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Showing posts with label Classic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Classic. Show all posts

Sunday, September 4, 2022

One of the most impressive Italian sports cars ever

RARE ONES One more thing for a collector, a car is not just a car, but like a work of art. That's also what makes some cars have crazy prices even though they are old. One of these cars is the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale. No wonder, if the normal version's price can already make your head tilt down, especially the price of this special car. How come? Because this is a car that was built and owned by Giuseppe 'Nuccio' Bertone even Enzo Ferrari him-self was so impressed by the car.
The beautiful sharknosed Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale is designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for the personal use of Nuccio Bertone. (Picture from: SportsCarMarket)
Even though it is more than half a century old, the figure of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale never lost its charm at all. Moreover, this car is estimated to be one of the few most important Ferrari 250 GT SWB models in the world. This car itself was one of Carrozzerria Bertone's design works which could be said one of the most phenomenal models while was exhibited at auto shows in Geneva and Torino back in 1962.
The beautiful sharknosed Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale with chassis number of 3269GT is a world-class Ferrari model ever made that possesses every special quality sought after by discerning car collectors. (Picture from: Mobil123)
Then how is the story of the car? As quote of Wikipedia, Nuccio Bertone took over Gruppo Bertone from his father, Giovanni after World War II, growing the small business to a car building and designing powerhouse.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale has an amazing made interior with the seats are burgundy leather, quilted black vinyl on the transmission tunnel and foot wells, and the metal dash is painted to match the body color. (Picture from: TopSpeed)
This unique Ferrari was one of the first cars designed by renowned stylist, Giorgetto Giugiaro, while he working for Nuccio Bertone. In early 1962, Nuccio Bertone purchased a complete 250 GT SWB chassis from Maranello's car breeder and laid out his vision of a spectacular new Ferrari model that later would be used as his personal rides. Well, then he commissioned a young designer named Giorgetto Giugiaro who joined coachbuilder in 1959 to realize his vision.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale coupe is powered by a 2,953 cc V12 engine with 240 hp along with a 4-speed manual gearbox, three Weber carburetors, and vacuum-assisted disc brakes. (Picture from: RobbReport)
Even though Giorgetto Giugiaro was only 23 years old at the time, he had designed some amazing cars, such as the Aston Martin DB4GT Jet and the one-off Maserati 5000 GT Bertone which clearly showcased his extraordinary abilities, later made him become one of the most talented and influential designers of the postwar era. In short, both then teamed up to create one of the most beautiful designs of Maranello automaker all time. And  reportedly this beautiful sharknosed car inspired by the 1961 F1 World Championship's winner racing car, the Ferrari 156 Dino F1 'Sharknose'.
The beautiful sharknosed Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale by Bertone inspired by the 1961 F1 World Championship's winner racing car, the Ferrari 156 Dino F1. (Picture from: CollierAutomedia)
During this time, one of the most extraordinary Ferrari had became the crown jewel in one of the most impressive private collections of post-war Italian sports cars ever assembled. Many leading Ferrari experts have expressed their admiration for this striking SWB design, and also many top collectors have sought to acquire it, but it has remained elusive, jealously guarded by its passionate long-term owner and utterly unwilling to let it go for more than 30 years.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale was also known as the first Ferrari GT car to have disc brakes. (Picture from: RobbReport)
So it can't be denied anymore, this one-of-a-kind 250 GT SWB, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for the personal use of Nuccio Bertone, one of the most successful and the most influential Italian coachbuilders, so the Ferrari 250 GT SWB with chassis number of 3269GT is a world-class Ferrari model ever made that possesses every special quality sought after by discerning car collectors.
So what's the current price? Don't be surprised if its current price is definitely above US$ 16.5 millions, because that's the price tag for the car when sold at the Peeble Beach Auctions 2015 held by Gooding & Co. WOW!! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | SPORTSCARMARKET | TOPSPEED | GOODING&CO | ROBBREPORT ]
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Friday, September 2, 2022

