1962 Ghia L6.4

Only 26 of these L6.4 vehicles were built. The vehicles featured Chrysler components, manufactured by the Michigan-based company named Dual, and bodywork by the Ghia Company. Ghia, based in Turin Italy, specialized in the art of coachbuilding. To save on cost, the vehicles were totally assembled in Italy. Only 26 examples were produced. Out of the 26 examples, one was a prototype that featured a 'Dual Ghia' emblem on the nose. The remainder of the vehicles had an 'L6.4' emblem with the American and Italian flags. The prototype had a roofline that was lower, by about an inch than the remainder of the vehicles.

During World War I, Gene Casaroll had conceived of a dual-engined lowboy transporter for tanks and other heavy weapons. He established Dual Motors to build them; when the war ended, demand understandably declined rapidly. During the late Forties and early Fifties, the Automobile Shippers company owned by Casaroll operated a 100+ fleet of semi-trailers that transported new cars from factories to dealers. His success allowed for the exploration of challenges and new adventures. He contested the Indianapolis 500 with his Automobile Shippers Specials that were piloted by Henry Banks, George Lynch, Bill Schindler, Carl Forberg, Walt Faulkner, Troy Ruttman and Duane Carter. He was intrigued by Frank Kurtis's two-seat sports car and considered putting it into serious production. Another opportunity presented itself when the Chrysler Corporation decided not to produce the 'Firearrow' dream cars.

The Firearrows were a series of four different designs that were penned and built in Italy by Luigi Segre's Carrozzeria Ghia. The first two Firearrows were sleek two-seat roadsters with dramatic fins and a frameless windshield. Both rested on a Dodge 119-inch wheelbase chassis and powered by a 241 cubic-inch 'Red Ram' Hemi V8 engine. Numerous differences distinguished the two, with the second example having round taillights, wide-spaced headlamps, chrome wire wheels, a light yellow exterior, and a toothed grille treatment. The other two Firearrow concepts were a coupe and another roadster. Casaroll was particularly attracted to the fourth Firearrow.

Chrysler decided not to produce the Firearrows due to the costs associated with shipping chassis to Italy for the fitment of labor-intensive bodywork.

Casaroll worked with Ghia to refine the Firearrow designs, and the result of their work made its debut in 1955 at the Geneva Motor Show. The United States debut took place on June 28th at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club north of Detroit, Michigan. The car was dubbed the Firebomb and it had seating for four, a folding top with a glass back window, and glass side windows. The Dodge engine was relocated a full foot back in the chassis, helping with weight distribution.

Production of the Dual-Ghia began in 1956, with the Dodge frame and drivetrain being sent to Italy. Upon arrival, Carrozzeria Ghia fabricated the interior and bodywork. Once this process was complete, the partially completed vehicles were sent back to the United States, where Dual-Motors finished assembly.

Equipped with a 315 cubic-inch (5.2 L) Dodge hemispherical-head short-stroke V-8 engine, performance was exceptional. (Some of the examples built in 1957 received the Dodge D-500 361 cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8 with a dual quad carburetor.)

The Dual-Ghia was elegant, expensive, and exclusive. Casaroll selected or rejected each buyer based on subjective criteria, one of which was geographic and social distribution. Each successful client was able to acquire just one example. Among the list of social elite buyers included Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher, Peter Lawford, Eddie Fisher, and Glenn Ford. Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin didn't make the cut, but Gary Morton, Lucille Ball's husband who frequented the Rat Pack's periphery, did.

When Chrysler adopted unit-body construction beginning in 1960, the Dual-Ghia's existence was inevitable. Ghia created several prototype designs on full-size working chassis, but Casaroll redirected his attention back to his Automobile Shippers company. Due to the industry-wide slowdown in sales coupled with labor problems, shipments had declined.

Paul Fargo was Ghia's U.S. representative and later became Dual-Motors Vice President. With updates to the design and now operating under the name 'Ghia,' production resumed. The Ghia L6.4 came equipped with a 383 cubic-inch Chrysler V8 developing 335 horsepower. The '6.4' in the vehicle's name signified the metric displacement of the vehicle's engine. The 2+2 hardtop had a large three-piece rear window, finless-rear fenders, 'sugar scoop' rear lights, and an oval grille housing fine egg-crate screening.

A suitable successor to the Dual-Ghia, the Ghia L6.4 was introduced at the Paris Show in late 1960. A mere twenty-six examples were built from 1960 to 1963 with base prices in the neighborhood of $13,500.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 0305
Engine number: 0305

Detroit businessman Eugene Casaroll transformed a Chrysler concept car into a limited-production convertible, employing MoPar mechanicals and hand-built Ghia coachwork. Though the car was short-lived (in production for just three years since its 1956 introduction), it did become the favored automobile of many Hollywood royalty such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Peter Lawford.

By 1958, Casaroll's shipping line, which was the company's bread-and-butter, had slowed. As the end of production came into sight, Ghia designer Paul Farago 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 powered by a 383 cubic-inch 'Wedge' V-8. As Casaroll's Dual Motors' involvement dwindled, the new model was simply christened the Ghia L6.4, or '6.4 liter' which is the metric displacement of the engine.

