1967 Ghia 450 SS

The Ghia 450 SS Spyder was the work of designer Giorgetto Giugiaro during his association with the Italian design studio and coachbuilder, Carrozzeria Ghia in the mid-1960s. Carrozzeria Ghia was founded by Giacinto Ghia in Turin in 1919, and quickly established a reputation for both luxury coachwork and competition bodies. World War II was a difficult period for the company, as its founder passed away and its factory was damaged due to the wartime conflict. When peacetime resumed, Ghia quickly returned to its place at the forefront of Italian coachbuilding and collaborated with many of the world's leading car manufacturers and is one of the few coachbuilding companies that have survived to this day, although in later years this was because of Ford ownership. The 450 Ss model was built during the days when the company was still independent and was one of the last Ghia - if not the very last - Ghia-produced automobiles prior to the Ford takeover.

The Ghia 450 was the brainchild of entrepreneur and Hollywood producer Burt Sugarman who had seen a Fiat-based Ghia GT on the March 1965 cover of Road & Track magazine. It was a svelt GT-style concept car that used the production Fiat 2100 sedan chassis for its underpinnings and was first displayed in 1960 at the Turin Show. Sugarman eventually convinced Ghia to put the car into series production.

Instead of Italian mechanical components, Sugarman envisioned the car powered by the Chrysler small-block V8 engine and proven underpinnings of the Plymouth Barracuda Formula S. During the 1950s and early 1960s, roughly the era when Virgil Exner was head of styling at Chrysler, the two companies had a close partnership working on several notable concepts and low-production cars such as the Dual-Ghia, Norseman Concept, Ghia Specials, and the Imperial Crown Limousines.

The Giugiaro-designed steel bodywork featured compound-curved panels with wraparound front and rear chrome bumpers. The chassis was a unique setup formed by a pair of longitudinal tubular frame members, in concert with a strong semi-monocoque bodyshell. The Chrysler Commando 273 cubic-inch V8 engine with a single Carter carburetor produced 235 horsepower and was backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The suspension, brakes, and many other components were sourced from the Chrysler bin. Borrani wire wheels wrapped with Pirelli 'Cinturato' high-speed tires were placed at all four corners. The interior featured leather-clad bucket seats, wool carpeting, air-conditioning, Ghia copper trim rings, Eames-style bucket seats, and a functional dash containing a comprehensive assortment of instrumentation. Standard equipment included power steering, power brakes, and Chrysler's torsion bar Rallye suspension.

It is believed that 52 (some sources state as high as 57) standard-powered Ghia vehicles were hand-built between 1966 and 1967. These cars were delivered new in the United States through a single dealer in Beverly Hills, California at a base price of over $11,800. This staggering sum was comparable to the most expensive Rolls-Royce, Maserati, and Ferrari of the era. A Barracuda at the time was $3,000, and the base price of the 450 SS was more than double the price of a new Corvette. Due to the cost and exclusivity, it is no surprise that many of the Ghia motorcars were originally owned by celebrities, including Wilt Chamberlain and Johnny Carson. A factory hardtop and a manual transmission were on the list of optional equipment.

The hand-built Ghia 450SS was the combination of avant-garde European styling by the Ghia design house and the performance pedigree of American Crysler mechanical components. It went beyond being a re-bodied Plymouth Barracuda Formula S, with its own chassis configuration, and a well-constructed steel body acting as a rigid semi-monocoque.

26 examples are known to be in existence.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

In 1966 at the Turin International Auto Show Ghia displayed their Giorgetto Giugiaro-styled 450/SS. The cars were hand-fabricated which meant production was low - only 52 were created.

Each 450/SS Spyder was individually custom made and totally hand-fabricated, resulting in sleek, coachbuilt steel body. Supple English leather covers the 'Recaro' sport seats and all interior panels. Luxurious plush wool carpets the floor and trunk. Interior trim accents are buled walnut. Drivetrain specifications are based on modified high-performance Chrysler 'Formula S' components combined with disc brakes, 'Koni' shock absorbers, 'Boarrni' wire wheels and 'Pirelli Cinturato' high-speed radial tries.