One-Off Bizzarrini Concept called P708 Barchetta

RARE ONES As we all know that Bizzarrini S.p.A. had an iconic racing car model called Bizzarrini P538 which built under commissioned by Giotto Bizzarrini himself. Those car was first launched in late 1965. Unfortunately, though it could be said has stunning looks, however, it did not have a good race career in the racing tracks. That's why then it left a lot of questions and curiosity that led to the desire to make a racing car model like that.
Bizzarrini Magnate P708 Barchetta is a 2-seats sports roadster inspired by Bizzarrini P538 with a touch of more modern designs and technologies. (Picture from: Mecum)
Although the Italian company had gone out of business since 1969, this was not an obstacle to realizing the dream. Well, a decade ago, Bizzarrini's desire to bring back a racing car inspired by the P538 with a touch of more modern design and technology has really come true, after a UK-based company Galmer Engineering revealed its plans to revive the brand with a new supercar later called the Bizzarrini Magnate P708 Barchetta
Bizzarrini Magnate P708 Barchetta built in 2005 as collaboration result of Bizzarrini, Galmer Engineering, and Stefan Schulze. (Picture from: Mecum)
The construction and design of the Barchetta spanned between 2005 and 2009, sponsored by Magnate, a brand of stainless steel items for various purposes owned by Thai company known as Siam Intermagnate Co., Ltd. At the time, again Giotto Bizzarrini himself helped to build and design the car with the aid of Galmer Engineering and German automotive designer Stefan Schulze, whose work has been seen in remarkable vehicles such as the Peugeot 4002, Tribun and Storm, etc.

Indeed, the original idea was to revive the iconic Italian automaker made racing car, the Bizzarrini P538 according to modern interpretations. The Barchetta design is wrapped in a carbon fiber body, tubular frame, and powered by the Corvette Z06's 7.0-liter LS7 V8 engine produces around 505 hp, sending twist through the rear wheels via a CIMA six-speed transmission. And the Bizzarrini P708 Barchetta firstly shown to public at the Bangkok International Motor Expo.
Bizzarrini Magnate P708 Barchetta is powered by the Corvette Z06's 7.0-liter LS7 V8 engine produces around 505 hp, sending twist to the rear wheels through a CIMA six-speed transmission system. (Picture from: Mecum)
After that, the Barchetta had ever introduced at several major auto expos to drum up interest for a possible production run. However, the project failed, and attempts to produce the P708 was abandoned in 2013, and the car was left in Germany disassembled. 

As quoted of Road And Track, somehow there's a Bizzarrini enthusiast acquired the car and rebuilt it to its current running condition, but it is not stated exactly when. And interestingly, since the rebuild, it's registered in Montana as a 1974 model. Seems legit.
Roughly a decade later, the first prototype of the Bizzarrini Magnate P708 with 1000 miles of road use had seen being auctioned off by Mecum in August 2021 at the Monterey 2021 event. At that time it was estimated that this car could sell for around $300,000 and $400,000. Stump Everyone at Your Next Car Meet With this One-Off Bizzarrini Concept. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RM SOTHEBY | ROADANDTRACK | MECUM | CARSCOOPS ]
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Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Here's the Minotaur, one of British exotic cars you've never heard before

