Fiat 8V Supersonic

Does anyone know any history on car number 39? It is the Black/Red car that Blackhawk had and it now resides in Switzerland. Has anyone seen the car recently?

 

Bought from Al Johnston by Rick Cole(of Rick Cole Auctions) in a package deal so Rick could get the original engine for his Siata"Mexico" coupe BS537.
039 had had an aluminum Olds/Buick V8 installed in the '60s. We removed that and installed the Siata engine(BS126 if memory serves) we had been using in BS537 when Rick was racing it, along with an Alfa 5-speed, and Rick sold/traded it to Blackhawk.
When I last saw it, at the Blackhawk display at Pebble in the '90s, it was on 15" Borranis with a '60s style Nardi steering wheel.
Anton

 

You can see that car in an article present in this month french magazine Sport Auto.

This car will be present, for sale, in Switzerland- Geneva Classics (6-8 October)- http://www.geneva-classics.ch/en/

Very nice car (ex-Lara Turner)

Regards

 

I saw the car last monday in Toffen Switzerland.
What a stunning looking car.

 

I have a few great photos of this car that Don Williams sent to me at least 10 years ago when they still had the car. If you are interested I can scan and post.

 

That would be appreciated. The car now resides in Canada.

 

Not a problem. Give me a day and I will scan and post.

Incidentally, the letter that I have from Don is dated August 3, 2000. Has the car resided with the same owner since it was sold from Black Hawk?

 

Ok. I just read the post above.

Looks like the car was in Switzerland in 2006; so it had been sold at least once.

 

Car went from Blackhawk to Traber in Switzerland to me on Oct 7, 2006 from the Geneva Sport Car Auction (which is owned by the Traber family).

I look forward to the pics

 

As promised..

I have some interesting news about another Ghia 8V that has recently been sold 3 miles from my home in metropolitan Detroit, and has had its home in Detroit for the last 50+ years.

I will update this evening. In the meantime, Lana Turner's Ghia.
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0039 at the 1954 Concours, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles entered by Lana Turner.
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So 39 was originally yellow, with 'pressed' rims, not wires?

Car was only 1 year old at the time...

 

Any more period photo's of Lana's Supersonic?

 

This is another. Source might be the authorative 8V book (Corsa Research).
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I would say cream.

 

Thank you.

I need to pick up this book!!!

 

The discs covered the Borrani's. That Ghia 8V that lived in Detroit all those decades still had them after all those years. Most of the Ghia 8V cars lost the wheel covers over time.

 

Which Supersonic was shown at Pebble Beach 2002 owned by Erik Nielsen?

 

I did not know that the discs covered the wires.

I saw the car in the summer of 2009 at, believe it or not, a garage sale that Paul Lazarus was having.

The car was under a cover, but I saw the wheels and knew immediatley what it was. He was very nice and it sounded like he was going to leave the car to his son at that time.

I was absolutley blown away. I knew that many significant cars had passed through the Detroit area over the years, but I had no idea that this thing was only 3 miles from my house for approximately 55 years. The car, however, had not moved under its own power since 1978 otherwise I am certain that I would have seen it.

Even back in the early 1970's his wife said that when cruising Woodward Ave, people would just stare...

 

I thought that David Sydorick purchased 39, but his Supersonic is red.

Do either of you know who all the current owners of the Fiat Supersonics and the Jaguar Supersonic are?

I only know of two..

 

David Sydorick should have 00038.
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So my research leads me to the following:

12 total Ghia supersonics were produced.

- 8 Fiat Ghia supersonics
-3 Jaguar Ghia supersonics
-1 Aston Martin supersonic

Of the 8 Fiats, I discovered one that was completely bastardized in the mid 1960's; non original motor plus body modifications.

The Aston is beautiful with a cream color and green top.

 

There was also one "Conrero 2000" with the same body, except for the plexi roof. IIRC it had an Alfa 1900 motor and a Lancia Aurelia transaxle.

 

On Saturday it was in the parking lot
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That would be the one from the UK with the AC Cobra chassis and drivetrain aka Willment Cobra

Here is more info on the Detroit Ghia 8V. http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/etceterini/2897-1953-fiat-8v-ghia-supersonic