Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
Concept cars and 'idea cars' of the 1950s were dramatic, employing an excess amount of chrome decor, wearing large tailfins, and often fitted with many futuristic designs. As designer Virgil Exner Sr.'s tenure at Chrysler was nearing an end in the early 1960s, management and public were increasingly seeking less flamboyant Space Age and dramatic automobiles. Bucking the trend, Exner went out with a bang, building a final show car, the Plymouth XNR, with the Italian coachbuilding firm of Ghia. The XNR, named for its outgoing creator, had a dart-like asymmetrical shape and large tailfins. Although the XNR never entered production, it attracted plenty of attention, resulting in Ghia and Exner continuing the project in hopes of creating a design that could be produced in a small batch for exclusive clients.
There remains some debate if the Asimmetrica project was begun by Exner while completing his tenure at Chrysler, then completed by Ghia, or was solely a Ghia design project.
The Asimmetrica was styled in a similar fashion to the XNR, but toned down. Using the XNR's original bucks for many of the body panels, it had a four-passenger interior, a full windshield, and a more conventional rear deck and tail. Like the XNR, it used a stock Plymouth Valiant chassis, drivetrain, and engine, but with the Hyper-Pack features of cast-iron split headers and a Carter AFB carburetor.
It is believed that 25 examples were planned to be built, but at most, only two roadsters were completed. The first appeared on Ghia's stand at the Turin Motor Show in 1961. It was simply labeled as the Asimmetrica, with no assigned manufacturer. It is also believed that the Turin car was later shown at Geneva, where it was purchased by Georges Simenon for his wife. The car was later sold by the Swiss dealer's Rob de la Rive Box and Roger Meyer of Villmergen to the Blackhawk Collection in 1989.
The car's original color was red, with a tan interior. It was later finished in green and then in a non-original white with red accents and a black interior. The Blackhawk Collection spent a year restoring the car to its original condition, including re-finishing it in its original color of red, with a tan interior and as near the original wheel covers as could be found.
After the car's restoration was completed, it was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1990.
The Blackhawk Collection sold the car in 2000 to a collector in the Pacific Northwest, where it has remained. It has been shown sparingly, only being shown several years ago at the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance in Oregon.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2018
There remains some debate if the Asimmetrica project was begun by Exner while completing his tenure at Chrysler, then completed by Ghia, or was solely a Ghia design project.
The Asimmetrica was styled in a similar fashion to the XNR, but toned down. Using the XNR's original bucks for many of the body panels, it had a four-passenger interior, a full windshield, and a more conventional rear deck and tail. Like the XNR, it used a stock Plymouth Valiant chassis, drivetrain, and engine, but with the Hyper-Pack features of cast-iron split headers and a Carter AFB carburetor.
It is believed that 25 examples were planned to be built, but at most, only two roadsters were completed. The first appeared on Ghia's stand at the Turin Motor Show in 1961. It was simply labeled as the Asimmetrica, with no assigned manufacturer. It is also believed that the Turin car was later shown at Geneva, where it was purchased by Georges Simenon for his wife. The car was later sold by the Swiss dealer's Rob de la Rive Box and Roger Meyer of Villmergen to the Blackhawk Collection in 1989.
The car's original color was red, with a tan interior. It was later finished in green and then in a non-original white with red accents and a black interior. The Blackhawk Collection spent a year restoring the car to its original condition, including re-finishing it in its original color of red, with a tan interior and as near the original wheel covers as could be found.
After the car's restoration was completed, it was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1990.
The Blackhawk Collection sold the car in 2000 to a collector in the Pacific Northwest, where it has remained. It has been shown sparingly, only being shown several years ago at the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance in Oregon.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2018
2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $600,000
Sale Price :
USD $335,000
Recent Sales of the Plymouth Asimmetrica Concept
(Data based on Model Year 1961 sales)
1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica Roadster by Ghia Chassis#: 1102224086 Sold for USD$335,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey |
Plymouth Asimmetrica Concepts That Failed To Sell At Auction
1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica Concept's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $335,000 range.
1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:194676S118638 Sold for $335,500 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C 50th Anniversary Edition Chassis#:CSX 4566 Sold for $335,000 2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami | |
1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer Chassis#:F102AB18171 Sold for $335,000 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Coupe Coachwork by Sindelfingen Chassis#:188011-00028 Sold for $332,250 2024 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
1994 Ferrari 512 TR Coachwork by Pininfarina Chassis#:ZFFLG40A8R0097259 Sold for $335,000 2024 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
1996 Ferrari 512 M Chassis#:ZFFVA40B000105395 Sold for $335,159 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Sedan by LeBaron Chassis#:16 145 678 Sold for $335,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR MCLAREN Chassis#:WDDAJ76F25M000254 Sold for $332,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package Chassis#:WP0AC2A96NS271189 Sold for $335,000 2023 RM Sothebys : New York | |
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello Chassis#:ZFFBV55A220128205 Sold for $335,000 2023 RM Sothebys : New York | |
1988 Porsche 911 Turbo 'Flat-Nose' Cabriolet Chassis#:WP0EB0933JS070126 Sold for $335,000 2023 RM Sothebys : The White Collection | |
1949 Delahaye 135MS Coupé Sold for $335,000 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1961 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES I 3.8-LITRE ROADSTER Chassis#:875038 Sold for $335,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1969 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 429 Chassis#:9F02Z150469 Sold for $335,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1940 PACKARD SUPER 8 160 1803 CONVERTIBLE VICTORIA Chassis#:1803-2002 Sold for $335,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster Chassis#:82813 Sold for $335,500 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Playboy Roadster by Brewster Chassis#:S208ML Sold for $335,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello Chassis#:ZFFBV55A220129306 Sold for $335,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1995 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Chassis#:wp0zzz99zts390417 Sold for $332,750 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | |
2005 Ferrari 575 Superamerica Chassis#:ZFFGT61A050145418 Sold for $335,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center |
1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica Concept
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery