Chassis Number
Factory Prototype
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Contact UsChassis 116*0071661 holds a unique place in automotive history as the original factory prototype of the Ghia 1500 GT. Built in 1961 at the Carrozzeria Ghia workshops in Turin, this car was the first physical realization of the design penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was then a young designer working under the direction of Sergio Sartorelli at Ghia.
The prototype was presented to the press and public before series production began, serving as the showpiece to introduce the new Fiat-Ghia collaboration. It features subtle differences from the later production cars, including unique trim details and proportions that were refined before the model entered production in 1962. The factory press photographs, including a remarkable cutaway illustration revealing the tubular chassis structure and mechanical layout, were used extensively in period promotional materials.
The car is finished in a distinctive light blue and carries the very low chassis number 0071661, confirming its pre-series status. It was eventually sold and made its way to Sweden, where it was acquired by Robert Berg. It has been photographed at classic car gatherings in Scandinavia, still wearing its light blue livery and appearing in remarkably preserved condition for such a historically significant automobile.
As the genesis car of the entire Ghia 1500 GT lineage, this prototype represents the crucial link between Giugiaro's design vision and the approximately 846 production cars that followed between 1962 and 1966.