Description
1974 Maserati Indy 4900
Chassis number: AM116/ 49* 2090*
Registration number: DBY 963M
- 86, 428 kms with just 2 UK owners since 2008.
- Repainted in Luci di Mezzanotte in 2013, with a full retrim in yellow leather at the same time.
- Full engine rebuild by McGrath Maserati in 2018.
- 4. 9 litre engine (300hp) and 5-speed manual gearbox.
The last version of the Indy represented the pinnacle of development of the model and was Maserati Chief Engineer Giulio Alfieri’s swansong. Conceived at the end of the Orsi era of Maserati ownership, the Indy was a traditional front-engined, rear-wheel-drive Gran Turismo but with a modern fastback shape courtesy of Virginio Vairo at Vignale. Although mechanically similar, it complemented the more overtly sporting Ghibli in the Maserati range, offering realistic rear seats and a hatchback.
While early Indys used the 4. 2 or 4. 7 litre engines, for the last model, Alfieri developed a new 4. 9 litre version of this wet sump, quad-cam, all-aluminium V8 that would go on to be used in the later Boras. In this guise it produced 300 bhp at 5, 500 rpm giving an advertised maximum speed of 173 mph.
The gearbox in the 4900 version was the latest ZF 5-speed with dog-leg first that would also be fitted to the Khamsin. ZF also provided the hydraulic power steering. However, the most avant-garde feature was Alfieri’s adoption of the Citroen hydraulic system to power the brakes. He also took the opportunity to upgrade the brakes and wheels to 15” (from original 14”) to increase brake cooling and give better tyre choice for the new Michelin XWX low profile range.
The interior of the 4. 9 used a third version of the Indy dashboard and the model was equipped with electric windows, pop-up headlights and air conditioning as standard. Of the 1100 or so Indys built from 1969 to 1975, fewer than 300 were the 4. 9 version and the model was never sold new in the UK or built in RHD, making them a rare find here.
This particular 4. 9 is well-known to McGrath. The Maserati Classiche documents are on file and show that when new, the car was ordered by Maserati dealer Bordese Automobili in Turin and was delivered to them in November 1974. The original colours were blue Ischia with Connolly Senape leather.
By 2008, when we first saw this car, the exterior colour had been changed to red and the car was living in Zurich, Switzerland. We inspected it for a long-term client, who subsequently bought it. Apart from the colour, it was a very original car with low mileage (42, 000 kms) and once we had imported it to the UK, we initially carried out some basic work and registered the car. During that period, it was featured in Classic & Sportscar (Jan 2009) in a Maserati group test with a Khamsin and Ghibli Coupe.
We then carried out a thorough mechanical re-commissioning of the car, followed by a bare-metal repaint in the darker blue of Luci di Mezzanotte and then in 2013, a complete re-trim in yellow hide to complete the owner’s signature colour scheme – the colours of Modena. During this period the car was in constant use for Maserati events, including some long haul International rallies – Sweden in 2012, Switzerland in 2013 and then the Maserati Centennial event in Modena and Turin in 2014.
In 2016, we managed the sale of the car to another enthusiastic UK based owner, who continued to use the car regularly. In 2018 we carried out a complete engine rebuild and some further body and paintwork and since then have continued to maintain the car fastidiously. Last year it covered a 5000 kms trip to Bavaria without a hitch and the mileage now is 86, 428 kms (still only 50, 000 miles).
Having been serviced by us in September last year, this Indy is now ready for further use and available for sale due to the completion of another of the owner’s projects. He will be sad to see it go.
To summarise then, this is an opportunity to purchase a thoroughly restored Indy 4900 for a fraction of the costs of restoration today. It is one of only a handful in the UK, a matching numbers car and comes with a large history file. It also offers the ultimate in traditional Maserati grand touring.
