The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The Maserati Indy by Vignale.
The Maserati Indy was born from the presentation of two prototypes for a sleek new four-seat Maserati at the 1968 Turin Auto Show. These prototypes were developed by Carrozzeria Vignale and Ghia, both of which had a long history with Maserati. The Vignale prototype was selected for production and was showcased as the Maserati Indy Vignale Coupe at the Geneva Auto Show in 1969. The name “Indy” commemorates Maserati’s historic victories at the Indianapolis 500. In 1939, the Maserati 8 CTF, driven by Wilbur Shaw, won the race, making Maserati the first European (and Italian) car manufacturer to win the event since Peugeot in 1914. This achievement was significant, as it surpassed the efforts of renowned companies such as Fiat, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, and Bugatti. Shaw repeated his triumph with the same car in the 1940 Indy 500, marking the first time a car had won the prestigious race twice in a row. The Indy was a natural evolution of the Maserati Mexico, a fast coupé designed to comfortably seat four people. Throughout its production run, the Indy underwent several modifications, particularly to its engine. In 1970, the engine size was increased to 4,700cc, and the car was renamed the Indy America. By 1973, only the version equipped with the 4,900cc engine, the same unit used in the Ghibli SS, remained in production. The Indy enjoyed commercial success and continued to be produced even after Citroen took over the Modenese company.
Photo courtesy of Hyman Ltd.
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
