Frank Sinatra’s 1970 Maserati Ghibli Coupe #1564
SPECIFICATIONS
- PriceSOLD
- MakeMaserati
- ModelGhibli
- Year1970
- Mileage21,699
- Serial #1564
- VINAM1151564
- Engine TypeV8
- Build Sequence #782
- Number Built1,149
- Body TypeCoupe
- Body BuilderGhia
- First OwnerWes Ferrel
- Current LocationFerraris Online
We are pleased to offer 1970 Maserati Ghibli Coupe s/n 115*1564, an unusually user-friendly example of the iconic 60’s and 70’s era Italian supercar. The Maserati Ghibli was first introduced at the 1966 Turin Motor Show and named after the hot and high-speed exotic Sahara Desert wind. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro who, in 1999, was named Car Designer of the Century and, in 2002, inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Maserati Ghibli features stunning good looks, with a long, low and sleek hood line and a compact cabin blended nicely into the abrupt cutoff Kamm tail rear. Power comes from Maserati’s race-bred, dry-sumped, 4.7-liter V8, fed by four Weber DCNF carbs, an engine which evolved from the 450S sports-racer and was first seen in road-going guise in the Maserati 5000 GT. The mid-front-mounted 4,719-cubic centimeter V-8 engine features quad chain-driven camshafts, producing 330 horsepower and acres of torque, while a bullet-proof ZF five-speed manual and a equally bullet-proof ZF diff put the power to the ground. Thanks to power steering, a silky-smooth ZF five speed, a light clutch and A/C, the Maserati Ghibli is user-friendly and easy to drive. When introduced the Maserati Ghibli easily outpaced the then-current Ferrari 275 GTB/4 for straight-line performance and, with largely intuitive aerodynamics, the exotic, yet refined Maserati Ghibli delivered a top speed of 170 mph, combined with remarkable handling. With 1,149 Maserati Ghibli coupes sold, the Maserati Ghibli easily outsold the combined 275 GTB and GTB/4 production and also outsold the total Miura production. Thanks to optional power steering, the Maserati Ghibli was known for its drivability at both low and high speeds, as well as its predictable, balanced, and forgiving handling characteristics, attributable to near-perfect weight distribution and a low center of gravity. Dry-sump lubrication enabled the engine to be mounted deep in the chassis, permitting the low hood line, while a stiff suspension ensured that the tires did not foul the wheel arches.
Our feature car, 1970 Maserati Ghibli s/n 115*1564, was sold new in Dec., 1970, in Silver (106-E-1) with Blue Connolly leather (pac 1545) to Wes Farrell, who was married to Tina Sinatra, Frank’s daughter, and registered to his company, Coral Rock Productions. Wes Farrell was a very successful 1960s and 1970s songwriter and producer who wrote or co-wrote close to 500 songs and contributed to 300m in record sales. In March, 1972 Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 was sold to Frank Sinatra, who needs no introduction. We have copies of the registration in Frank Sinatra’s name on file, correspondence from Nancy Sinatra confirming her father’s ownership and the Maserati data build sheet on file. 1970 Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 was later sold to George Hamilton, another American actor and later still Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 was sold to to Dave Thomas, the founder and owner of the Wendy’s restaurant chain. In 2000 Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 was sold to the current long-term owner and has been well kept and maintained in his twenty years of ownership. Today Maserati Ghibli Coupe s/n 115*1564 is still registered on Frank Sinatra’s license plate FAS-IV for his name “Frank Albert Sinatra” and has extremely low miles with only 21, 699 original miles on the odometer. We have extensive service and maintenance records on file, call or e-mail us for copies.
