A Maserati Ghibli was the first European exotic car I fell in love with as a junior in high school in 1968. The photos were in the February '68 Car and Driver magazine, and this car was the most jaw-droppingly beautiful shape I had ever seen (keeping in mind I had not yet seen a Ferrari). I came from the world of hot rods, muscle cars, and drag racing, and it was obvious to me the Ghibli was simply from another planet.
So when KIT CAR Editor Eric Geisert approached me with the idea of alternative kit car choices-instead of the usual Cobra or Porsche Speedster-the Maserati Ghibli was my obvious first choice for a redesign. However, there was a dilemma. I knew I was going to draw modified versions of the cars Eric and I had discussed, but I also know kit and replicar manufacturers will offer cars in stock form with their customers personalizing their own cars later (which is one of the reasons for these drawings).
But my dilemma directly involves the Ghibli. How do you improve design perfection? Would you add airbrushing to the Sistine Chapel? To rework the Ghibli would be hard but, as it turned out, not impossible. I love the Ghibli coupe but the spyder is the real pulse-quickener, so I started there. How about a nice windshield chop for a speedster look? Wow! The stock wheels are the Ghibli's weak point, so I upgraded and modernized them with a set of 18- and 20-inch Lowenhart BR5 chrome alloys. Some mild body trim removal (there wasn't much) and I reworked the side vents to clean up the exterior a bit more.
As this could be a kit, you could probably base this on a C4 Corvette platform of some sort. But if you want to be really trick, weld up a custom space frame and drop in a BMW V-12 engine and drivetrain. If the result of these drawings is to stimulate alternate thinking when it comes to kit car design, well, are you ready for something like this?
Editor's Note: Starting with this issue,Kit Car Profile will direct its focus to designs that the kit and replicar car market (as well as some enterprising home builders) should take a look at. What is new in this industry? Where is this industry going? For the next few months, celebrated automotive designer Steve Stanford will take us through some inspiring examples of what the look of the replicar market could be in the years to come.