1958 Dual Ghia Convertible Convertible

The Dual-Ghia was an innovative custom coach-built sports car featuring a perfect combination of Italian styling and Chrysler engineering. In the 1950s, the idea of having Italian craftsmen collaborate with American engineers was really nothing new. Many American automakers sought out Italian automotive design houses to produce their stunning concept prototypes, fabricating them at far lower costs than they could have here in the U.S. At that time, American auto shows were being deluged with sporty coupe and roadster concepts and Chrysler regularly displayed a number of Virgil Exner-designed show cars built by Ghia in Turin, Italy. Using Ghia's talented craftsmen, Exner introduced the 'Firearrow' dream car that became so popular on the automotive show circuit that Chrysler seriously investigated the possibility of selling the car on a limited production basis. However, Chrysler abandoned the idea and Detroit industrialist, Gene Casaroll, stepped in and acquired the rights to the 'Firearrow'. Casaroll was the head of Auto Shippers Company and Dual Motors Corporation, an enterprise that built dual cab, twin-engined vehicles for military applications. He instructed his chief engineer, Paul Farago, to make necessary modifications for the American market and, in 1955, the first prototype 'Dual-Ghia' was built, with production scheduled to begin in 1956.

The 'Dual-Ghia' used rugged, dependable, and powerful Dodge engines and transmissions. The use of Chrysler-engineered components allowed the car to easily be repaired locally and reasonably with standard Mopar parts. The Ghia facility, in Italy, logically was chosen to craft the elegant steel bodies. Once complete, the finished, painted, upholstered, and trimmed bodies were shipped to Detroit where they were mated to a separate 115-inch wheelbase Dodge car chassis. Dodge also provided the Hemi engine and Powerflite transmission, making for an impressive package, especially since horsepower ratings were consistently higher than those of the current Corvette. Distinctive and quite fast, the 'Dual-Ghia' had a top speed of 120 mph according to contemporary road tests.

The Dual-Ghia was the favorite significant car of A-list entertainment personalities during the mid-1950s. Noted owners included celebrities such as Debbie Reynolds, Lucille Ball, Peter Lawford, Eddie Fisher, Hoagy Carmichael,
David Rose and, of course, Frank Sinatra. So desired was the 'Dual-Ghia' - and so few available - that: 'A Rolls Royce was considered as The Hollywood Status Symbol for those who can't get a Dual-Ghia!'

This attention-getting Dual-Ghia on display sports a 230 hp, 315 cu. in. Dodge D-500 Red Ram V-8 engine, Carter four-barrel carburetor, Chrysler Powerflite automatic transmission, independent front suspension with unequal
length A-arms and coil springs, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and heavy-duty four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Exhaustive attention to detail and extensive hand craftsmanship is exhibited in this beautifully finished automobile. It was a style leader in its day, with a most luxurious interior featuring sporty front bucket seats and an impressive dashboard with a full set of instruments set against engine-turned aluminum. Because it took 1,300 man-hours to individually fabricate each body and another 200 hours in Detroit to install the engine and running gear, Dual-Ghias sold for close to $8000 in 1958. All told, 117 completed cars were turned out between 1955 and 1958. Less than 40 are known to survive today