Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 23
1968 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe Chassis no. AM115.076 Engine no. AM115.076
Sold for US$190,400 inc. premium
Lot 23
Ex-Hugh Hefner and Barbi Benton
1968 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe
1968 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe
1968 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe
Chassis no. AM115.076
Engine no. AM115.076
Chassis no. AM115.076
Engine no. AM115.076
4,719cc DOHC 90-degree V8, dry-sump lubrication
Four Weber 40 DCNF Carburetors
310bhp at 6,000rpm
Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic transmission
4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Front Independent Suspension with Coil Springs
Rear Live-Axle Suspension with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
* Matching-numbers example retaining its original engine (AM115.076)
* Exceptional provenance, presented by Hugh Hefner to Barbi Benton and accompanied by period photographs and documentation
* Recently restored by the current, long-term owner
* Accompanied by Maserati Certificate of Origin, factory specifications, ownership history and extensive maintenance records
* Finished in its factory color combination of 'Rosso Capannelle' over Black Connolly leather
THE MASERATI GHIBLI
Introduced at the 1966 Turin Motor Show as a concept car, the Maserati Ghibli immediately established itself among the finest Italian grand touring cars of its era. The all-steel 2+2 coupé was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia, and combined dramatic proportions with remarkable restraint.
The Ghibli's low shark-like nose, crisp character lines and muscular fastback profile ran on forged Campagnolo alloy wheels. Sports Car International magazine named it in its top ten Sports Cars of the 1960s.
Named after the hot desert wind of North Africa, the Ghibli was engineered to match its evocative styling. Beneath the long hood was Maserati's 4.7-liter quad-cam V8, featuring dry-sump lubrication and delivering 310 horsepower.
Offered in period with either the ZF five-speed manual or the Borg-Warner automatic, the rear-wheel drive Ghibli was suited to effortless high-speed touring with refinement befitting the marque. Capable of approximately 155 mph, it ranked among the fastest production automobiles of its day and remains one of Maserati's most celebrated road cars.
THE CAR OFFERED
This car has become known as the 'Playboy Ghibli', as it was gifted to Hefner's girlfriend, Barbi Benton, in 1971 by Hefner himself.
Completed at the Maserati works in September 1967, this Ghibli is a matching-numbers example retaining its original V8 engine and was delivered new to Joseph Massaglia of Santa Monica, California. Factory records confirm its original specification, including Rosso Capannelle over Black Connolly leather, with the desirable Borg-Warner automatic transmission.
Its history soon became intertwined with one of the most recognizable personalities of popular culture. Always a California car, this Maserati was gifted in 1971 to Barbara Klein, better known as Barbi Benton, whose relationship with Hugh Hefner made her one of the defining public figures of the Playboy era. The car remained associated with Playboy Enterprises during the early 1970s and numerous accompanying maintenance invoices issued to both Barbi Benton and Playboy Enterprises provide a fascinating documented record of its careful upkeep during this period. Period photographs and magazine features showing the Ghibli at the Playboy Mansion are also included, with Hugh Hefner and Barbi Benton posing with the Maserati in the background, firmly connecting the car to an iconic moment in American cultural history.
In 1973 ownership transferred to Barbi Benton's father, Dr. Marvin Klein, an obstetrician and gynecologist, before being acquired in 1976 by the present owner. Remaining in the same ownership for nearly five decades, the Ghibli has clearly benefited from long-term stewardship and meticulous care, as well as an extensive restoration, started in 2016 and completed eight years later. As a result, the car took a 3rd place finish in its class at the Concorso Italiano in 2024.
Today, this distinguished Maserati is offered with an extensive portfolio of documents, including the Maserati Certificate of Origin, factory technical specifications, restoration photographs, period magazine articles, historical photographs, ownership records and maintenance receipts spanning much of its life. Combining matching-numbers authenticity, highly desirable factory specifications, documented long-term ownership and celebrity provenance, this early Ghibli represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of Maserati's most iconic grand touring automobiles.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Mark Osborne
Global Director of Motorsport
Allan Greenfield
Specialist
Ian Gabriele
Specialist
Max Minshull
Associate Specialist
Auction Viewings
- 11 August 2026, 09:00 - 17:30 PDT
- 12 August 2026, 09:00 - 17:30 PDT
- 13 August 2026, 08:30 - 10:00 PDT