FORGETTEN ONES Exotic car manufacturers ranging from large to small scattered around the world are always coming and going, popping up with various models to meet the demands of their clients who have a lot of money. So it is not surprising that there are so many exotic cars made by them that are unknown to automotive enthusiasts until now. One of them is the Minotaur (pronounced 'Min-o-tour') from England, and might be you have never heard before.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Vision Sportscar) was first conceived by an automotive designer named John Forakis, and debuted in 1993 at the National Kit Car Show. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
As quoted of PistonHeads, the Vision Sportscars was a British automaker firm was running under license from the now-defunct Pilgrim Cars, and the Minotaur is the first model from the company which was previously project under Pilgrim's helmsman, Tony Holmes
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Vision Sportscar) was initially intended to be a racing car is inspired by a mid-engine sportscar with muscular bodywork and a low, wide stance on the road. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
Well, the Minotaur supercar was initially intended to be a racing car is inspired by a mid-engine sportscar with muscular bodywork and a low, wide stance on the road. It's firstly conceived by an automotive designer named John Forakis. Course, he was not a new guy in the business, and known has been involved in the car's design and manufacture since 1975.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Pilgrim Cars) is built on a custom chassis (some say based on the Ultima tubular unit) that can accommodate a variety of power plants. (Picture from: Wired)
In short, to manufacture the supercar, Forakis founded a small operation automaker company named Minotaur Sports Cars Ltd. in Chatham Dockyards, Kent, England in the early 1990s. Forakis' company firstly introduced the Minotaur in 1993 at the National Kit Car Show. At the time, the car made a big splash in specialty auto magazines as well as the mainstream automotive press. Its adventurous style attracted a lot of attention, but it means nothing to the car sales which in the slow economy of that period. Besides that, the car maker also should be faced with the limited production capacity they have.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Pilgrim Cars) is featured with a pair of scissor style doors. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
To deal with such production problems, then Minotaur Sports Cars collaborated with an Italian company called Simbol Design (formerly Automobili Lavazza) founded in 1975 by Enrico Lavazza. For more than 30 years, this Italian company has produced racing prototypes, kit cars and replicas. Some of the famous cars made by Lavazza include the K-1 Attack, Covini C6W, as well as the Simbol Design C8 which was later made the basis of the Minotaur. With Forakis' help, Simbol Design could be produced several samples of C8, between 1998 and the early 2000s, before shifted to other projects such as the Lavazza GTX.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Pilgrim Cars) has also implemented a kind of comfort features such as a pedal box that can be adjusted and operated electrically. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
As such, they produced several turn-key kits and samples before closing their doors in 2007, due to no longer able to bear the car high production costs. With the end of Forakis's company, the rights and tooling were then acquired by Pilgrim Cars, an established kit cars maker like the Sumo, a small dune buggy inspired car. Coincidentally at that time, the company were looking to add some excitement to their product portfolio.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Pilgrim Cars) is powered by a mid-mounted 5.7 liter Chevrolet V8 engine for over 350bhp of power. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
Along the way then the automaker changed the purpose of its manufacture so that some of them were intended to be sold as turn-key component cars for roads and some were assembled for track use. In development, the company also engineered two car versions, namely a targa version with a removable roof and a hard-top coupe.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Pilgrim Cars) has twin alloy radiators and twin alloy fuel tanks as well. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
The Minotaur is built on a custom chassis (some say based on the Ultima tubular unit) that can accommodate a variety of power plants. Its prototype model was powered by a Rover V8 engine, but was later designed around a 5.7 liter Chevrolet V8 for over 350bhp. The engine is mounted mid-rear in a tubular steel frame which is then mated to a Renault R21 turbo transaxle to transmit engine power to the rear wheels. The power is considered more than enough to move its 2,500 lbs (1,160kg) weighted body in one stomp of the gas pedal. This car has dual radiators mounted on the side and dual fuel tanks as well.
The Minotaur Roadster (in pictured by Pilgrim Cars) drivetrain is mounted mid-rear in a tubular steel frame which is then mated to a Renault R21 turbo transaxle. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
Uniquely, the Minotaur exotic car has also implemented a kind of comfort features such as a pedal box that can be adjusted and operated electrically, making it possible to move the pedal box forward and backward according to the driver's posture. It also has a telescopic steering column with various adjustments. Together with all these attributes are meant to make the car accessible by people with various body postures both short or tall.
This Minotaur Spyder (in pictured by Vision Sportscar) was lastly views in German. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
Unfortunately, the complexity of production and the high cost of kits are still a barrier, not to mention the market conditions at that time which were increasingly dominated by high-end car replicas such as the Shelby Cobra, GT40, Lotus Seven, and many others, which were sold at a low price tags so that the price of the Minotaur could not compete with them. This then forced Pilgrim to give up in 2009 and sell the project to another company, Vision Sportscars. But just like its predecessor, Vision in turn also experienced financial difficulties and stopped in 2012.
Initially this Minotaur Spyder (in pictured by Vision Sportscar) was silver, and after having restoration about two-years included to change its color to black. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
It is not known how many Minotaurs were made during its production period under all of those companies mentioned above. Many said that about a dozen Minotaur samples have been made including a prototype produced by Simbol Design (while other said only 5 ever made). Though it was quite a compelling design when first envisioned, it hadn't aged well in this day and estimated its turn-key component car has a price tag of £65,000 plus taxes.
As quoted of RareComponentCars, the story of the Minotaur may not ended yet, even though John Forakis had passed away in 2020, as his family retains the original jigs and molds for the Minotaur and reportedly his son, George Forakis plans to build one last car to be honored his father. *** [EKA [30082022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HALDANE.NL | RARECOMPONENTCARS | WIRED | PISTONHEADS | AUTOBLOG | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCAR | AUTOGESPOT.DE |MADABOUT-KITCARS ]
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Tuesday, August 30, 2022

