THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Production period
- 1938
- Body style
- Berlinetta
- Engine
- 6 cilindri in linea — donor/base Fiat 1500
- Type
- One-off
- Displacement
- 1,493 cc
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR
Coachbuilding, design & conversions
PRICE & SALES RECORD
Vehicle value
- Original price
- Not documented
- Latest recorded sale
- Not documented
01 / THE STORY
History & context
The Fiat 1500 Berlinetta Aerodinamica Ghia, unveiled in 1938 at the 11th Turin Concours d’Elegance, stands as a remarkable example of automotive design that blends aerodynamics with elegance. Designed by Mario Revelli di Beaumont for Carrozzeria Ghia, this sleek 2-door berlinetta was celebrated for its cutting-edge aerodynamic features and won the category prize at the prestigious event. The design of the Fiat 1500 Berlinetta reflects the influence of American style, a hallmark of the era’s design evolution. Revelli di Beaumont integrated elements inspired by contemporary American automobiles, particularly in the radiator grill and headlight frames, giving the car a distinctive and modern aesthetic. These American-style design choices added a sense of luxury and forward-thinking design to the Fiat’s already impressive appearance. The berlinetta’s body featured smooth, flowing lines that not only contributed to its aerodynamic efficiency but also highlighted the elegance of the overall design. The streamlined shape, combined with its striking proportions, made the car stand out as a symbol of automotive sophistication in the late 1930s. Its aerodynamic features were not just for style; they were built to improve performance and reduce drag, making the car not only beautiful but also efficient. The Fiat 1500 Berlinetta Aerodinamica Ghia remains a significant example of pre-World War II automotive design. By blending Italian craftsmanship with American design influence, it captured the spirit of the time—focused on innovation and elegance. Its success at the Turin Concours d’Elegance demonstrated the car’s mastery of both style and engineering, marking it as one of Ghia’s most outstanding creations and an enduring symbol of automotive artistry from the 1930s.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production type
- One-off
- Production notes
- Exact CI plus independent design-history context support the 1938 Ghia Fiat 1500 Berlinetta Aerodinamica and Mario Revelli di Beaumont association. Revelli remains candidate; the reviewed independent sources do not prove unique production, so Units=1 is cleared. NO_AUTO_INHERIT.
Engine & performance
- Engine configuration
- 6 cilindri in linea — donor/base Fiat 1500
- Displacement
- 1,493 cc
- Specification notes
- DONOR_BASE_PROJECTION — base-model technical fields projected from CATTELAN-FIAT-1500-LUSSO-SPORT-1938 because make/model/year match exactly. This does not assert that the coachbuilt/special vehicle retained identical tuning or performance.
Design & manufacture
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Ghia
- Designer · Candidate
- Mario Revelli di Beaumont
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Fiat
Additional features
- Recorded features
- Aerodinamica
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
Concorso d'Eleganza di Torino General · From the historical archive
- Date
- 1938
- Chassis
- General
- Venue
- Torino
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 3 photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| Carrozzieri Italiani — Fiat 1500 Berlinetta Aerodinamica Ghia www.carrozzieri-italiani.com | Exact vehicle editorial |
| Car Style Critic — Mario Revelli design survey carstylecritic.blogspot.com | Independent design history |
| Treccani — Mario Revelli Beaumont www.treccani.it | Authoritative biographical reference |













THE CONVERSATION
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