Body no.

10262 First of the V8 Maserati GT cars, heralding the shift from cold winds to hot, the Ghibli took its name from a hot, dry and dusty Libyan sirocco.

Arising in the Sahara, the ghiblis pull moisture from the Mediterranean before blasting the southern coasts of Europe.

The Ghibli was successor to the Mistral, first of the “wind cars,” named for a cold, southerly-blowing wind from the Rhône Valley.

Although in business since 1926, in a quarter century Officine Alfieri Maserati SpA had produced few cars for the street.

Initial efforts in the 1920s were a continuation of the racing model Diattos.

By 1932, three of the four surviving Maserati brothers were working at the firm, but efforts concentrated almost entirely on competition.

The 8C of 1932-33 won the 1933 French Grand Prix and Sir Henry Birkin achieved third place driving one in the Tripoli Grand Prix.

The monoposto 6CM (1936-40) was a favorite of privateers, and Wilbur Shaw drove a 3-liter 8CTF to victory in the 1...