1969 Maserati Indy Coupe

The 1969 Indy Coupe

Maserati celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first Indy coupé delivery.

July 1, 1969 is an important day in the history of Maserati, since the first Indy built for a customer left the Trident Brand’s historic headquarters in Modena on that day, heading for delivery in Switzerland.

The car was shipped to Maserati’s Swiss importer of that time, “Martinelli e Sonvico” in Chiasso. A few days later, the Indy, in “oro metalizzato” external colour and brown leather interior, was consigned to a wealthy Swiss businessman.

In response to demand from customers who were looking for a comfortable, habitable and sporting car, Maserati decided to develop a new model. This led to the start of the AM116 (Alfieri Maserati 116) project: Carrozzeria Vignale was commissioned to design a four-seater coupé that would deliver comfort, sporty performances and innovative looks. The outcome was the Indy, named in honor of Maserati’s 8CTF and its impressive wins at the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940.

The new Indy had large windows to ensure excellent visibility without blind spots, while also giving the car a particularly sleek line. It also featured many genuine sportscar details: the front included pop-up headlights, a real sportscar icon of the time, and an air scoop underneath the slender bumper. Another distinctive characteristic was the truncated rear, reflecting the strong focus on aerodynamic efficiency in the design phase.

Initially, the engine was a 4136cc V8 with bore of 88mm and stroke of 85mm, four Weber 42 DCNF carburettors and single-plug transistor ignition with battery and regulating distributor. The standard transmission was five-speed manual, with automatic gearbox on request. Its power output was 260 hp and top speed peaked at 250 km/h.

In 1970 the Indy was also offered with the 4719cc V8 engine, equipped with the new electronic ignition system developed by Bosch. The maximum power output was boosted to 290 hp, with a top speed of 280 km/h. From 1971, the 300 hp, a 4930cc engine was introduced alongside the existing powerplants, and from 1973 this became the only propulsion unit available for the Indy.

The Maserati Indy came standard with leather seat upholstery, mechanical anti-theft system, adjustable steering wheel, heated rear window, tinted power windows, reclining front seats with headrests and iodine headlights. Automatic gearbox, power steering and radio were available as options. From 1973, an air-conditioning system was added as standard. In total, from 1969 to 1975, the Modena plant built 1,102 Indy cars.

Video | Maserati Indy Coupe – 50th Anniversary