Ghia Barchetta Concept Car

Ghia Barchetta Concept Car


The Ghia Barchetta originated to fill the empty niche identified by Ford for a low cost, modern two-seat sports model, a market left unfilled in the early Eighties. Constructed on the Fiesta XR2 platform, Ghia Barchetta was never intended to be displayed publicly but rather to demonstrate that a profitable market could be developed from good design and standard production components. The Ghia Barchetta eventually inspired the Ford Australia Mercury Capri.

Constructed by Ghia on the Fiesta XR2 platform, the concept car had an 86 horsepower 1.6 liter overhead valve 4-cylinder engine. Constructed at Ghia in steel, the Ghia Barchetta concept car's construction emphasized the economy of design inherent in its front-wheel drive platform while displaying the good looks and style of larger packages. The matte dark grey bumpers give Ghia Barchetta a dressed-up look and highlight its rounded wedge profile.

The realization of the Ghia Barchetta so enthused the sports car fans among Ford Europe's management that the intention to use it only as a demonstration was rethought and it was publicly displayed in 1983 as a concept illustrating the versatility of Ford's FWD powertrain and chassis components. Built as an operating concept, Ghia Barchetta has a fully functional cloth soft top and rides on 13" cast alloy wheels with 185/60HR-13 Goodyear NCT tires. Ghia's strength among Ford's several design studios was its ability, in a very short period, to construct a functional concept, very close to the production realization. Ghia Barchetta demonstrates that capability.

In the photo above is the Ghia Barchetta with original silver paint with two-tone grey cloth interior. The Ghia Barchetta concept bodywork is exceptional, functioning well and displaying smooth panels that would be enviable on a restored car, much less on one that has seen potentially exhaustive use as a concept demonstrator and show car. The Ghia Barchetta can be thought of as the stylish prototype for the Mercury Capri and even the Mazda Miata convertible of the day.

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