Maserati Pairs 1972 Ghibli SS With 590-HP GranTurismo in Bologna
Maserati will use this week’s Auto e Moto d’Epoca show in Bologna to place two very different grand tourers side by side: a 1972 Ghibli SS Coupé and the current 590-horsepower GranTurismo Trofeo. The display runs October 22–25, 2026, at BolognaFiere as part of the brand’s continuing celebration of 100 years of the Trident emblem.
The pairing is a heritage presentation rather than a new-model debut. It is still useful because Maserati has identified the specific historic car, provided technical details for both vehicles and published times for two related October 23 talks.
The 1972 Ghibli SS on display
The Ghibli SS headed to Bologna was built on July 3, 1972, for the German market. Maserati lists a 4.9-liter, carbureted V8 producing 335 CV at 5,500 rpm, a ZF five-speed manual transmission and a claimed top speed of 280 km/h, or about 174 mph.
The original Ghibli debuted at the Turin Motor Show in November 1966 and reached customers in 1967. Giorgetto Giugiaro designed its low body for Ghia. A dry-sump lubrication system helped engineers position the V8 low in the chassis, supporting the car’s distinctive proportions. The larger 4.9-liter SS version followed in 1970.
Maserati says a second Ghibli SS, built in 1970, will appear separately on the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens stand. That detail matters for visitors trying to locate a particular car: the company’s own 1972 example is at the Motor Valley stand, while the other SS is with FIVA.
A current GranTurismo provides the comparison
The modern half of the display is a GranTurismo Trofeo finished in Verde Giada. Its 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6 is rated by Maserati at 590 hp and 650 Nm of torque, paired with all-wheel drive. The company claims a top speed above 320 km/h, or roughly 199 mph.
Maserati emphasizes the engine’s pre-chamber combustion technology, carbon-fiber trim and Alcantara interior material. Those specifications come from the manufacturer; Chiefs Review has not driven or independently measured the display car.
The comparison is not meant to show an uninterrupted mechanical lineage. The 1972 Ghibli uses a front-mounted naturally aspirated V8 and manual gearbox, while the current Trofeo relies on a smaller turbocharged V6, modern electronics and all-wheel drive. The connection is the broader grand-touring brief: high performance combined with long-distance comfort and a usable cabin.
October 23 talks and visitor details
- Event: Auto e Moto d’Epoca 2026 at BolognaFiere
- Public dates: October 22–25, 2026
- 11:00 a.m., October 23: Maserati Classiche head Cristiano Bolzoni joins “Inside the Factory of a Legend.”
- 3:00 p.m., October 23: Fuoriserie head Davide Baldini participates in “120 Years of AC Bologna and 100 Years of the Maserati Trident.”
- Talk location: ACI–ACI Storico area, Pavilion 25, stand A10–B11.
The manufacturer release does not provide ticket prices or guarantee access conditions, so visitors should confirm those details with the show organizer before traveling.
Why Bologna matters to Maserati
Maserati was founded in Bologna in 1914. The Trident emblem first appeared on the Tipo 26, which won its class and finished eighth overall at the 1926 Targa Florio with Alfieri Maserati driving. Returning to Bologna therefore connects the emblem’s centenary with both the company’s birthplace and its earliest motorsport history.
The show also gives Maserati Classiche a place to explain its authenticity certification, restoration work and archive services. The company says certification is available for cars over 20 years old as well as certain special and limited-production models.
For more heritage-event coverage, see the Wynn Concours preview. For a contrasting look at a new high-performance luxury vehicle, read about the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV.
Featured image: illustrative archive photograph of a 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.9-liter SS at the 2016 Bonhams Paris sale—not the 1972 car scheduled for Bologna. Photo by Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.
Source
- Maserati: Auto e Moto d’Epoca 2026 announcement (October 21, 2026)