Ghia L6.4 Coupé 1963 - World Of Classic Cars -

Ghia L6.4 Coupé 1963

The Ghia L6.4 continued the success of the favourite automobile of the 1950s jet set, the legendary Dual-Ghia. The L6.4 was a sleek new hardtop designed by Paul Farago and refined by Chrysler’s Virgil Exner. It was built completely by Ghia without American involvement, with the coachbuilder even constructing the chassis around 1960 Chrysler suspension components and a 383–cubic inch “Wedge” V-8 displacing 6.4 litres, hence the model’s christening as the L6.4.
Priced at an astonishing $13,500 US, the L6.4 brought back Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball as return customers, and no one could deny that the buyer got his or her money’s worth; the Ghia was among the finest-finished automobiles in the world. It was not the price that was the problem. It was the cost of production, as well as the complications of building a car in Italy and selling it in the United States. In the end, the L6.4 was doomed to a brief yet glorious existence, with only 26 built and sold.

Ghia L6.4 Coupé 1963

The beautiful example presented here is chassis number 0313. According to Ghia historian Dr Paul Sable, it was one of two originally imported to South Africa by a private businessman, F. Hofman, for himself and his wife. It was later purchased in 1990 by South African enthusiast Peter Grove, who five years later undertook its restoration to its present appearance in a rich metallic maroon with a tan leather interior. The car was then sold to Mark Hilbert, who brought it to the United States, and it was later owned for several years by the prominent Dual-Ghia enthusiast Wayne Davis before joining its present owner’s distinguished European collection.

Ghia L6.4 Coupé 1963

The Ghia’s restoration has held up well and still shows nicely, including the rich lustre of its paint and good panel fit and gaps throughout, as well as the properly fitted upholstery, wool carpeting, door panels, and burlap-type trunk lining and spare tire covering. Equipped with both air conditioning and a radio, it is still every bit the luxe GT for crossing a route nationale in high style!