The story of Ghia – part 1
The beginning In tracing the genealogy of coachbuilding firms, it turns out that they originated in the early years of the last century as…
Renault Frégate Ghia
The Renault Fregate Ghia concept car.
Vehicle Overview
The Renault Frégate Ghia was a unique design proposal developed in the mid-1950s through a collaboration between Renault and Carrozzeria Ghia. Conceived on the platform of the Renault Frégate sedan, the model represented an exploration of styling possibilities for Renault’s executive-class vehicle. The car was designed by Sergio Sartorelli, an Italian stylist active at Ghia during the period and later known for his work on various Fiat and Volkswagen projects. His interpretation brought a distinctly Italian aesthetic to the French saloon, blending restrained elegance with subtle modernism. The standard Renault Frégate, launched in 1951, was a conventional unibody sedan powered by a 2.0-litre inline-four engine, later upgraded to 2.1 litres. It featured a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and independent front suspension with a live rear axle. It was Renault’s response to the postwar need for a spacious and refined family car, aimed at a middle- to upper-middle-class audience. While mechanically competent, the Frégate was styled conservatively, especially when compared to contemporary offerings from Italy or the United States. The Ghia variant, likely produced as a single prototype, departed significantly from the production model’s proportions and details. Sartorelli’s design introduced a cleaner and more dynamic silhouette, with a gently sloping roofline, an understated beltline, and minimal chrome trim. The front end was characterized by a slim grille flanked by dual headlamps, giving the car a contemporary, almost American-influenced appearance, while the rear section featured a more tapered treatment, replacing the upright lines of the production car with subtle horizontal cues. Although Renault never advanced the Ghia-styled Frégate to production, the proposal reflected a broader industry trend in the 1950s: manufacturers across Europe frequently sought the input of Italian coachbuilders to explore alternative styling approaches. The Frégate Ghia project served this experimental purpose, offering Renault a glimpse into how its models could be reinterpreted through a more international lens. The vehicle remains a rarely seen study, known primarily through period photographs and documentation. It occupies a minor yet telling role in the history of Renault’s design development and illustrates Sergio Sartorelli’s early capacity for blending formal clarity with balanced proportions.
Technical Specifications
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Year1956
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MakeRenault
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ModelFregate
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CoachbuilderGhia
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