Although not officially announced until the March 1969 Geneva Salon, the Maserati Indy had appeared in prototype guise on Carrozzeria Vignale's stand at the previous season's Turin Salon.

Named in honour of the marque's two great Indianapolis 500 victories (1939, 1940), the newcomer was artfully styled; its crisp lines belying a four-seater interior.

Notable as the first Maserati to employ unit construction, the Fastback Coupe was equipped with independent coil-and-wishbone front suspension, a well-located 'live' rear axle, front / rear anti-roll bars, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes and recirculating-ball steering.

Initially powered by a 4136cc 'quad-cam' light alloy V8 allied to either five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission, the Indy boasted a 155mph top speed.

Superseded by later 4.7 and 4.9 variants, just 440 4.2 litre examples were made.

According to a handwritten letter on file from its long-term custodian of thirty-four years, chassis AM116*358 was built ...