Rare Red 1957 Dual-Ghia Convertible

A very rare red 1957 Dual-Ghia arriving at the 2021 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park. After Chrysler decided against putting the Dodge Firearrow concept cars into production, businessman Eugene Casaroll obtained rights to the design and worked with Ghia to develop it into the Firebomb pre-production prototype, which then entered production as the Dual-Ghia. The Dual-Ghia was built on a Dodge chassis which was shipped from Detroit to Carrozzeria Ghia in Italy for interior and bodywork then returned to Detroit for finishing. The car had a starting price of around $7,500 and was purchased by numerous celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Dean Martin. This example, powered by a Dodge D-500 V8 engine, underwent a 15-year restoration during which it was finished in its current color. It is one of over 100 Dual-Ghias built, around 30 of which are still known to exist.

Here's another one of those odd cars that don't have a model name (after the Laforza I posted last week.) The Dual-Ghia was the only car ever sold as, well, a Dual-Ghia. (Its successor, the L6.4, was sold simply as a Ghia.) And wow, it's beautiful. It wasn't the only car of its time to fuse American engineering with European styling, but I think it's certainly one of the best-executed. The bodywork is gorgeous from the overall shape down to the fine details, and performance wasn't particularly shabby, either. I love stories like this about an individual who falls in love with an idea, has the means to bring that idea to life, and ultimately succeeds in doing so. Unfortunately, shipping each car back and forth across the Atlantic as part of its build process wasn't exactly economical, hence the high price that limited consumer demand. But there's nothing like a car built for extravagance, fueled by big dreams and deep pockets, that allows those living above practical financial constraints to obtain a unique piece of history and a truly extraordinary work of art.

Would you choose a Dual-Ghia over a contemporary Cadillac or Lincoln? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!