csl177
02-22-2010, 09:31 PM
Seen at the Boca Raton Concours this past weekend, a very rare Ghia-Aigle bodied Alfa Romeo 1900C. Though the owner claimed it to be unique, to my knowledge three were built. There was a coupe version as well. A little sleuthing turned up what I believe to be the history
of the car pictured below:
s/n AR 1900C.01959 (engine AR 1308.01181) manufactured 05/10/1954, 17/05/1955 sold to Societa per il Commercio dei Prodotti Alfa Romeo in Lugano (CH), 10–20/03/1955 presented at 55. Salon International de l´Automobile in Genève (CH), 17/08/1955, color: white?, license TI 20675; license ZH 799 214, 198x Pierre Le Grand, Hallwil (CH), restoration, (05/1984) license AG 129 390
Owner Claude Frésard (Musée de l´Automobile), Manaux (CH), 05/1995 offered unrestored in ad for 25,000 CHF, 30/04-02/05/1999 exhibited at Classic AutoRAI in Amsterdam (NL), 27/03/2000 sold at Barret-Jackson/Coys of Kensington auction in Monaco for $ 64,390 (09/2000 Sports Car Market report: Braden 2000), 04/2000 offered by Coys of Kensington at TechnoClassica, Essen (photos); Owner Gene K. Ponder, Marshall (Texas, USA), Geneva (CH) license plate 308001 GE, 11–13/03/2005 entrant 246 at 10th Annual Amelia Island Concours d´Elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Florida, USA); 23/03/2006 offered for sale by Morris & Welford LLC, Weston (CT, USA) & Costa Mesa (CA, USA), asking price 125,000 US$; 20–21/04/2007 offered for sale (without reserve) at RM auction of the Gene Ponder Collection in Marshall (Texas, USA) NOTE: No sale.
This example showed all the character that makes coach-built cars so attractive. Ghia-Aigle was a Swiss company quite separate from Carrozzeria Ghia. Founded by Dr. Pierre-Paul Filippi, who asked Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin for the right to use the name Ghia for his independent company, hiring designers in demand by clientel of both firms. Known for idiosynchratic commission work on a variety of chassis, including MG, BMW, Jaguar and Bentley, as well as Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. Also responsible for European icons
such as Tempo vans and trucks. An interesting company that sadly succumbed to modern times.
of the car pictured below:
s/n AR 1900C.01959 (engine AR 1308.01181) manufactured 05/10/1954, 17/05/1955 sold to Societa per il Commercio dei Prodotti Alfa Romeo in Lugano (CH), 10–20/03/1955 presented at 55. Salon International de l´Automobile in Genève (CH), 17/08/1955, color: white?, license TI 20675; license ZH 799 214, 198x Pierre Le Grand, Hallwil (CH), restoration, (05/1984) license AG 129 390
Owner Claude Frésard (Musée de l´Automobile), Manaux (CH), 05/1995 offered unrestored in ad for 25,000 CHF, 30/04-02/05/1999 exhibited at Classic AutoRAI in Amsterdam (NL), 27/03/2000 sold at Barret-Jackson/Coys of Kensington auction in Monaco for $ 64,390 (09/2000 Sports Car Market report: Braden 2000), 04/2000 offered by Coys of Kensington at TechnoClassica, Essen (photos); Owner Gene K. Ponder, Marshall (Texas, USA), Geneva (CH) license plate 308001 GE, 11–13/03/2005 entrant 246 at 10th Annual Amelia Island Concours d´Elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Florida, USA); 23/03/2006 offered for sale by Morris & Welford LLC, Weston (CT, USA) & Costa Mesa (CA, USA), asking price 125,000 US$; 20–21/04/2007 offered for sale (without reserve) at RM auction of the Gene Ponder Collection in Marshall (Texas, USA) NOTE: No sale.
This example showed all the character that makes coach-built cars so attractive. Ghia-Aigle was a Swiss company quite separate from Carrozzeria Ghia. Founded by Dr. Pierre-Paul Filippi, who asked Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin for the right to use the name Ghia for his independent company, hiring designers in demand by clientel of both firms. Known for idiosynchratic commission work on a variety of chassis, including MG, BMW, Jaguar and Bentley, as well as Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. Also responsible for European icons
such as Tempo vans and trucks. An interesting company that sadly succumbed to modern times.