Summary

Serial #4026. 2008 Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance Award winner and 1 of only 52 hand built examples by Carrozzeria Ghia. Each 1967 Ghia 450 SS was custom built and fitted with a Chrysler power plant.

Details

This car would enhance any serious collection and it would be enthusiastically welcome in vintage rallies throughout the world. The 450 SS Spyder was a creative design produced by the multi-talented and world renowned automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro during his association with the distinguished Italian design studio and coach builder, Carrozzeria Ghia in the mid-60's. The 450 SS was initially unveiled and featured at the 1966 Turin International Auto Show and was produced in very limited numbers through 1967. Only 52 hand-crafted examples were created and sold exclusively through a Beverly Hills importer to those that could afford such a car. This car for auction is Serial #4026. After an 18-month restoration that was completed in July, the car was invited to be shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance in August of 2008. This Ghia 450 SS was honored as a Class Award winner in the class of Post War Custom Coachwork Sports Cars. The restoration included paint, mechanicals, a complete new interior, all the rubber and brightwork inside and out, all chrome, a rebuild of all 5 Borrani wheels, brakes, new exhaust, new handmade top, a complete trunk restoration, new wiring harness, all gauges rebuilt, under hood restoration of the motor compartment with all components new or rebuilt, new radiator core, carburetor rebuild, new alternator and on and on. The motor and transmission have also been rebuilt. The interior required 9 hides of leather and every surface has been perfectly hand sewn to new condition. The entire dash face, dash pad etc, new seat padding, door panels, and console are all covered as they were when new. The original wood on the console was refinished and a perfect hand-crafted new steering wheel with the exact original specifications was made. All the chrome was removed and sent out to the best chrome plater in the US and the gauges were rebuilt. The wool carpets are leather bound. Attention to every detail was given to insure every aspect was worth of a world class restoration. Just prior to the restoration this car was driven on a vintage rally, The Copperstate 1000, where the car performed flawlessly for 5 days of driving throughout the state of Arizona in various conditions of terrain and temperatures. The rigid tubular ladder frame construction is but one example of the over engineering that make this car feel like a modern car. This car is as solid as a coupe and noticeably superior to other cars of that era.