Chrysler special ghia. Aug 18, 2017 · 331ci OHV Chrysler HEMI V8 Engine Single 2-Barrel Carburetor 180bhp at 4,000rpm 4-Speed Semi-Automatic Transmission Front Independent Suspension – Live Rear Axle 4-Wheel Drum Brakes *Very rare and desirable coachbuilt Chrysler *Outstanding Virgil Exner design *Impressive period and contemporary show history *Featured in the September 1953 issue of L'Action Automobile Chrysler and Ghia The Jan 27, 2023 · At the urging of Thomas, Chrysler commissioned six Chrysler Ghia Specials, and permitted Ghia to build another 12 for its clients. These two cars were distinguished from other Ghia Specials by their four-passenger interiors and flat exhaust tips, and they Vehicle Overview The Chrysler ST Special: In the years immediately following World War II, Chrysler Corporation came to realize that having their show cars bodied overseas was a win-win situation. In the early '50s, the Chrysler Ghias were about as close as any American automaker came to recreating the coach built classics of Chrysler SS Styling Special by GhiaChrysler initially approached Pinin Farina to build prototype bodies in 1950, by 1951 an agreement had been signed with Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin to build a series of cars based upon designs by Chrysler chief stylist Virgil Exner. Jul 1, 2013 · Others soon followed, including the so-called Ghia Special. The model is the original Chrysler Special and is based on a shortened New Yorker chassis. This 1953 Chrysler Special Ghia was built atop a New Yorker Deluxe chassis and delivered new via Chrysler’s French importer, Société France Motors. A two-passenger car, it was constructed on a 119-inch wheelbase, and when unveiled at the 1952 Paris Auto Salon it Dec 14, 2022 · With two parts brawn, with its cowled hood and aggressive profile, and two parts elegance, with its radiused fenders and sloped rear window, the 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia seems to grin with a Aug 26, 2025 · Chrysler’s request to Ghia to build for them, to their design, a special body on a Plymouth chassis, is one of these episodes. These two cars were unique from other Ghia Specials by their four-passenger interiors and flat exhaust tips. The initial example that Oscar Lacroix brought (pictured above) exchanged hands multiple times during the last six decades and almost succumbed to neglect. A set of amazing photos of the 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia. An amazing car, unlike anything seen until then. Appearing to take inspiration from smaller European coupes as well as some curvy American Jan 20, 2023 · Photo courtesy Bonhams The Chrysler GS-1 by Ghia followed for 1954. After Chrysler showed the original Special at the 1952 Paris Auto Show, Chrysler exporter C. Apr 30, 2024 · 2y · Public 1955 Chrysler ST Special Is A Rare Combo Of Hemi Power And Ghia DesignOnly four of these Chrysler ST Specials by Ghia were made. 1 of just 18 examples to be crafted from the Turin factory, this 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe by Ghia is a rare and seldom seen motor car with rich ownership history. mated to a PowerFlite two-speed automatic Fluid Drive transmission. Ghia Chrysler Special K300 - for the Shah of Persia (Iran), 1957 After Chrysler showed the original Special at the 1952 Paris Auto Show, Chrysler exporter C. Jul 26, 2024 · RM Sotheby’s is auctioning a 1952 Chrysler Styling Special by Ghia next month. It soon gave way to a convertible version, the K-310, and a near-duplicate of the Styling Special constructed for Chrysler export manager C. Oct 18, 2024 · The culmination of a partnership between Chrysler's legendary designer, Virgil Exner, and Italian coachbuilder Ghia, the 1955 ST Special remains an automotive work of art nearly seven decades Aug 7, 2020 · Though Rare Rides has featured many examples of vehicles which wore Chrysler badges and Ghia designs, there’s never been a single car which represented both. In the early '50s, the Chrysler Ghias were about as close as any American automaker came to recreating the coach built classics of 1952 Chrysler ‘Thomas Special’ Prototype The first of many Chrsyler Specials by Ghia, this showcar debuted at the 1952 Paris Motor show. The Chrysler Special Coupes by Ghia are some of the most brilliant designs of the era. The latter would in turn inspire a short run of Chrysler Specials The Ghia Chryslers attracted enough attention in Europe that French Chrysler importer Charles Ladouch worked with the factory to have a limited number of so-called Chrysler Specials produced by Ghia to modified versions of the show car designs. ” Ghia then produced Coupling the names of stylist Virgil Exner with the Italian firm of Ghia brings back the excitement of the 1950s show car designs, but this 1955 Chrysler Ghia ST Special represents an even more Vehicle history and comps for 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupe VIN: 7253351 - including sale prices, photos, and more. The first of these limited-production, hand-built cars was made for C. But that Oct 21, 2015 · The long and fruitful relationship between Chrysler Corporation and the storied Italian coachbuilder Ghia was launched in 1950 with the Plymouth XX-500 show car, an elegant, four-door fastback built on the chassis of a Plymouth P20. 9K others 󰤥 5,936 󰤦 145 Aug 7, 2020 · The Chrysler "Idea Cars" were a group of concept cars created in collaboration with Italian design house Ghia. The Chrysler GS Special was built by Carrozzeria Ghia from a design by Virgil Exner. 5-inch wheelbase frame, a 235-horsepower Hemi V-8, and a PowerFlite automatic transmission, and they were delivered to Ghia to be bodied with variants of the Special design. Over the years, these cars were known alternatively as the GS-1, the Chrysler Special and the Ghia Special. 5-inch New Yorker platform and with a modified semi-fastback roofline, so as to seat four full-sized adults within. . The latter used a standard-length chassis which provided more interior room and comfort for its occupants. Renowned Italian coachbuilder Ghia could produce handsome, beautifully detailed automobiles, and at a cost much lower than contemporary American shops. on a design by Virgil Exner, Ghia produced a few special Chryslers between 1953 and 1955 that were very exclusive and very luxurious. 