To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$150,000 - $175,000
- One of just 57 450 SS's built by Ghia.
- Italian coachwork with reliable American mechanicals.
- Largely original three-owner example with long-term West Coast
history
Carrozzeria Ghia dates to 1916 when the design house was
established in Turin, Italy; primarily fashioning lightweight bodes
for Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia. During 1953-1963, roughly the time
when Virgil Exner was head of styling at Chrysler, the two
companies shared a close partnership developing such notables as
the Ghia Specials, the Norseman concept, the Imperial Crown
Limousines, and the Dual-Ghia.
The March 1965 cover of Road & Track magazine featured a
Ghia-bodied Fiat 2300 dubbed the Ghia G 230S, and Burt Sugarman of
Los Angeles, California was smitten. Sugarman managed to convey his
enthusiasm to both Ghia and Chrysler, no doubt willing to
collaborate due to their long-standing past relationship. This led
to the Ghia 450 SS, a Plymouth Barracuda Formula S - including its
235 bhp 273 cu. in. "Commando" V-8 - in fancy clothes.
The idea of marrying Italian coachbuilding to robust American
mechanicals was nothing new. The problem? The Barracuda was
$3,000.00 and the Ghia 450SS . . . nearly $12,000.00! Each car was
hand-built in Italy of steel (not fiberglass) over tubular
framework and sold exclusively through a Hollywood dealer. Luxury
sports car appointments were standard, including leather
upholstery, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, Chrysler's
torsion bar rallye suspension, Torqueflite automatic transmission,
and Pirelli "Cinturato" high-speed tires fitted to Borrani chrome
wire wheels. Unfortunately, the market spoke and just 57 were
built. About 30 are believed to remain today. Mopar mechanicals add
to the ease of finding mechanical parts and servicing the 450SS,
while the Italian coachwork and limited production add to the car's
desirability.
This is a largely original, three-owner car finished in silver over
a black interior. Having spent the majority of its life in
California, the car's second owner, a California-based collector,
purchased it from the family of the first owner in Beverley Hills.
Clearly having benefitted from being well preserved in the dry
California climate, it presents as well preserved in largely
original condition. Acquired by the consignor in 2010, it has been
used sparingly since, but started regularly. It was last shown at
MacPherson College in 2018; a perfect opportunity for its new owner
to share the car with others who may not be familiar with such an
unique and stylish automobile from the 1960s. To view this car and
others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.
