Ghia-Aigle Alfa ROmeo 1900C

[csl177]

Seen at the Boca Raton Concours this past weekend, a very rare Ghia-Aigle bodied Alfa Romeo 1900C. Though the owner claimed it to be unique, to my knowledge three were built. There was a coupe version as well. A little sleuthing turned up what I believe to be the history
of the car pictured below:

s/n AR 1900C.01959 (engine AR 1308.01181) manufactured 05/10/1954, 17/05/1955 sold to Societa per il Commercio dei Prodotti Alfa Romeo in Lugano (CH), 10–20/03/1955 presented at 55. Salon International de l´Automobile in Genève (CH), 17/08/1955, color: white?, license TI 20675; license ZH 799 214, 198x Pierre Le Grand, Hallwil (CH), restoration, (05/1984) license AG 129 390
Owner Claude Frésard (Musée de l´Automobile), Manaux (CH), 05/1995 offered unrestored in ad for 25,000 CHF, 30/04-02/05/1999 exhibited at Classic AutoRAI in Amsterdam (NL), 27/03/2000 sold at Barret-Jackson/Coys of Kensington auction in Monaco for $ 64,390 (09/2000 Sports Car Market report: Braden 2000), 04/2000 offered by Coys of Kensington at TechnoClassica, Essen (photos); Owner Gene K. Ponder, Marshall (Texas, USA), Geneva (CH) license plate 308001 GE, 11–13/03/2005 entrant 246 at 10th Annual Amelia Island Concours d´Elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Florida, USA); 23/03/2006 offered for sale by Morris & Welford LLC, Weston (CT, USA) & Costa Mesa (CA, USA), asking price 125,000 US$; 20–21/04/2007 offered for sale (without reserve) at RM auction of the Gene Ponder Collection in Marshall (Texas, USA) NOTE: No sale.

This example showed all the character that makes coach-built cars so attractive. Ghia-Aigle was a Swiss company quite separate from Carrozzeria Ghia. Founded by Dr. Pierre-Paul Filippi, who asked Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin for the right to use the name Ghia for his independent company, hiring designers in demand by clientel of both firms. Known for idiosynchratic commission work on a variety of chassis, including MG, BMW, Jaguar and Bentley, as well as Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. Also responsible for European icons
such as Tempo vans and trucks. An interesting company that sadly succumbed to modern times.

[henk4]

I got this one, which was offered by Gooding last year at Pebble Beach, as well a Coupe and another spider.

[csl177]

The Gooding car is the one in my photos... wonder if that's where the owner bought it (or was offering it).
Nice to see one of the coupes; the middle car is the "Spider Razza".

An interesting color choice for an Alfa: 1900 SS Ghia-Aigle Spider

[henk4]

I was aware that the Gooding car was the one you showed. Interestingly it was estimated for between 225-325 k US$, without reserve. The hammer fell at 175 k.

[demonrunning07]

I hate Ghia. It really has to be my least favorite Italian design studio. Not a huge fan of Bertone either.

[Ferrer]

They made the Ghibli.

[henk4]

I hate Ghia. It really has to be my least favorite Italian design studio. Not a huge fan of Bertone either.

Please read the first post again, and you'll find that you are mixing up things slightly.....

[demonrunning07]

Please read the first post again, and you'll find that you are mixing up things slightly.....

Lol. You got me. But I'm not a huge fan of this either. I think there have been MUCH better looking Alfa Romeos. Especially those designed by Pininfarina.

[henk4]

for the 1900 the best-looking bodies were made by Touring and Zagato.
I have seen two PF bodystyles, one clearly a one-off and the other on at least two different cars. The white one does not look particularly appealing to me, the other one resembles the Touring Coupes.

[csl177]

I hate Ghia. It really has to be my least favorite Italian design studio. Not a huge fan of Bertone either.

From a learned student of automotive design? Hate is missplaced when discussing carrozzeria.