At some point in the 1990s Maserati Ghibli Coupe s/n 115*1564 was repainted as the paint is much too nice to be original, and the complete interior was very nicely redone in soft and supple black leather. It is believed that the discrete red and orange pin striping on the car is from Wendy’s orange and red logo colors of the time (1970’s and 1980’s), which might explain the somewhat unusual choice of pin stripe colors for a silver car. The paint is in amazingly good condition except for the usual very minor stress cracks where the rear glass meets the roof line. The body is very straight with excellent panel fit and the doors close like Italy’s answer to a Swiss vault. The hood, the front bumpers and lights, the rear deck and rear lid all fit as new and all glass and chrome are in excellent condition. The frame, the floor pan and all lower panels are rust, dent and damage free, although there is slight damage to the right front lower rocker panel. The black leather interior, dash, console and black carpets have an excellent patina with only minor surface wear and compression on the driver’s seat due to use. The seat bolsters remain full and firm. Like all Maserati Ghiblis, the seating position is both low and comfortable, helped by an adjustable steering wheel, which makes for a comfortable fit for both those with long legs and the occasional basketball player. The dashboard features an expansive array of instruments and a wood trimmed steering wheel. The dashboard top surface is finished in a contrasting fabric material consistent with the original specifications. The center console houses the original Blaupunkt AM/FM radio.
Under the hood, the very nicely finished 4.7 liter quad-cam engine is nicely sorted and has been restored with the correct factory finishes, including proper hosing, wrinkle finish cam covers, proper air cleaner paint and correctly bundled hoses. The engine fires to life quickly, with an excellent raspy punch. Power in all gears is quite impressive, the 4.7 liter quad-cam delivers acres of torque at low RPMs and willingly uses all four Weber carbs to deliver a very strong top end. The suspension and brakes have been sorted out very nicely, so Maserati Ghibli s/n 115-652 is a pleasure to drive in city traffic or the highway.
In 2010 Maserati Ghibli s/n 115*1564 had two sets of major service work done by Europa Macchina, Lewisberry, PA. In February, 2010, major worked completed included a compression and leak down test, check the fuel pumps, rebuild all four Weber 42 DCNF carbs, replace all water hoses, install a new battery box, plus the related parts, for a total invoice of $10,494.76. Further major work by Europa Macchina included flushing the fuel tanks, new fuel soft lines, touch up paint on the hood and nose, paint materials, a detail of the engine and engine compartment plus a new hood pad in April, 2010, for a total invoice of $12,576.25. In Feb., 2012, in preparation for showing at Amelia Island, five new Michelin 215/70VR15 XWX tires were ordered at a cost of $3,240.28. In March, 2012 service work in preparation work for showing at the Amelia Island Concourse was completed by Europa Macchina. The work included a check and diagnose of any fuel, oil or water leaks, remove and repair door sill plates, paint all five wheels, refinish front and rear wheel wells, five new tire tubes, mount the new Michelin XWX tires and more for a total of $9,379.15. We have copies of all invoices on file, call or e-mail us for copies by PDF. We also have copies of the Maserati Factory Internal Factory Order, the Technical And Aesthetic Characteristics, the Delivery Note and all other documents from Fabio Collina, the Manager of Maserati Classiche. Again, call or e-mail us for copies by PDF.
Today Ghibli s/n 115*1564 needs nothing, is ready to go or show and has only 21, 699 miles on the odometer. Giugiaro, Ghia and Maserati created this masterpiece of exotic automotive design to serve both performance and beauty. 50 years later, Maserati Ghibli Coupe s/n 115*1564 is a superb example awaiting a new owner eager for comfortable high-speed rallies, casual touring or enjoyable show events. Thanks to it’s unique combination of power and design, the Maserati Ghibli is one of the most important and yet affordable sports cars of the Golden Era of Italian design. Fly in for an inspection and test drive, you will be impressed.
1970, 13 March, Factory dealer or “ORDINE IN FABBRICA” placed by I M E, Inc., the authorized Maserati dealer for Beverly Hills, Calif. 90212.
1970, 28 Oct., build date of Maserati Ghibli Coupe s/n 115*1564. Note: Maserati Ghibli Coupes were only even numbers – so this car, # 1564, is the 782nd of 1,149 Maserati Ghibli Coupes built.
1970, 31 Dec., the delivery order or The AVVISO DI SPEDIZIONE date is 31.12.70. To I M I INC., 9372 Wilshire Blvd. + Beverly Hills, California 90212 USA. 1972 Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 is also one of a very few US model Maserati Ghibli Coupes delivered from new with three round taill lights in the normal rectangular assembly, as opposed to more common rectangular tail lights in a rectangular frame.
1970, Dec., sold new in Silver (106-E-1) with Blue Connolly leather (pac 1545) to Wes Farrell and registered to his company, Coral Rock Productions.
