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Ghia Supersonic - futuristic supersonic design on a Swiss initiative

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Created on June 4, 2013

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Stefan Fritschi

Photos:

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Auctions 2013

Barrett Jackson

Jeroen Booij

Brian Henniker - Courtesy Gooding & Company

Bruno von Rotz

Matt Falk

Michiel Mulder

Archiv

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Auctions 2013

Barrett Jackson

Jeroen Booij

Brian Henniker - Courtesy Gooding & Company

Bruno von Rotz

Matt Falk

Michiel Mulder

Archiv

Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII ‘Supersonic’ (1956) - angeboten von RM an der Sotheby New York Auction am 21. November 2013

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Conrero Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint (1953) - aufgenommen in Genf 1953

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Conrero Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint (1953) - Ansicht von schräg hinten, aufgenommen in Genf 1953

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Conrero Alfa Romeo Ghia (1953) - Fehlmann bei der Mille Miglia 1953

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Conrero Alfa Romeo Ghia (1953) - Fehlmann bei der Mille Miglia 1953, Heckansicht

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Conrero Alfa Romeo Ghia (1953) - Fehlmann bei der Mille Miglia 1953, Frontansicht

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG November Foto-Galerie 2025

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Conrero Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint (1953) - Markenemblem von Conrero

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Conrero Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint (1953) - Blick in den Motorraum an der Mille Miglia 1953

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Ghia Supersonic Alfa Romeo Conrero (1953) - Ausgebrannter Conrero von Fehlmann, der hübsche Wagen überlebte die MM 1963 nicht

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1954) - am Genfer Autosalon 1954 - bei Ghia gesehen

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Fiat 8 V Supersonic (1953) - ausgestellt am Genfer Autosalon von 1954

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - verkauft von Gooding & Co an der Amelia Islands Auction 2013 für 1,76 Millionen USD

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - verkauft von Gooding & Co an der Amelia Islands Auction 2013 - dies war der erstgebaute 8V Supersonic für Virgil Exner

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - verkauft von Gooding & Co an der Amelia Islands Auction 2013 - die Linienführung unterscheidet sich nur unwesentlich von Fehlmanns Conrero

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - verkauft von Gooding & Co an der Amelia Islands Auction 2013 für 1,76 Millionen USD - modernes Armaturenbrett

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - elegantes Coupé von Ghia, zu sehen bei der Graber Sportgarage - an der Retro Classics Stuttgart 2013

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Fiat 8V Supersonic Ghia (1954) - an der International Motor Sports Show

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1955) - Am Genfer Salon 1955 präsentierte Ghia dieses Fiat 8V GT Coupé als elegante Stilstudie - Supersonic wurde das Auto genannt

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - der zweitletzte Wagen aus einer Serie von vierzehn

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Fiat 8V Supersonic (1953) - beim het Loo Concours d'Elegance

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Fiat 8V Supersonic - eines der Autos, an denen Strada e Corsa gearbeitet hat

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DeSoto Adventurer II Coupé Supersonic Ghia (1954) - gesehen in der Ausstellung vor der Barrett Jackson Auktion in Scottsdale im Jahr 2013

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DeSoto Adventurer II Coupé Supersonic Ghia (1954) - an der Barrett Jackson Auction von Scottsdale für USD 1,43 Millionen verkauft

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Jaguar XK 120 Ghia Supersonic (1952) - nur drei wurden gebaut (Rétromobile 2012)

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Jaguar XK 120 Ghia Supersonic (1952) - auf dem Stand von Lukas Hüni (Rétromobile 2012)

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Jaguar XK 120 Ghia Supersonic (1952) - kunstvolles Cockpit (Rétromobile 2012)

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Jaguar XK 120 Ghia Supersonic (1952) - Supersonic-Kühler (Rétromobile 2012)

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Summary

The Swiss Robert Fehlmann commissioned a special vehicle from Ghia for the 1953 Mille Miglia. With Alfa technology and futuristic lines, it caused quite a stir. However, the car was destroyed in the race, but the design ideas inspired 13 offspring based on Fiat, Jaguar, Aston Martin, AC Cobra and DeSoto. They are called "Supersonic". In this report, the 13 Ghia Supersonic models are discussed and shown in many historical and current pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Alfa Romeo 1900 Mille Miglia 1953: the prototype
Fiat Otto Vu: 8 examples
AC Cobra 427: 1 example
Jaguar XK 120: 3 examples
Aston Martin DB 2/4: 1 example
DeSoto Adventurer II: 1 example
Overview of the Supersonic built

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Swiss Robert Fehlmann commissioned a unique vehicle based on an Alfa Romeo with a Ghia body from Conrero to take part in the 1953 Mille Miglia. Unfortunately, the Supersonic did not survive the "Thousand Miles". But it inspired 13 descendants based on Fiat, Jaguar, Aston Martin, AC Cobra and DeSoto. The Aston Martin will be auctioned by RM Auctions and Sotheby's in New York on November 21, 2013. Robert Fehlmann commissioned the Italian Alfa Romeo and Lancia tuner Conrero to build a sports car for the 1953 Mille Miglia that was as fast as it was beautiful. The result was the Ghia Supersonic Alfa Romeo 1900 Conrero. The body design with its characteristic afterburner rear lights lived up to its name ("Supersonic" means "supersonic").

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