The Ghia L6.4 was priced at an astonishing $13,500. The cost of production was partly due to complications of building a car in Italy and selling it in the United States. In the end, just 26 examples of the L6.4 were built.

This car is chassis number 0305. It was the factory's New York Auto Show car in 1962. It was sold off the show floor to Bernard Berman, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Berman retained this car until the early 2000s when it was sold to its second owner. Since that time, it has traded hands just twice.

The car has nearly perfect original paint, interior, and chrome. All the original Sekurit glass is in place, as are all the original wiring and decals under the hood. The factory air conditioning is still in working condition. It has the original fitted luggage, with which this car was supplied when new. The luggage is also preserved in near-perfect condition. The odometer currently shows 28,000 miles.

The engine is a 383 cubic-inch Chrysler overhead-valve 'Wedge' V8 fitted with Carter four-barrel carburetors. There is a Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 00320

This unique Dual Ghia L6.4 was ordered and built for singer and movie star Dean Martin. It remains in its original, unrestored condition.

Although each Ghia L6.4 was specifically built for each customer, Dean Martin nevertheless found this car was still not exclusive enough for him and had it customized by noted Hollywood car customizer George Barris.

The car is finished in black with oval headlights - a Barris touch - and a Nardi steering wheel. Its chrome wire wheels and whitewall tires are accented with thin chrome trim around the wheel wells and rocker panels.

Power is supplied by a 335-horsepower Chrysler 383 cubic-inch motor fitted to a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission. The finishing touches are power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning.

Hardtop Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 0319
Engine number: 00319

This Ghia L 6.4 is the 19th of the 26 examples built. It was originally delivered in Italy and later imported to the United States in the 1980s. Its ownership history includes Fred Kanter, perhaps the country's foremost Dual-Ghia collector. The current owner has treated the car to complete restoration. The car has been refinished in its factory-authentic condition and appearance using either original Ghia and Chrysler parts or precise reproductions where originals were not available. It is finished in Rosso Rubino Metallizzato, with an interior in Wollsdorf Nappa Exclusive red leather. The car has factory air conditioning and rare original hubcaps.

The car was restored with the correct Ghia 'two-light' taillight assemblies. It was originally delivered with the European 'three-light' configuration - which still accompanies the car, along with Borrani wire wheels.

Since restoration, the car has been judged Best in Class at the 2015 Concorso Italian, where it was also one of the eight finalists for Best in Show, as well as Best in Class at the 2015 Concours on the Avenue in Carmel.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe by Ghia

The Dual-Ghia was an Italian-American hybrid and the brainchild of Eugene Casaroll. Paul Farago, the American agent for Ghia, was also actively involved in the production of the Dual Ghia. In many ways, the car was a success. They were luxurious, extravagant, attractive, and elegant with a production line that ranged from Detroit to Milan and back. They carried a sticker price well out of the means of the average individual, selling for $7,500 which was around $1,000 more than the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.

In 1960, Farago arranged with Ghia to create a new coupe concept. The result was a stylish and luxurious car outfitted with nearly every imaginable amenity including fitted luggage. The public response was enthusiastic and the car was put into production. The L6.4 was built atop a custom chassis and used fewer off-the-shelf parts than the earlier Dual Ghia had. Eugene Casaroll decided not to participate in the production, mainly because of health issues, a need to focus on his other businesses, and concerns about the car's high price tag.

The L6.4 was made even more luxurious than its siblings and offered for $13,500, nearly doubling the price of the Dual Ghia. Without the backing of Casaroll, the car was never badged as a Dual Ghia. It was built and sold by Carrozzeria Ghia with Farago acting as the American agent. A total of around 25 examples were created. The list of owners includes Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Dean Martin.

This vehicle was the one owned by the legendary Dean Martin. It has never been restored and retains most of its original paint, interior chrome, and trim. Dean Martin was famous in the music industry, having recorded more than 500 songs. he was one of America's top performers in films, nightclubs, and in the recording studio. Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin had a comedy act and soon became the hottest act in America during the early 1950s.

This 1962 Ghia Coupe was brought to the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $175,000 - $250,000. Those estimates proved accurate as the lot was sold for $181,500.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe by Ghia

By 1958, Dual-Ghia principal Eugene Casaroll was ailing, and business for the shipping line that was his bread-and-butter had slowed. He was prepared to give up production of his Dual-Ghia automobile, but not so for vice president of Dual Motors Paul Farago. He and the Ghia designers drew up a second-generation model; a 2+2 fastback coupe with lines refined by Chrysler's Virgil Exner. Ghia hand-built not only the body but virtually the entire car, including the chassis, which was based on 1960 Chrysler suspension components. The venerable 383 cubic-inch, 345 horsepower wedge V8 was used to power the unique car. The engine's displacement in liters is what gave the car its 6.4 moniker.

'Rat Packers' Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, and Gary Morton all owned Dual Ghias as did Lucille Ball and former-President Ronald Reagan. Just 26 of the Ghia L6.4 coupes were built with an astonishing price of $13,500 each from 1960-1963. Columnist Dorothy Kilgallen described a Rolls-Royce as 'the Hollywood status symbol for those who can't get a Dual-Ghia.'

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 price 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. 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