With the optional air-conditioning and removable steel hardtop roof, the Ghia 450/SS Spyder sold for $13,100 in 1967 and was targeted for the international 'Ultra-Exclusive Luxury Touring' automotive market niche. The 450/SS was featured on the covers of October 1966's Sports Car Graphic and April 1966's Motor Trend magazines.

Fifty-two coachbuilt convertibles were built by Carrozzeria Ghia, based on Plymouth Barracuda running gear; only six are known to exist. This example, number 34 of 52 built, was given a restoration in 1991. It was shown at the first Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance in 1978.

The 273 cubic-inch V8 engine produces 235 horsepower.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

The 450SS Cabriolet was a creative project produced by world-renowned automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro during his association with Carrozzeria Ghia in the mid-1960s. The Ghia 450SS was initially unveiled at the 1966 Turin International Auto Show and was produced in limited numbers through 1967. Only 52 hand-crafted examples were created and they sold for around $13,000. Utilizing many standard Chrysler components, including a Plymouth Barracuda chassis, the Ghia's svelte and stylish steel bodywork combined with a luxurious Italian interior and the full gamut of American options to result in one of the era's best cruisers. Less than half of the original production run remains in existence today, so these cars are highly collectible.

Convertible

The 1960s brought about a number of efforts that sought to create a marriage of strong and reliable American powertrains to drive unique new and exciting body designs from the famous styling houses of Europe. Somewhat like the Shelby Cobra, and the Milt Brown Apollo, a movie producer by the name of Burt Sugarman, approached the famed styling house, Ghia, in Turin, Italy to produce a 2+2 roadster utilizing the powertrain from the Plymouth Barracuda.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, by this time famous for such designs as the Maserati Ghibli, the car exhibited an exciting roadster profile, perhaps a bit at the expense of the rear seat space.

Power comes from the Plymouth 273 cubic-inch 4-barrel V8 engine which measures 4.5 liters, hence the designation 450 SS. This engine produces 235 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Produced for only two years, 1966 and 1967, a total of only fifty-two were built before production ceased.

The Ghia 450SS was first displayed at the 1966 Turin International Auto Show. This is the 22nd of a total of 52 built. With such limited production, the cars were essentially hand-built. The base price of the 450 SS was $11,800, which was more than double the price of a new Corvette of the time. Some of the early owners included celebrities, Johnny Carson and Wilt Chamberlain. Given that the tooling was low volume, finding parts to repair or restore such a vehicle has generated a very close-knit owners group.

Convertible
Chassis number: BS4049

After World War II, the custom coachbuilding craft was beginning to go the way of the dinosaur as new construction methods and in-house design studios left little work for these artisans. Still, a few continued to work their trade, often creating a number of one-off concepts based on production-based chassis and putting them on display at prestigious auto shows throughout the world. All of this was done in hopes of attracting lucrative commissions from manufacturers, as well as sales from the wealthiest private clients.

Ghia was one of these surviving coachbuilders. For the 1960 Turin, Geneva, and Paris motor-show, Ghia put on display their GT bodywork which they had attached to a Fiat 2100 sedan chassis. It received great reviews from the press and attracted the attention of Hollywood producer and entrepreneur Bert Sugarman, who convinced Ghia to put the car into production. Sugarman's vision was a little different from Ghias, who wanted to give the car a powerful V8 and underpinnings of the Plymouth Barracuda Formula S, resulting in the 450 SS.

The steel bodywork design was designed by Ghia's designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. It featured compound-curved panels that were integrated seamlessly into the front and rear bumpers. The chassis was formed by a pair of longitudinal tubular frame members, in combination with a very strong semi-monocoque body. The inside was given leather bucket seats and a flat dash containing a comprehensive array of instruments.

This Ghia 450 SS is believed to be one of just 26 surviving examples out of a total production run of 52 hand-built cars. It is painted in a metallic burgundy finish with a maroon cloth top and burgundy and grey leather upholstery. There are chrome-plated knock-off wire wheels and black wall tires. Under the bonnet is a 273 cubic-inch V8 engine offering 235 horsepower. There are a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic gearbox and disc brakes in the front and hydraulic drums in the back.

In 2009, this Ghia 450SS was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $40,000-$60,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $38,500 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: BS 4057

There were only 52 examples of the Ghia 450 SS created. The design was courtesy of Giorgetto Giugiaro and each was sold for a staggering sum of $11,000. The cars were sold through an exclusive Beverly Hills dealership.

