Ghia Model History

Italy · founded 1916

Turin's most glamorous coachbuilder (1916–1970s) — designer of the Karmann Ghia, the Dual-Ghia, and a decade of Chrysler dream cars before Ford acquired the studio in 1970.

Models

Karmann Ghia

The iconic VW Beetle-based coupé styled by Ghia and hand-built by Karmann — over 445,000 made from 1955 to 1974.

Sports car · 1955–1974
Dual-Ghia

An ultra-exclusive Chrysler-based convertible hand-built in Detroit and Turin — only 117 made, owned by Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Desi Arnaz.

Luxury car · 1956–1958
Ghia L6.4

Ghia's ultra-bespoke Chrysler-powered coupe — only 26 built at $13,500 each, with Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Dean Martin among the owners.

Luxury car · 1960–1963
Ghia 450 SS

A Giugiaro-revised Italian sports car built on Plymouth Barracuda running gear — only around 52–57 made between 1966 and 1967.

Sports car · 1966–1967
Chrysler–Ghia Show Cars

A decade-long parade of Chrysler dream cars hand-built by Ghia in Turin under Virgil Exner — 24 of Chrysler's 28 postwar Idea Cars came from Ghia.

Concept car · 1951–1963
Lincoln Futura

A single Ford-commissioned concept built by Ghia in 1955 — the bubble-top show car that George Barris later converted into the 1966 TV Batmobile.

Concept car · 1955–1955

Other makes