with gorgeous 1970 Indy at its 21 June Rockingham Castle sale
One hundred years ago, Alfieri and Ettore Maserati set up a small tuning business in Bologna. Later, they were joined by other brothers Bindo and Ernesto, and together produced some of the most successful racing cars of the inter-war years.
From small beginnings grew one of today’s most famous marques, still located on the Viale Ciro Menotti in nearby Modena, to where it relocated in 1937.
On 21 June, H&H Classics will offer this delectable Verde Metallizzato 1970 Maserati Indy at its Rockingham Castle auction.
A Maserati customer was always one who valued effortless comfort over long distances rather than out-and-out performance, and few models epitomise this better than the Indy, a generous 2+2 by Vignale first presented at the 1969 Geneva Show. The name ‘Indy’ commemorated Maserati’s victories at the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940.
With a four-cam, 4.2-litre V8 producing 260bhp, the new car promised a top speed of over 150mph – for four adults. And it was able to deliver this in typical Maserati style: high quality leather, chromed switches and gear-lever, a practical glass hatch-back over the generous 18cu ft luggage area, with twin fuel tanks for serious European travelling.
This magnificent Maserati Indy was first registered on 1 July 1970 and has spent much of its life in mainland Europe. It has been the subject of an extensive four-year restoration in Germany that included a bare-metal respray, thorough engine overhaul and full interior re-trim. For the last three years the car has been with the same British collector. Left-hand drive, it has power-assisted steering and the desirable 5-speed manual gearbox.
H&H Classics’ managing Director, Simon Hope, is an avid enthusiast of the marque and strongly believes that these big-engined Maseratis represent great value:
“We’ve seen such a colossal rise in values of equivalent Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Aston Martins, the time of the Trident has surely come. Think about it: Moss, Fangio and Nuvolari won races for Maserati, and you can trace the origins of the Indy’s quad-cam motor to the 450S sports-racer. “Besides, what other car will take four adults and a fair bit of luggage in such style? With that badge… and in such an evocative colour from the 1970s?”
The 1970 Maserati Indy 4.2 is estimated at £35,000 - 45,000.