1972, sold to Frank Sinatra, annual California title and registration issued 08 Nov., 1973 in Frank Sinatra’s name, address 70588 Frank Sinatra Rd., Rancho Mirage, CA. 92270 on file and correspondence from Nancy Sinatra confirming her father’s ownership on file.
1970s, Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 was later sold to George Hamilton, an American actor.
1970’s, later owned by John Griffith from L.A.
1970 Maserati Ghibli s/n 1564 was later sold to to Dave Thomas, the founder and owner of the Wendys restaurant chain.
1970s (late) to 2000, owned by Albert Fruetel, Driven only 8,000 miles in this twenty year ownership.
1999, 26 Aug., offered at Christie’s auction, Pebble Beach.
2000, Jan., offered at the Barrett Jackson auction, Scottsdale, AZ.
2000, 26, Feb., sold at the Atlantic City Auction at the “Old Convention Center”, on the boardwalk, to the current owner with 19,500 miles. Well kept and maintained in his twenty years of ownership,
we have extensive ownership, service and maintenanace records on file.
2000, 03 April, misc gaskets, water hoses, fuel filters, thermostat, brake lines and wiper arms, a rebuilt water pump and brake lines were ordered from M.I.E., total invoice $2,396.13
2000, 06 May, new plug wire set ordered from M.I.E., total invoice, $237.58
2001, 25 Sept., Nancy Sinatra confirmed that Maserati Ghibli Coupe s/n 115*1564 was sold new to Wes Farrell and then to her father, who put his personalized license plates on the car.
2002, 08 Feb., fluids changed, customer supplied turn signal switch installed by Quinn Equipment, Middletown, PA, total invoice $302.24.
2002, 02 April, new Pennsylvania title issued in current owner’s name.
2012, Feb., recieved copies of the Maserati Factory Internal Factory Order, the Technical And Aesthetic Characteristics, the Delivery Note and all other documents from Fabio Collina, the Manager of Maserati Classiche.
2010, 19 Feb., major service work by Europa Macchina, 501 Industrial Drive, Lewisberry, PA, 17339 with billing for additional work to date. Compression and leakdown test, check fuel pumps, dissasseble carbs, clean intake manifolds, rebuild all four Weber 42 DCNF carbs, replace all water hoses, install new battery support box, 97.25 hours @ $88.00 per hour = $8,558.00. Clean and install five new Michelin 215/70VR15 XWX tires. Polish and detail car, 20.0 hours @ $44.00 per hour = $880.00. New parts including new battery, 8 new Champion spark plugs, 4 DCNF carb kits, $460.83. Total this invoice $10,494.76.
2010, 25 April, major service work by Europa Macchina, 501 Industrial Drive, Lewisberry, PA, 17339 with billing for work to date. Drain fuel tanks, re-move and flush fuel tanks, refit fuel tanks and fabricate new throttle cable, fit new fuel soft line hose, 64.75 hours @ $88.00 per hour = $5,698.00. Touch up paint on the hood and nose, 30.25 hours @ $88.00 = $2,662.00. Paint and detail materials $572.98. Detail engine and engine compartment, 61.5 hours @ $44.00 per hour = $2,706.00. New hood pad and fuel hoses, $164.43. Total this invoice $12,576.25.
2012, 20 Feb., five new Michelin 215/70VR15 XWX tires supplied by Universal Vintage Tire Co., Hershey, PA, total invoice $3,240.28
2012, 04 March, preparation for showing at Amelia Island Concours completed by Europa Macchina, 501 Industrial Drive, Lewisberry, PA, 17339 . Check and diagnose any fuel, oil or water leaks, top off fluids, remove and repair door sill plates, paint all five wheels,
refinish front and rear wheel wells, detail for Amelia Isalnd, 98.25 hours @ $88,00 per hour = $8,646.00. Parts including 5 new tire tubes, $130.00. Sublet mount and dismount tires. $95.00. Total this invoice $9,379.15.
2012, 11 March, invited by Bill Warner and shown by the current owner at the Amelia Island Concours.
2012, 11-13 Sept., shown at the Radnor Hunt” Concours d Elegance, winner of the “Unrestored FIVA Award”.
2020, Feb., on consignment at Mike and Colleen Sheehan’s Ferraris-Online
For more Maserati Ghibli info click on https://www.ghibli-registry.com
