters at via Ciro Menotti 322 in Modena, and set out for delivery in Switzerland. Indy car number one was shipped to “Martinelli e Sonvico” in Chiasso, which was Maserati's Swiss importer back in 1969. A few days after that, the car, which was was painted in a unique black paint, called "oro metalizzato” and had a brown interior, was sold to a Swiss businessman. 

“The Maserati Indy was presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1968, on the Carrozzeria Vignale stand. The following year, the car officially debuted on the Maserati stand at the Geneva Motor Show. In 1968, Maserati built about 700 cars, the best result it had ever recorded since the opening of the Modena production plant. The Maserati range in 1968 was composed of Ghibli, Mexico, Mistral, Quattroporte and Sebring models. In the same year, Maserati achieved a 43% market share in the ‘over 3,500 cc’ segment in Italy,” according to a press release from Maserati. 

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Demand from customers looking for a driver friendly sports car led to the development of of the AM116 (Alfieri Maserati 116) project: Carrozzeria Vignale. This four-seater coupe offered comfort, performance, and sharp looks. The outcome was the Indy, named the 8CTF's wins at the Indianapolis 500 in both 1939 and 1940. 

The Indy was designed with large windows, pop-up headlights, a truncated rear, and air scoop under the slim bumper. It was initially powered by a 4 bbl V8 engine that put out 260 horsepower, and had a top speed of 155 mph. 

For the time, the Indy was pretty loaded, coming with leather seat upholstery, mechanical anti-theft system, adjustable steering wheel, heated rear window, tinted power windows, reclining front seats with headrests, and iodine headlights. Drivers could also opt for an automatic transmission, power steering, and radio.