DB2/4 Mark II ‘Supersonic’ by Carrozzeria Ghia
DB2/4 Mark II ‘Supersonic’ by Carrozzeria Ghia

DB2/4 Mark II ‘Supersonic’ by Carrozzeria Ghia

(1956)

As addition to the three Mark II sold as chassis only to Touring, another (AM300/1132) was sold to racing driver, Harry Schell and was fitted with a Giovanni Savonuzzi designed Ghia Supersonic body. This was very similar to bodies fitted to Jaguar XJ120 and Fiat 8V chassis in the 1950's by Ghia.

DB2/4 Mark II ‘Supersonic’ by Carrozzeria Ghia

In many publications the car is described as having a fibreglass body but I am assured that has aluminium coachwork. The car was exhibited at the 1956 Turin Motor Show and then disappeared from view. Yet the car survived in the USA although in very poor condition and is missing most of the mechanical components.

From 2003, the car underwent a total restoration which was completed in 2011. The car debuted at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegence and took second place in the post-war touring class. After success in other US concours, the car was sold in the ‘Art of the Automobile’ auction November 2013 in New York by RM auctions where the car achieved a sale price of $2,310,000.

Below you will find some rare images found by ‘Supersonic expert’, Erik Nielsen, and show the pristine car in 1956 and again at sometime in the early 1970’s, still in the US, but less well cared for. When first displayed at the Turin Motor Show, the car was originally finished in pale green with beige leather upholstery. The remaining images by Michael Furman are used with the kind permission of RM Auctions.