The forgotten Zonda concept

Forgotten ONES The wheels of the automotive world truely continue to spin by continuously producing new vehicles. Of course, as a logical consequence there will be many previous vehicles that were eliminated and then forgotten, regardless of whether of those who were scrapted had the title of great vehicles before, infact they all had to step aside and be dismantled.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept is designed by Tom Tjaarda of Carrozzeria Ghia (although the first sketch was done by Giullia Moselli ex. Italdesign). (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)
But there are also some that we think are interesting and worthied to get a second chance even if only in the form of a series of words in an article. Well, one of them is a concept car made by Ghia that briefly appeared in the early 1970s under the De Tomaso badge before it disappeared for good.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept was made its first debut at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. (Picture from: Zwischengas)
The mentioned car above is the De Tomaso Zonda Concept which is the result of designer Tom Tjaarda of Carrozzeria Ghia (although the first sketch was done by Giullia Moselli ex. Italdesign) which was made its first debut at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. And due to its unique name that's then attracted our attention to lift the car's figure to the surface once again. In addition, its unique name immediately reminds us to one of the Pagani Automobili sports cars launched at the end of 1990s.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept is built on the De Tomaso Deauville fancy coupe platform with a short wheelbase. (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)
Regarding to the car' name of Zonda known came from Argentina, which is used to describe a regional term for a hot air current above the Andes Mountains in the country. Clearly from its appearances, the De Tomaso Zonda Concept carries GT (GranTurismo) typical styles, besides intended to complement the De Tomaso Pantera and to be sold together at the Lincoln Mercury showrooms in the US.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept featured with a 'fast' roofline ending in a neat, sloping tail and also had lots of glass, and neat chrome bumpers and detailings. (Picture from: CurbSideClassic)
Well, maybe those of you are wondering why this De Tomaso concept car seems to have a close relationship with the Ford Motor Company, one of the American automotive giants. As quoted from Wikipedia, in 1971, the Ford Motor Company acquired an 84% stake in De Tomaso from Rowan Industries with Alejandro de Tomaso himself holding the balance.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept appears to be a pure two-seater, although it might have had some very tiny 2+2 seats in back. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)
The De Tomaso Zonda is built on the De Tomaso Deauville fancy coupe platform with a short wheelbase, and is powered by a 350hp 351ci V8 front-mounted engine taken from Ford Cleveland. At that time, other renowned competitor automakers also had such car models, for example, Ferrari had a variety of them, the star in the early ‘70s being the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona', Lamborghini had the Jarama and Islero, while Maserati with its gorgeous Ghibli.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept is powered by a 350hp 351ci V8 front-mounted engine taken from Ford Cleveland. (Picture from: PerformanceFord)
It's pretty clear that the latter seems like to be source of inspiration for the Zonda, even though they were designed by two different gentlemen in a time span of about five years apart. Well, the Zonda's size, packaging and overall shape are very reminiscent of this incredible Maserati Ghibli model.

