In 1980 as part of Ghia and Ford's full custom show car program, Ghia wanted to create a car that competed in the European sport luxury sedan market which was really beginning to gain a large popularity and would really take off in the 1980's and 1990's in Europe and in the U.S. as well. Their answer was the Ford-Ghia designed Altair for the 1980 Geneva Motor Show. A four door sedan with a very low profile, leather interior, alloy wheels, V6 engine, 5 speed manual transmission and sleek Italian coachwork, the Altair is a full blown Euro sports sedan that would certainly challenge the likes of the Maserati Quattroporte, the BMW 3 or 5 series sedans or even a late 70s Ferrari 2+2. Featuring a crazy headlight treatment with multiple square bulbs and a tinted glass covering it really looks slick. It also has a bronze stripe that goes down the sides of the car, but where it goes across the doors it actually has tinted plexiglass so when sitting inside the car it gives the impression of openness and is really quite cool. Another car that had the then new aerodynamic wedge shape that allowed it to cut through the air for the most speed and efficiency and for supercar looks. The side view mirrors are also way ahead of their time and are incorporated very well into the sides of the car. The mechanicals were just gone through with new brakes and gas tank and it runs and drives extremely well. The Altair is a really nifty and high quality euro sport sedan on a Granada chassis that really could have worked if it was actually put into production and it certainly would have given some European companies a run for their money. Another show car that would disappear into deep Ford storage.
