Ghia G230 S: forgotten concept (1963)
Posted on 28-06-2015 to 12:59 by Dizono – 24 Comments”
Ghia started out as a coachbuilder, but it was in the early ’60s the need to under their own name cars to build. This G230S was one of the first attempts, and determined no wrong also. In terms of design than in terms of operations, there was a lot of to note.
Ghia was founded in 1918, but know especially after the Second world War to make a name with beautiful coachwork on the basis of Chryslers, Plymouth’s, Benzen, Aston Martin’s, Jaguar’s and Ferrari’s. Even the Beetle know they have something to do, a lot nicer car than the Karmann Ghia have them Volkswagen no longer built.
Under his own name, cars to build, however, remained the great desire of the little Ghia. In 1960, flopped the beautiful Dual-Ghia hard and in 1962 tried the brand again with the Ghia 1500 GT, based on Fiat technology. There were a few hundred sold and a year later presented the brand a larger coupe, again with the Fiat-technique.
Tubular frame and Abarth-power
This Ghia G230S the technique of the Fiat 2300 as a basis, but Ghia had but few parts untouched. None other than Gioacchino Colombo was put to work to a tubular frame to develop. Such a job could you do to Colombo leave, he developed previously, is the magnificent Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’. Almost all the parts of Fiat powertrain were upgraded with products of Abarth. The 2300cc-large l6 was ultimately good for around 150 hp.
Ghia designed a special coupe body, with rich in the body-integrated bumpers and a remarkable grille. Where else than in Turin can be a car as these are better debut experience? Two copies were built, of which one still exists. Ghia’s intention to small-scale production in spite of, the customers are simply not in the row for the G230S.
The reason for this? The Fiat-technique probably. Although it is not known what Ghia for the G230S wanted to have, will be a hand-built car with a tubular frame not particularly cheap. And people with much money prefer not a Fiat motor in their Italian racing car. In 1966 tried to Ghia it again, now with the 450 SS. This looks very similar to the G230S, with as main difference that the 450 SS convertible. Under the skin the differences are larger, there is a 4.5-litre V8 from Chrysler in hiding. Eventually know Ghia 52 copies of this exorbitantly expensive roadster to wear off.
The Ghia 450 SS was much like the G230S, but was a size larger.
Of exclusive cars to dolled-up Ford’s
In the ’60s changes with the company several times to the owner, in 1967, is the Alejandro de Tomaso, this car yes, that Ghia takes over. A lot of money is at that time not earned at Ghia. Two years later they were bought by De Tomaso also competitor Vignale, both companies in 1973 to Ford to sell. Ford the Ghia logo almost immediately on luxury versions of its everyday cars, from the original company at that time, nothing more. After decades of Ford’s, with ugly wood-look in the dashboard and the Ghia logo on the C-style, Vignale recently, the function of the flagship taken over by Ford. Giacinto Ghia and Alfredo Vignale turning around in their grave…
Gallery: Ghia G230S
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