[Auto] Ford Ghia Vivace Concept, an excellent piece to have in a museum

[G h o s t l y.]

 

The Ford Ghia Vivace Concept was created with "intense emotional appeal," said the blue oval signature during its 1996 unveiling. Intended to be "a dynamic and assertive coupe," it was built to "explore ways to reconcile construction. of the aluminum space frame with practical packaging and aesthetic considerations ”. Of course, it's a glimpse of a late 90s idea of what the future would look like, with rounded edges, a bright color (pearl yellow), and an eye-catching posture.

The prototype was created in collaboration with Ghia as a form of experiment that sought to apply design techniques on space frame chassis. Originally, the Ford Mondeo platform was supposed to support this curious bulbous coupe, and that a 2.5-liter V6 block would power the front wheels, but it never materialized. It was a strange, progressive vehicle concept and not intended for the general public. And judging by the end result, Ford and Ghia were right to stop there; luckily, the Cougar arrived in 1998.
 

The exterior sports a bright yellow paint scheme and a design that is highlighted by a small grille, 17-inch wheels with plastic covers (hubcaps) wrapped in Pirelli P700 tires, and non-working tailpipes. It's certainly interesting to see that the design borrows several cues from Ford's style identity at the time, including the oval-shaped headlights or the grille where the fog lights are housed. The difference in this particular case is that those forms are taken to a new and exaggerated level.

However, as eager as one may have to drive in a unique prototype like this, it has neither an engine nor a transmission. In fact, the Ghia Vivace Concept can only maneuver on dollies, while some images from underneath the vehicle reveal that it is simply based on a steel frame with beams and cross members. Also, as it is only a design exercise and was never designed to be driven, the interior is made up of a brown cloth surface and a partial steering wheel, as well as the seat backs.
 

And as if practicality were not scarce enough, the entire body was made of fiberglass, with doors that do not open and, consequently, windows that are not practicable. In addition, the paint was applied over a quick preparation, showing the fiberglass weave on its surface, which gives rise to scratches and cracks evident at the first change. After all, it's not even really a car, to say the least, and the overall design is pretty polarizing. But it is a piece of Ford history and it deserves to be known.

Handcrafted at Ghia's studios in Turin, Italy, these original prototypes were supposed to explore the possibility of being able to access lighter vehicles, advancing what the brand had already learned through its previous “Aluminum Intensive Vehicles” program. ”And its all-alloy 1994 Mercury fleet. The shots that illustrate the post correspond to the auction portal Bring A Trailer, who had the opportunity to make it come to a new owner for the ridiculous figure of $ 3,050 (2,525 euros, approx.) In October 2020.