Furthermore, the Zonda is applied pop-up headlights were very much in vogue at the time, thus both cars had them, plus a 'fast' roofline ending in a neat, sloping tail. Both had lots of glass, and neat chrome bumpers and detailing as well. The Zonda rode on a 99.5-inch wheelbase, and was 176 inches long. The rear deck was a hatchback, and the car appears to be a pure two-seater like the Daytona, although it might have had some very tiny 2+2 seats in back.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept rode on a 99.5-inch wheelbase, and was 176 inches long. (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)
Unfortunately, after being shown in Geneva, De Tomaso run out of money and was unable to develop the Zonda further into production version, even though it has great potential to become a worthy competitor for the Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati models mentioned above.
The De Tomaso Zonda Concept carries GT (GranTurismo) typical styles with rear deck was a hatchback. (Picture from: PerformanceFord)
As mentioned above, initially the De Tomaso Zonda would be produced and sold for the American market with an estimated retail prices of $14,000, Ford assumed those price numbers was not profitable, and declined to import it to the US. Since that the car project is ceased, so then they abandoned the one-off De Tomaso Zonda as prototype only.
The last appearance of De Tomaso Zonda Concept was repainted in red by Ford before it dissappeared. (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)
Reportedly, the car had once repainted in red before dissappeared, and its existence remains a mystery until today neither in De Tomaso and Ford Motor Company storage facilities. No one knows what the hell happened to this De Tomaso Zonda? Was it crushed? If it happened that's a kind of tragic ending for such unique coupe creation. πŸ‘‰We apologize, due to the Zonda video not exist, so what's shown below is the De Tomaso P72 video.πŸ™
What we could be done now? Nothing, at least now you aware that the Pagani Zonda supercar, which, apart from being one of the best V12 engined sports cars of the 1990s is actually the second use of the name Zonda on a car.😎 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES [20072022] | PERFORMANCE.FORD | DRIVR.BE | OLDCONCEPTCARS | CLASSICCARS.FANDOM | LOTUSESPRITTURBO ]
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Sunday, August 28, 2022

A weird looking Ford Ghia Focus concept car of 1990s

Unique ONES In this world nothing is impossible, although before that no one ever thought before. This really happened to a unique vehicle that was said to be a beautiful work of art, and who would have thought that on its way, an automotive manufacturer used its name as the company's production car name.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept is a weird-looking bio-design styled two-seater sports car concept designed by Taru Lahti together with Camilo Pardo back in 1992. (Picture from: Motor1)
Indeed, this is related to the name of Focus, which is used by the Ford Motor Company, one of American' big three automotive giants for one of its compact car models which began production in 1998 until now. Well, who would have thought, it began from emergence a weird-looking bio-design styled two-seater roadster concept car named the Ford Ghia Focus that six years earlier.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept car debuted at the 1992 Turin Motor Show, inspired by small sea vessels and the 1950s, but also by Hans Rudolf Giger's movie titled ALIEN.. (Picture from: Motor1)
Maybe you will ask, what car is it and who made it? It was one-off blue oval company's concept car debuted at the 1992 Turin Motor Show, but had nothing to do with later compact yet. What is certain, it's bearing the name of Carrozzeria Ghia, the famous Italian coachbuilder. 

