Launched in 1962 on the basis of a Fiat 1500 C, the Ghia 1500 Coupe was a nice two seater with reasonable performance figures. Compared to the Fiat, it had a shortened wheelbase, and the power of the 1500 cc engine was increased to 84 BHP. Thanks to its slippery shape a top speed of 170 kph was possible.
The Ghia name is linked with many exciting designs from the fifties and sixties, but the 1500 was probably the most successful car that Ghia tried to sell under its own name. Some years before the 1500 the L6.4 was presented on the basis of Chrysler mechanicals, but only 26 were made. This car was later followed by the 450 SS, which reached a production of only 12 units.
The 1500 though remained in production for five years until 1967 and about 925 were made. It has been employed in sporty events, but most of time it was purely used for the road. Shown here are two examples, one that made an appearance during the 2006 Villa D’Este Concours, and the other was shown at a recent Interclassics show. According to the (then) seller this car regularly sees classic racing action and power has been increased to 96 BHP, allowing for a top speed of well over 180 kph.
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