Saturday, April 13, 2013

Supersonic Designs by Ghia (1953-56)

As an allusion to the car's rocketship styling. Ghia's records document 20 bodies were built. The Alfa-Conrero in 1953 being the first. 14 Fiat 8V's built between 1953 and 1954. Out of the 14 Fiat 8V chassis bodied with the "Supersonic" design, 12 of these cars are presently accounted for. Also, 3 Jaguar XK120 Supersonics were done in 1954 and lastly 1 Aston Martin DB 2/4 MkII was done in 1956, and an even more extreme version was built on a DeSoto Adventurer chassis. (coachbuild.com)

1953 Alfa Romeo Conrero 1900 Ghia Supersonic



Unfortunately, the car didn't cross the finishline in the 1953 Mille Miglia. 

The body had been heavily damaged in a crash.
Conrero restored the chassis and rebodied it with a barchetta style body.









(Photos from coachbuild.com)


1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic 


Eight of these were made. 

(Chassis no. 106.000049)


























  



(Photos from bonhams.com)








Other Fiat 8V Supersonics.

































The Willment Ghia 427 Coupe

 In recent years, one of the Fiat 8V Supersonics has been fitted with a coil spring 427 Cobra competition chassis (chassis # CSX3055) produced for John Willment, This one-off model is called the Willment Ghia 427 Coupe. Also known as the AC Cobra 427 Ghia Supersonic. 


1952 Jaguar XK120 Ghia Supersonic Coupe


Three of these were made.










(Photos from onlycarsandcars.blogspot.ca)


1954 DeSoto Adventurer II Ghia Supersonic


Only one made.











Only one built based on the Aston Martin DB2/4. 
The car was exhibited at the 1956 Turin Motor Show and 
then disappeared from view until recent years.


(Photos from conceptcarz.com, hemmings.com  & supercars.net)