This is the one-off 1968 Serenissima Ghia GT prototype, chassis EX001, a unique project that was designed by the great American automobile designer, Tom Tjaarda. If you haven’t ever heard of Scuderia Serenissima, the Italian race car manufacturer and auto racing team was active during the 1960’s as one of Ferrari’s best racing customers until ‘The Great Walkout’ occurred, which left manager Romolo Tavoni, experimental sports car development chief Giotto Bizzarrini, chief engineer Carlo Chiti, sales manager Girolamo Gardini and a number of others to be booted from operations at Ferrari due to a disagreement. This also caused founder of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari to stop supplying cars and engines to Serenissima all together. After Chiti and Bizzarrini had left the Ferrari company, they together formed a new Italian automotive constructor and racing team known as Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS). Serenissima, which was founded by an Italian-Algerian nobleman, former automobile race manager, and Formula One team owner, Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata, would also follow along with ATS, as well as other companies such as De Tomaso and Maserati to continue their racing career. In the late 1960’s, Volpi came up with an idea in collaboration his good friend Alejandro de Tomaso, the founder of De Tomaso to build a serious grand tourer. With the help of Italian automobile design and coachbuilding firm, Carrozzeria Ghia SpA, which had just been acquired by De Tomaso in 1967, the car shown here was officially born to life. This fully functional prototype shown here was officially revealed at the 1968 Turin Motor Show, where it was painted in a green color. Following Italian automobile designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro’s departure from Ghia, the Serenissima GT became one of Tom Tjaarda’s first ever projects for the company. This unique Coupè features ‘Ghia’ badging, retractable headlights, leather bucket seats, electric windows, a wood-trimmed steering wheel, and even air conditioning.
How many made? 1
Engine: Alf Francis M-167 (added in 1969)
Debut: 1968 Turin Motor Show
Top Speed: n/a
0-60: n/a
Photo Credit: @stefzag0
Research: @rarecarsonly
1968 Serenissima Ghia GT
14.06.2024
Serenissma