The refinement of a series model
01/24/2025
Carrozzeria Ghia produced some of the most beautiful and extraordinary car models of the 20th century, but by building up considerable production capacity, it had not done itself a good service in the medium/long term. And so Ghia first went to De Tomaso in 1967, then to Ford in 1970.
Ford used the new opportunities to establish Ghia Operations in Turin in 1973 and integrated the styling center of Ford Italiana.
The Ghia Mark I was presented in March as one of the first fruits. The aim was to create a medium-sized luxury saloon.
The prototype was based on the chassis of the Ford Granada, equipped with a three-liter (Essex) engine and automatic transmission. The front end was inspired by the Lincoln Continental Mark IV.
Ghia General Manager Jack Head was quoted at the time as saying:
" With the Mark I - our first product to be shown to the public on a Ford stand - we aimed to combine the quiet, smooth and comfortable driving characteristics of the Granada with the high standard of Italian coachbuilding. The interior is based exclusively on Ghia ideas. I believe that this creation could secure a place in the market in the future."
At the time, no mention was made of a possible series production and, as we know today, it never happened. Whether this luxury version of the Granada would really have had a chance on the market is, of course, open to speculation today. So: comments welcome!
