Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
Eugene Casaroll, with some Chrysler cooperation, opened Dual Motors in Detroit in 1956 to build a gimmick-less 'Italian American car' to appeal to the Rat Packs on both coasts. Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, Lyndon Johnson, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin all bought the Ghia-built-body-on-a-Dodge-frame car, the design based on that of Virgil Exner's Firearrow show car. The early Dual-Ghias were relatively light and most of the 117 cars produced went rapidly because of the 315 cubic-inch Dodge Hemi short-stroke V8 under the hood.
Limited production models in a niche market have always been a difficult arena, and Eugene Casaroll certainly fought the good fight. He had taken a Chrysler concept car and developed it into a limited-production convertible, complete with MoPar mechanicals and hand-built Ghia coachwork. It was successfully produced in only three short years after its 1956 introduction and was popular with many influential individuals of that era. The success, however, was short-lived, and by 1958, Casaroll was ailing, and business for the shipping line had slowed.
Realizing a new model was needed, Vice President of Dual Motors Paul Farago and the designers at Ghia drew up a second-generation model, a 'two-plus-two' fastback coupe with lines refined by Chrysler's Virgil Exner. Ghia hand-built the body and the entire car, including the chassis, which was based on 1960 Chrysler suspension, and a 383 cubic-inch 'Wedge' V-8. Casaroll's Dual Motors involvement in the project continued to shrink, causing the new model to be known as the Ghia L 6.4, or '6.4 Liter', which is the metric displacement of its engine. The new car carried a price of $13,500 - a substantial figure for its era. The price alone determined its exclusivity, but it also meant the buyer was getting one of the finest-finished automobiles in the world.
Sadly, the glorious existence of the L6.4 came to an end after just 26 examples (plus a prototype) were built. The high cost of the automobile and the equally steep cost and complications of producing the car in Italy and selling it in the United States brought it to a premature end.
This particular car is chassis number 0309 and was the ninth L6.4 built. It is believed that this car was originally sold in Switzerland. The current caretaker imported the Ghia in 2006, and then the car underwent a complete restoration. The body was finished in deep black, with an interior in black and white leather (changed from the original olive green). At some in its life, it was fitted with incorrect taillights, but they were replaced with correct taillights that had been reproduced from an original pair. An original-style fitted luggage set was reproduced to match the interior, and period-style wire wheels replaced the after-market wire wheels that were on the car when acquired.
This Ghia was selected as a finalist for Best in Show at the 2014 Concorso Italian. It was also Best in Class at the 2014 Concours on the Avenue in Carmel.
Limited production models in a niche market have always been a difficult arena, and Eugene Casaroll certainly fought the good fight. He had taken a Chrysler concept car and developed it into a limited-production convertible, complete with MoPar mechanicals and hand-built Ghia coachwork. It was successfully produced in only three short years after its 1956 introduction and was popular with many influential individuals of that era. The success, however, was short-lived, and by 1958, Casaroll was ailing, and business for the shipping line had slowed.
Realizing a new model was needed, Vice President of Dual Motors Paul Farago and the designers at Ghia drew up a second-generation model, a 'two-plus-two' fastback coupe with lines refined by Chrysler's Virgil Exner. Ghia hand-built the body and the entire car, including the chassis, which was based on 1960 Chrysler suspension, and a 383 cubic-inch 'Wedge' V-8. Casaroll's Dual Motors involvement in the project continued to shrink, causing the new model to be known as the Ghia L 6.4, or '6.4 Liter', which is the metric displacement of its engine. The new car carried a price of $13,500 - a substantial figure for its era. The price alone determined its exclusivity, but it also meant the buyer was getting one of the finest-finished automobiles in the world.
Sadly, the glorious existence of the L6.4 came to an end after just 26 examples (plus a prototype) were built. The high cost of the automobile and the equally steep cost and complications of producing the car in Italy and selling it in the United States brought it to a premature end.
This particular car is chassis number 0309 and was the ninth L6.4 built. It is believed that this car was originally sold in Switzerland. The current caretaker imported the Ghia in 2006, and then the car underwent a complete restoration. The body was finished in deep black, with an interior in black and white leather (changed from the original olive green). At some in its life, it was fitted with incorrect taillights, but they were replaced with correct taillights that had been reproduced from an original pair. An original-style fitted luggage set was reproduced to match the interior, and period-style wire wheels replaced the after-market wire wheels that were on the car when acquired.
This Ghia was selected as a finalist for Best in Show at the 2014 Concorso Italian. It was also Best in Class at the 2014 Concours on the Avenue in Carmel.
2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $475,000
Lot was not sold
2015 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $350,000-USD $425,000
Sale Price :
USD $412,500
1961 Ghia L6.4 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Ghia L6.4
(Data based on Model Year 1961 sales)
1961 Ghia L 6.4 Chassis#: 0306 Sold for USD$665,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1961 Ghia L 6.4 Chassis#: 0302 Sold for USD$418,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1961 Ghia L6.4 Coupe Chassis#: 0309 Sold for USD$412,500 2015 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona |
Ghia L6.4s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1961 Ghia L6.4's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1961 GHIA L6.4 | 0309 | 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $400,000 | $475,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $498,500 range.
1951 Maserati A6 1500/3C Gran Turismo Coachwork by Pinin Farina Chassis#:076 Sold for $499,796 2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris | |
2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Chassis#:SCFEBBGF7CGS31111 Sold for $493,919 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Coupé Chassis#:WDB2093421F166034 Sold for $500,025 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Villa D'Este Coupe by Touring Chassis#:915.891 Sold for $500,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 Chassis#:124379N608879 Sold for $495,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE CUSTOM ROADSTER Chassis#:136670K115272 Sold for $495,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS LS6 CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:136670B138594 Sold for $495,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible Chassis#:194679s710170 Sold for $495,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1989 Boschert B300 'Gullwing' Chassis#:WDB1240501A736928 Sold for $498,012 2023 RM Sothebys : Munich | |
1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS by Scaglietti Chassis#:07094 Sold for $493,558 2023 RM Sothebys : London | |
1954 Hudson Italia by Touring Chassis#:259254 Sold for $495,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
2005 FORD GT HENNESSEY 1000 Chassis#:1FAFP90S55Y401621 Sold for $495,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : New Orleans | |
2005 FERRARI 575M Chassis#:ZFFBV55A350141274 Sold for $500,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Chassis#:WP0ZZZ96ZNS490159 Sold for $500,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1996 Porsche Turbo 'RUF THR' Chassis#:WP0ZZZ99ZTS372295 Sold for $494,500 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:111.027.12.003777 Sold for $500,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti Chassis#:14341 Sold for $500,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 'Crown Edition' Coupé Chassis#:WDD 199376-1M-001674 Sold for $497,581 2023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed | |
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Split Window Coupe Chassis#:30837s100008 Sold for $495,000 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
2016 Porsche 911 R Chassis#:WP0AF2A93GS195067 Sold for $500,000 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island |
1961 Ghia L6.4
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Ghia L6.4 model years