The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Roberto Motta
All photos by Renault Internal / Press
Part I Construction and Development
The post-war period saw a great development of the aerospace industry. In France, a little team of engineers decided to apply aeronautic technologies to a record car, and the result was the Étoile Filante (Shooting Star). It was a meteoric success….
This interview with Gilda’s owner Scott Grundfor is the first in a series of Premium articles about Gilda, the car, the legend and the designer.
By Roberto Motta
Scott Grundfor, left, confers with another turbine enthusiast Jay Leno.
Scott Grundfor is the CEO of Scott Grundfor Company, a firm devoted to the conservation, restoration and sales of classic cars. Located in Arroyo Grande, California, Grundfor has garnered 34 Best in Show awards, primarily with Mercedes Benz automobiles. In the past five years, he acquired several Ghia showcars, among them the 1955 Ghia “Gilda” showcar which is our feature.
Roberto Motta has been involved researching turbine powered cars and was very interested in the installation and drivability of the Gilda turbine project. He conducted this interview with Scott Grundfor in 2010 for VeloceToday.
Tell us about how you found the car.
I was offered Gilda (Chassis 9969 Carrozzeria Ghia) in 2005 when the car left the Blackhawk Museum. I wanted it because of its important history in automobile design and because I think it is beautiful. Gilda was offered to me by a broker, Mike Fairbairn, from RM Classic in Chattam Canada, who knew I had an interest in these special show cars.
1955 Brochure with surprisingly similar greenhouse to the Alfa B.A.T.s
We understand you have an interesting collection.
Cars of interest to VeloceToday readers include a 1965 Citroen ID 19; 1973 Ford Ghia Mini Max Concept; 1979 Ford (Ghia) Probe I Concept; 1982 Ghia Brezza Concept; 1982 Ghia Barchetta Concept; 1984 Ghia Pockar Concept; 1985 Ghia Shuttler Concept; 1985 Ford (Ghia) Probe V Concept.
In what condition was the car when you purchased it and did it have the OSCA engine at that time? [Read more…] about Premium Subscription Article: From Showcar to Turbine