Ghia Supersonic: The Most Daring Car Design of the 1950s

Rocket Elegance - After exploring the dramatic curves of the Demon Rouge, a custom beauty crafted by Vignale on the Fiat 8V platform, it’s impossible not to be drawn deeper into the world of coachbuilt wonders that transformed this rare chassis into moving art. And if the Demon Rouge caught attention with its elegance, what came next from Turin-based Carrozzeria Ghia took things to another universe—quite literally.

The most inspirational design of Ghia Supersonic in the 1950s. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

Enter the Supersonic, a vision that felt more rocket than road car. When Ghia received a portion of the 114 Fiat 8V chassis ever produced—around 30 to 40 units—the stage was set for something extraordinary. And that spark came from designer Giovanni Savonuzzi, whose imagination would redefine the look of speed itself.

The Conrero-tuned Alfa Romeo 1900, a racing car that competed at the 1953 Mille Miglia and inspired the Ghia Supersonic. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

Savonuzzi first unveiled his Supersonic design on a Conrero-tuned Alfa Romeo 1900, which raced in the 1953 Mille Miglia. But it wasn’t just a one-off racing body—it was a concept, a statement, and a style. With its sweeping lines, sharply curved nose, long straight beltline, and small rear fins that hinted at jet propulsion, the Supersonic didn’t just follow trends—it launched ahead of them.

The most inspirational design of Ghia Supersonic in the 1950s. (Picture from: Silodrome)

The real magic happened when this design language was applied to the Fiat 8V. The car’s low, glassy cockpit and sleek metal body gave it a futuristic profile that stood apart from anything else of its time. Its dramatic presence debuted at the 1953 Paris Auto Show, and it left a lasting impression. Ghia produced just 15 Supersonic-bodied Fiat 8Vs, all subtly different but unmistakably cut from the same bold vision.

The most inspirational design of Ghia Supersonic in the 1950s. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Underneath that rocket-like shell remained the original Fiat 8V engine, a lightweight overhead-valve V-8 that delivered strong performance. The blend of Italian engineering and Savonuzzi’s visionary styling created a rare harmony—one where form and function didn’t just coexist, but elevated each other.

The most inspirational design of Ghia Supersonic in the 1950s. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

The Supersonic design didn’t stop with Fiat. It was later adapted for three Jaguar XK120s, an Aston Martin DB2/4, and a particularly wild version known as the DeSoto Adventurer II. Each carried echoes of the same Jet Age optimism, but it was the Fiat-based versions that best captured the purity of the original idea.

Even today, the Ghia Supersonic remains one of the most admired and collectible interpretations of the Fiat 8V. It’s a car that defies age, turning heads not just for its rarity, but for its timeless beauty. With every curve, every angle, and every glint of polished metal, the Supersonic reminds us that great design doesn’t just follow the times—it creates its own era. *** [EKA [12102020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | COACHBUILD | SPORTSCARMARKET | SILODROME | RM SOTHEBY'S ]

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