As quoted of Wikipedia, this Italian famous coachbuilder based in Turin no longer exists, had been acquired by Ford Motor Company since 1970 and currently focused on the European market through Ford's subsidiary in the region. Perhaps because its unique and unusual design is reminiscent of the Ghia's style, so Ford picked this model to pay tribute for those Italian coachbuilder.
As You see from the front, the Ford Ghia Focus Concept has a unique appearance resembled to a whale with duck legs, weird isn't? (Picture from: Motor1)
This one-off Ford Ghia Focus concept car was originated from a 1:10 scale model created by a Finnish automotive designer named Taru Lahti together with Camilo Pardo (later known as Chief Designer of the Ford GT). The unique concept car bodywork designed by Taru Lahti is said not only to be inspired by small sea vessels and the 1950s, but also by Hans Rudolf Giger's movie titled ALIEN
Although the Ford Ghia Focus Concept is built in roadster style, it also has a removable hardtop that is stowed under a hatch on the rear deck and designed to have a folding soft top. (Picture from: Motor1)
Meanwhile from other sources it is also said that Camilo Pardo points to the organic textures, materials and shapes that float, like the amoeba they sometimes resemble, throughout the realization of Ghia Focus as a breakthrough in the car concepts, and in any case this concept car caused quite a stir with its strange shapes.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept is built on a 100 mm shortened floorpan taken from the Ford Escort RS Cosworth 4WD, and is powered by the Cosworth's 227 horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. (Picture from: Motor1)
As You see from the front, the car resembles a whale. Furthermore it's reinforced by the projection and position of its plastic covered headlights and low windshield, while the lower parts of the bumper had the shape of duck legs. Overall, it's like a whale with duck legs, weird isn't? 
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept's interior was dominated by wooden touches on the floor, the shift lever and the steering wheel. (Picture from: Motor1)
Then at rear was made wavy and complemented by a shiny tank cap. Indeed, this Ghia Focus was quite retro which not resemble any car model in the slightest, with its type designation inscription was in the rear under a transparent cover above the central exhaust tip. It was all topped off with its unique taillights likened air bubbles in the water.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept has a such kind of steel "ropes"extending from the door to the rear was not only a stylistic element, it also had a protective function to the body resisted knocks from other cars, for example in parking lots. (Picture from: Motor1)
The Ghia Focus is built on a 100 mm shortened floorpan of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth 4WD, and is powered by the Cosworth's 227 horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. And its body is made of carbon fiber composite, as the result the car has curb weight of 2,100 lbs (958 kg). Driven by those such engine power, so the car can be running up to a top speed of 240 kph and took only 5 seconds to reach 100 kph from rest..
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept's rear was made wavy and complemented by a shiny tank cap. (Picture from: Motor1)
The Ford one-off concept car sits on 18" split alloy rims behind full plastic wheel covers mounting 225/45 front and 255/40ZR-18 rear Goodyear tires with a custom cut tread pattern that complements the Ghia Focus's design. While this Ford Ghia Focus is built in roadster style, it also has a removable hardtop that is stowed under a hatch on the rear deck. Besides, this concept car is also designed to have a folding soft top.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept's body is made of carbon fiber composite, as the result the car has curb weight of 2,100 lbs (958 kg. (Picture from: Motor1)
No less exciting, its cockpit was dominated by wooden touches on the floor, the shift lever and the steering wheel. The combination with steel, from which the asymmetric "rudder" spokes and the floating center console were needed, was successful. The sheet metal was carved and polished by hand... The console was followed by a second, identical part, transitioning into the driver's armrest. Genuine cowhide covered the sports seats and door panels. The analog instruments really looked like they came from old ships or submarines, the same could be said about the trio of round pedals.

Immediately after the construction was completed, the concept car was exhibited at the 1992 Turino Motor Show. During the automotive exhibition, the Ghia Focus received a lot of attention from the automotive world enthusiasts. No less compliments from well-known Italian automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro who said, "It's not a car, it's a work of art."
Indeed, this Ford Ghia Focus was quite retro with its type designation inscription was in the rear under a transparent cover above the central exhaust tip. It was all topped off with its unique taillights likened air bubbles in the water. (Picture from: Motor1)
Even retired Ford design chief, J. Mays likened it to a sculpture, and paid special attention to steel "ropes"extending from the door to the rear was not only a stylistic element, it also had a protective function, the body with compact external dimensions of 4135 x 1793 x 1224 mm resisted knocks from others in these places, for example in parking lots. The high sides were intended to allow the crew to survive a capsize.
The flamboyant show car had no chance of serial production, it would have been too expensive... Finally the Ford Ghia Focus's presence on public's eyes should be ended, after it managed to be sold in an auction event by the Blue Oval company on June 16, 2002 to an unknown buyer over the phone, but the money went to charity along with the 51 units of another company's concept cars.

At the time, this particular concept car changed hands for the price of $1,107,500 (approx Rp. 9.9 billion for 2002's exchange rates) that's an amazing numbers, and the equivalent to nearly four years of sales of the same name Ford's production cars..  *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FORD GHIA FOCUS | MOTOR1 | FORMULAPASSION.IT | AUTO.CZ | 421CHEVAUX ]
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