1956 Dual Ghia Convertible

Convertible by Ghia
Chassis number: D63392893

Dodge passenger car chassis' were shipped from Detroit to Turin by Dual Motors. The Italian craftsmen at Ghia then created hand-formed steel bodies to clothe the chassis. They were then returned to the Dual Motors facilities where they received 315 CID Dodge V-8 engines and Dodge PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmissions. The car's had a 115-inch wheelbase, rearward engine placement, and low center of gravity with Ghia's bodywork channeled in a 'step-down' arrangement over the chassis frame, allowing for easy entry and exit.

Virgil Exner's Firearrow Concept design was modified by Paul Farago, Casaroll's partner, chief engineer, and Ghia's American representative. He increased the passenger and luggage space and added a pair of jet aircraft-inspired tailfins at Casaroll's instance.

The total Dual Ghia production was 117 cars including prototypes, with all but two being convertibles. They carried a hefty sticker price of $7,646 making them some of the most expensive vehicles on the road.

Eugene Casaroll intended to build 150 cars per year, but the complex building process and insistence on high quality reportedly drove financial losses on every example built.

This particular example is numbered 101 and is the very first production car. It was sold new in 1956 to Sascha Lautman of Monterey, California. The car was given to Mr. Lautman by Eugene Casaroll in exchange for a painting by Mr. Lautman.

Mr. Lautman displayed this Dual Ghia at the April 1957 SCCA Palm Springs Concours d'Elegance and at the 1961 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Mr. Lautman's mechanic was John T. 'Jack' Amader who was promised the first right to purchase the car, a privilege Mr. Amader eventually exercised in 1986. The car would remain in his care for the next 30 years until mid-August 2015 when it was purchased by its current caretaker.

The current owner totally restored it to as-new, factory-specified, and original colors. The work took 14 months and was completed in October 2016. Since completion, the car has not yet been shown.

The car is powered by its original 315 CID Dodge V8 engine fitted with Carter four-barrel carburetors and offering 218 horsepower. There is a PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Eugene Casaroll, the proprietor of Automobile Shippers Incorporated, was the individual responsible for the creation of the Dual-Ghia. The design was inspired by Virgil Exner's Dodge Firearrow, later called the Firebomb, show car. When Chrysler decided not to produce the car, Casaroll purchased the original Firebomb show car. It was re-engineered for public sale by designer Paul Farago. The interior room was increased, as was the luggage space. The chassis was from Chrysler, which was sent to Turin, Italy to have Ghia create the coachwork. Ghia had created the original Firebomb body and thus was the perfect craftsman to create the production vehicle. When the bodies were assembled, they were shipped to Detroit where Dual Motors fitted the drive-train and interior trim. The first series was equipped with Chryslers D500 and D500-1 engines. The D500 displaced 315 cubic inches and produced 230 horsepower. The D500-1 had a larger, 325 cubic-inch displacement and 260 horsepower.

Production of this series lasted from 1956 through 1958 with a total of 117 examples constructed. There were two convertibles and the rest were coupes. The cars were competitively priced, considering they cost less than a Cadillac Eldorado and the Lincoln Continental. Just like many new automotive upstarts, the Dual Motors Company lost money on every car.

The concept was later revived in 1961. This time it was produced entirely in Italy in hopes of reducing the cost and expenses. This series is commonly known as the L6.4 as they were powered by Chrysler's 383 cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V8 engine. The chassis was its own, as Chrysler now used a unitary construction method. The cars were offered in hardtop coupe form only. Mr. Casaroll doubled the price in hopes of turning a profit or at least breaking even. Problems continued to escalate as overhead costs continued to soar. Production continued until 1963 with a total of 26 examples created.

by Dan Vaughan