Among the many highlights of the Goodwood Moving Motor Show event back in July was the opportunity to see the new Maserati Ghibli in the flesh for the first time. As well as getting the chance to sit in a pre-production left hand drive car, I was able to express my interest in this new executive saloon with Maserati UK, who took my details and promised to follow up with more information when it was available. Sure enough, a few days later, an email arrived with a link to an e-brochure which was doubtless the same as the single rather curly edged printed one that they had been using as a reference source at Goodwood, and there was confirmation that my nearest dealer is indeed, as I expected, Dick Lovett in Swindon. A few days after that, a further email arrived, this time from Dick Lovett, to advise me that they were due to receive a static display car for five days and that I was welcome to come and have a look. With an offer like that, and the chance to see what else was in the showroom and on-site, I needed no further encouragement to find some time in my diary to have a look. In the end, I was there for about an hour and a half, some of which was spent talking to the salesman,  some drinking the very good cup of coffee that I was offered on arrival, and the rest of drooling over the cars which they had no problem in me photographing. Here is what I saw:

MASERATI

It was the Ghibli that I had gone to see, so this was where I started. Still a left hand drive car, and not available to drive, as it is believed still to be in pre-production spec, I got the chance to sit in it for longer (though it seemed that everyone else – all two of the other prospects on site – wanted to do the same). Make no mistake, from the overall cabin ambience to the traditional eliptical shape of the clock, this feels a rather special place to be, and yet the ergonomics and control layout all seemed excellent.  Maserati are well aware that to achieve their target of 10,000 units a year, this car is going to have to lure customers out of their high end 5 Series, E Class and A6 models. To that end, the salesman said that they expect to have some packages available at launch with guaranteed residuals and fixed servicing costs, which will take away most of the uncertainty that buyers and fleet managers will doubtless feel. So, a special car to sit in, with plenty of space in the back and a decent (though not as big as in the German trio) boot. The real test will be out on the road, and the opportunity to sample that should come when right hand drive cars arrive in October/November time. I can’t wait!

There were several examples of the current GranTurismo and GranCabrio cars on display, too

FERRARI

Centrepiece of the showroom was a Daytona. One of my favourite Ferrari models ever.

To one side of this was an F12 Berlinetta, and I had already spotted that there were two further such cars parked up outside, so it is clear that this model is now finally reaching the UK market.

Also in the main showroom were an FF a California and a 458 Italia.

Go through a doorway at one side of the showroom and you find the area where the pre-owned cars are to be found, and there was lots of interest in here.

Two F40s, for a start. One of them bore a sign saying it was sold.

Of the 599GTB family, there was an H-GTE model as well as a “regular” car.

Among its predecessors there was both a 575 SuperAmerica as well as regular 550/575 models.

 

There were plenty of the 360/430 Modena cars, including the Challenge Stradale and 16M models.

Earlier V8 cars included a duo of 328 GTS.

Dating from the 1960s was this lovely 365 GTC.

More recent cars included an FF, a couple of California and a pair of 458 Italia.

 

Whilst I was talking with the salesman, I noticed this 275GTB pull up outside, so clearly had to go and have a look at what was probably worth over £1 million of car. Lovely

Alongside it was perhaps the cheapest way into Ferrari ownership, the Mondial. I am sure its time will come, just as it has finally done for its predecessor, the 308 GT4.

Also parked up outdoors were another pair of 458, including a Spider model, as well as a California and an FF.

 

A final glance into the sizeable workshops revealed an F50 and a 288 GTO, but they were too distant and obscured for photography.

What a place, though. I could easily have stayed all day. Needless to say, I am looking forward to my next visit, which should involve getting the Ghibli out on the road.