Topic: * * * * Ghia – Ford's Carrozzeria by David Burgess-Wise

[Allemano]

David Burgess-Wise, "GHIA – Ford's Carrozzeria, a study of one of Italy's oldest and finest coach builders" , publisher: Osprey Publishing Limited (Motorbooks International), 1985, 192 pp. (hardcover with dust jacket, 20cm x 28cm) ISBN: 0-85045-625-8, price: ~ 15 - 45,-€


As I first recognized this book I didn't pay too much attention.. I was deterred by the subtitle "Ford's Carrozzeria" and was afraid it would be mainly about Ghia badged Ford Granadas of the seventies. 
But as I noticed that some included pics were posted on various forums, I've changed my mind and purchased it for about €15,-.
I must admit it's a wonderful book with many beautiful pics of cars you may haven't seen before.
Of course it's not as exhaustive as the "Catalogue Raisonné", but you get it for the tenth of the price and it gives a nice work and historical overview of this Coachbuilder.

[75america]

I fully agree it's worth it's money (I paid € 10 for mine) but keep in mind that there are a couple of errors present.
It is also clear that when the book was written, not a lot of Ghia-Aigle was known.

While the Catalogue raisonné is indeed much more exhaustive, the David Burgess-Wise book has the advantage that the story is told in chronological order.
In case of the Catalogue raisonné, it's not and that make's the Ghia history a lot more difficult to place in the time.

[Allemano]

Could you please specify the errors?

[75america]

Could you please specify the errors?

That would take me too long so I just checked the things about post-WWII Alfa Romeo’s.
Because I know a thing or 2 about this subject, I can easily identify these errors. 
(Keep in mind there are only a handful post-WWII Alfa Romeo references in the book)

Page 39: ...Another Boano project that would subsequently bear rich fruit for others was a prototype sports coupé on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, shown at the 1952 Turin Salon....

Page 55: ...Jiri Hruska, who subsequently designed the Alfasud...

Page 55: ...Working for Alfa Romeo, Ghia turned out a wide and curiously uneven series of designs, ranging from a delightful 1900 Conrero ‘coupé Mille Miglia’-whose 2-seater bodywork was obviously derived from that of the Adventurer II,…

Page 94: Strange attempt on an Alfa Romeo 1900 chassis same time in 1962


+ As mentioned before, read the Ghia-Aigle part that is present on page 64...

[Allemano]

OK, thanks!