The Ghia Corrida was the first Fiesta-based concept car, introduced at the Turin Motor Show in November of 1976, the year the Fiesta was introduced. Corrida means bullfight, and the Corrida Concept was Ghia’s vision of a new age sports car with an array of safety features.
Corrida was not only based on a Fiesta, but was also powered by a Fiesta engine. It featured pneumatically operated gull wing doors hinged in two segments and electrically operated flaps for the headlamps to provide optimal aerodynamics performance. The rear luggage compartment was hinged at the bottom.
Corrida’s driving environment was unique. The instrument cluster was an array of boxes that provided a distinctive look of compartmentalization. The concept car was bold orange with black accents.
Ford and Ghia developed the Corrida concept vehicle as a design and engineering exercise, and feature car at auto shows. Built on a 90-inch wheelbase, the Corrida’s body and wheels were all weight-saving aluminum. Gull wing-styled doors were hinged at the top, and folded in the middle for easy entry/exit, even when the car was parked in confined areas. The hatchback door was split in half, with the top section opening upward, and a hinged lower section that could be locked in an open position to extend the carrying capacity.
Source: Ford Media Site; www.chicagoautoshow.com