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Three Ford concept cars have sold on the BaT Auctions site in the past few years. All three concepts were designed by Ghia and remained one-offs. These concepts had no engines and were merely rolling bodies with interiors. Learn more about the cars with the listing details and the linked Story Cars articles.
1. 1989 Ford Via Concept Car by Ghia
This 1989 Ford Via is a one-off concept car that was built by Ghia and made its North American debut at the 1990 Chicago Auto Show. Designed by a team of stylists that included Ian and Moray Callum, the Via features a fiberglass body with two functioning doors, photosensitive roof panels, a full interior, and fiber-optic lighting. No drivetrain is fitted. The car was purchased by the selling dealer at auction in 2002 as part of the dispersion of concept vehicles from the Ford Motor Company. This rolling Ford/Ghia display car is now offered on a bill of sale in Ontario, Canada.
The blue fiberglass body features four doors, though only the left-side doors open. Styling cues include two hood ducts, two aircraft-style fuel filler caps, and an “active” rear spoiler. The roof features two photosensitive glass panels that are said to darken in bright light, and one of them is removable. The headlights are located at the base of the windshield, and each features nine elements that were reportedly designed to be individually programmable as fog or driving lights. Cracks are noted in the fiberglass on the right-front door and on the rear deck near a fuel filler cap.
Multi-piece 17″ Speedline wheels feature black centers and wear Goodyear tires measuring 225/45 up front and 275/40 out back. The right-front tire sidewall is split. The steering wheel is not connected to the front wheels, which must be turned manually.
The four-seat interior is accessed via the left-side doors and features hard-back front buckets trimmed in taupe and black with a turquoise center stripe. The rear seats and upper door panels are upholstered to match. The seats show signs of age, and a tear in the front door weatherstripping is visible.
The dashboard features a CD player located alongside a set of static metric instruments, which featured a unique lighting system to provide readouts in place of traditional needles. A full-length center console, the simulated shifter for a manual transmission, and faux buttons for front and rear-seat climate controls are also present. The car is wired for power using dual voltage hookups, in order to showcase the lighting system.
View the BaT Auction losing: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-ford-ghia-via/
View the Story Cars article: https://www.story-cars.com/post/1989-ford-via-by-ghia
2. 1996 Ford Ghia Vivace Concept
This 1996 Ford Ghia Vivace is a one-off concept car developed by Ford in alliance with Ghia as an exercise in experimenting with aluminum space frame design techniques. This concept was built around the Ford Mondeo platform, although no drivetrain or steering components are fitted, and the doors do not open. The car was acquired by the seller in 2019 and features a fiberglass body finished in yellow, a brown fabric deck in place of the interior, and unique wheel coverings. This rolling Ford/Ghia display car is now offered at no reserve on a bill of sale in New York.
The fiberglass body is finished in yellow and features a two-door coupe design, although the doors do not open. Styling cues include a pass-through front grille, amber front side markers, fog lights, non-functional dual exhaust outlets, both Ford and Ghia emblems, and a sweeping rear deck that incorporates an enclosed Ghia Vivace nameplate. Scratches, paint chips, and cracks are visible on the nose, and the right-rear quarter panel is cracked. The side-view mirrors have marks from adhesive.
17″ wheels feature unique wheel covers and wear Pirelli P700 tires. The car is not equipped with steering gear and is maneuvered on wheel dollies. The wheel covers are scratched.
The 2+2 interior design features a brown fabric deck with a partial steering wheel and seat backs, none of which are functional. The interior is not accessible through the doors.
The car lacks an engine and transmission, and the body sits atop a boxed steel frame.
View the BaT Auction losing: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-ford-ghia-vivace-concept-car/
View the Story Cars article: https://www.story-cars.com/post/1996-ford-vivace
3. 1996 Ford Ghia Lynx Concept Display
This 1996 Ford Ghia Lynx is a one-off concept designed by Gary Braddock and built by Ghia. Introduced at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show, it was as an exercise in designing a sports car based on the contemporary Ford Fiesta chassis, and some design elements later appeared on the production Ford Puma. No drivetrain is fitted, the doors do not open, and the car is being sold as a rolling display vehicle. This Ford concept car was purchased by the selling dealer at auction in 2003 as part of the dispersion of concept vehicles by the Ford Motor Company. It is now offered at no reserve in Canada with an Ontario bill of sale.
The fiberglass body rides on a stretched Fiesta chassis and is finished in Euro Blue Metallic. Two arches run from the front cowl to the trunk, outlining the top of the window frames and doubling as a track for a folding roof, although neither side windows nor a roof are actually fitted to the car. The doors do not open, and the seller reports a chip on the lower rear bumper fascia. Damage to the A-pillar molding can be viewed in the gallery.
Five-spoke 17″ alloy wheels wear 215/45 Goodyear tires. While the wheels are not powered, the car is said to steer enough to be maneuvered.
The interior features seating for four trimmed in gray fabric with patterned inserts, though the seats are not accessible via doors. A period Ford steering wheel fronts static metric instrumentation. Other equipment includes a center stack and a shifter for a manual transmission.
No engine or transmission is equipped, although the car is wired for lights and includes a power setup for display purposes.
View the BaT Auction losing: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1996-ford-ford-ghia-lynx-concept/
View the Story Cars article: https://www.story-cars.com/post/1996-ford-lynx