This example has been given a ground-up restoration. It is finished in silver with a cinnamon-like leather interior.

In 2010, this Ghia 450 SS was brought to Gooding & Company's Scottsdale Auction where it was estimated to sell for $125,000 - $175,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $99,000 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: BS4042

This Ghia 450SS is finished in silver with a black interior and top and rides on chrome wire wheels. The current owner purchased the car out of Beverly Hills from the family of its first owner. Since that time, it has been meticulously detailed and inspected to ensure that the car runs well and looks its very best.

There were only 52 hand-made 450SS models contracted, and approximately half are known to survive.

The car was offered for sale at the 2010 Gooding & Company auction held at Amelia Island, Florida. It was estimated to sell for $100,000 - $125,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $82,500, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

The March 1965 cover of Road & Track magazine featured a Ghia-bodied Fiat 2300 and Burt Sugarman of Los Angeles, California, was smitten. He managed to convey his enthusiasm to both Ghia and Chrysler, which lead to the Ghia 450SS - basically a Plymouth Barracuda, including its 273 cubic-inch, 235 horsepower V8, in fancy clothes. The idea of marrying Italian coachbuilding to robust American mechanicals was nothing new. The problem? The Barracuda was $3,000 and the Ghia 450Ss was $12,000! Each car was hand-built of steel (not fiberglass) and sold exclusively through a Hollywood dealer. Unfortunately, the market spoke and just 57 were built.

This is the prototype Ghia 450SS. It was kept by Sugarman until the late-1960s when he sold it to NBA legend WIlt Chamberlain. Chamberlain had hot-rodder Boyd Coddington replace the original engine with a more powerful Chevrolet 350 cubic-inch, 350 horsepower V8 sometime in the 1970s. Roughly 30 Ghias are known to remain.

At the Turin International Auto Show in 1966, Ghia unveiled their Giorgetto Giugiaro-styled 450SS. These hand-fabricated low-production vehicles meant that production volume was low and so only 52 450SS's were ever created during its production period from 1966 until 1967. Today they stand as one of the best values in the collector car world today. A creative project, the 450SS Cabriolet was produced by world-renowned automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro during his association with Carrozzeria Ghia in the mid-1960s. These 52 examples were sold for around $13,000.

The 450SS utilized many standard Chrysler components which included a Plymouth Barracuda chassis, Ghia's graceful, and stylish bodywork along with a lush Italian interior. Today less than half of the original production run remains in existence today, making these vehicles very collectible.

Following WWII the custom coach-building ingenuity was going the way of the dinosaur as new construction methods and in-house design studio's left little work for these professionals. Though a few continued this work, often creating a variety of one-off concepts based on production-based chassis and placing them on displays at prestigious auto shows worldwide. This was all done in the hopes of attracting lucrative commissions from manufacturers along with sales from the wealthiest private clients. Ghia was one of these surviving coachbuilders.

Ghia put their GT bodywork on display at the 1960 Turin, Geneva, and Paris Motor Show which they had attached to a Fiat 2100 sedan chassis. After receiving such great reviews from the press, it attracted the attention of entrepreneur and Hollywood producer Bert Sugarman who convinced Ghia to put the vehicle into production. He fell in love when he saw this car, and after approaching Ghia and persuading them to create a production series of a similar design, it became one of the few times that Ghia ventured beyond the design of the auto body into the complete auto-making territory. Sugarman wanted to give the car a powerful V8 and underpinnings of the Plymouth Barracuda Formula S, a vision very different from Ghia's, and the combined result was the 450 SS.

Giorgetto Giugiaro; Ghia's designer, designed the steel bodywork design which featured compound-curved panels that were integrated seamlessly into the front and rear bumpers. The chassis of the 450SS was formed by a pair of longitudinal tubular frame members in combination with a very strong semi-monocoque body. The interior of the vehicle received leather bucket seats along with a flat dash that contained a comprehensive variety of instruments. The engine was a 273 cubic-inch V8 engine that offered 235 horsepower and featured a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic gearbox and disc brakes in the front and hydraulic drums in the rear. The engine was perfect to power this sleek tubular frame that was offered with either a four-speed manual transmission or a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic.

by Jessican Donaldson