51K subscribers Subscribe Mar 31, 2016 · After Chrysler showed the original Special at the 1952 Paris Auto Show, Chrysler exporter C. There are even a few Ghia-bodied Ferraris. Chrysler had made these limousines themselves until then but the very low numbers ordered rendered this a economically and logistically unjustifiable exercise. Of the four ST Specials built, two were sold in France and two were sold in Italy. The Chrysler Thomas Special SWB Prototype was the answer to a lackluster styling problem that had plagued the Chrysler Corporation during the late 1940's and early 1950's. Among their notable collaborations was the 1952 Chrysler Styling Special, a car that embodies this unique partnership. One of its 1950s models was the 1953 Today, Ghia Chryslers rarely become available on the open market, and they are highly sought after by collectors for their rarity, impeccable Italian style, and outstanding performance. In 1955, on the basis of the new New Yorker, Ghia built a final version of the Chrysler ST Special coupe, which borrowed the bumper, the headlamps and the instrument panel of the production car. Ladouch, reportedly the same man responsible for transferring the Special’s styling cues to Oct 26, 2014 · Over the years, these Thomas Special-based cars were known alternatively as the GS-1, the Chrysler Special and the Ghia Special. T. 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special Coupe Chrysler’s Ghia-built show cars of the early 1950 demonstrated the potential of a marriage between Italian coachbuilding (influenced by Virgil Exner’s designs) and American engineering. Chrysler Fire Power Hemi V-8. This transatlantic agreement between Ghia and Chrysler lasted for fifteen years. Read about the 1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special Coupe. in. However, there is more to Carrozzeria Ghia than a mere badge because it has designed and produced bodies for concept and production cars for Renault, Ferrari, and Chrysler. An insight into the Chrysler Ghia special coupé, with images, on Below The Radar, the website that goes beyond the motoring mainstream Feb 26, 2025 · The Chrysler Special continues to influence the company’s designs to this day, making it one of the most significant of all Chrysler automobiles. With their beautiful proportions, fully exposed wheels, minimal brightwork and powerful engines, they provided a stylistic benchmark that continues to inspire designers today, most notably reflected in Jun 3, 2018 · 1955 Chrysler ST Special Is A Rare Combo Of Hemi Power And Ghia Design Only four of these Chrysler ST Specials by Ghia were made, and this one's coming up for auction at Pebble Beach #558768On the banks of a lake flooded with sunlight, Enghien-les-Bains in June 1955, the massive Chrysler ST Special coupe with a distinctive front grille acts like a magnet for admiring spectators attending the Concours d'Elegance. It all began with the Chrysler D’Elegance, Virgil Exner ‘s pioneering design for Chrysler, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952. This car was the original Chrysler Styling Special, one of two prototypes designed by Exner and built by Ghia. The 1952 Chrysler Special premiered in the 1952 Paris Auto Show sporting its Ghia “continental” design with a slightly more squared-off approach to its contours. Later known as the Chrysler Thomas Special, this car served as the inspiration for a limited run of highly exclusive and stylish luxury coupes, known as “Ghia Specials. The Chrysler ST Special, crafted by Carrozzeria Ghia, has a captivating genesis deeply rooted in automotive elegance and Italian craftsmanship. It was a modified version of the 1952 Chrysler Special concept car. These cars closely resembled the Thomas Special, with minimal differences in trim and the addition of one-piece windshields. Bebe Schudroff The idea of show cars arrived in 1939, when General Motors built a car called Jan 18, 2023 · Arguably the most prolific transatlantic partnership was that of Chrysler and Ghia. Thomas, known as the “Thomas Special,” built on a standard-length chassis for more interior room. With help from Fiat, Chrysler exec C. Today, Chrysler Special Ghia’s are cherished by collectors, thanks to their rarity, impressive performance, unique Italian coachwork and scarcity to acquire. Aug 26, 2024 · Despite Chrysler’s success during the 1930s, its popularity as a big player dwindled at the end of the 1940s, but thanks cars like this Special Coupé by Ghia heading to Worldwide Auctioneers’ Auburn sale on 29 August, the brand was brought out of the darkness. 5-inch New Yorker platform and with a modified semi-fastback roofline to accommodate four full-sized adults. The three-passenger coupe with Continental-inspired style. The Thomas Special was highly acclaimed, and series production of the car was heavily contemplated, with sales ultimately being handled by Chrysler’s French distribution arm, Société France Motors. The original engine was a 180-hp Hemi. Chrysler Special GS-1 GhiaThe third Ghia car was called the SS, for Styling Special, and with it, Exner hit his stride. Feb 7, 2023 · One of the first Chrysler show cars designed by famed automotive designer Virgil Exner and built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia, the appropriately named Chrysler Special was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in October 1952. Thomas himself, and was followed by another 18 cars, six for customers of France Motors and The Chrysler Special Style by Ghia Among historic automotive alliances, that in the 50s between Chrysler and Italian coachbuilder Ghia. With special bodies for the major Italian carmakers — FIAT, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Lancia — the company quickly made a name for itself. Aug 9, 2024 · In the 1950s, Chrysler Corporation and Italian coachbuilder Ghia formed a remarkable alliance that blended American innovation with European flair. Thomas, Chrysler's export manager, decided he needed to have Indeed, in line with those built for the U. Here below is a set of amazing photos of the 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia. These cars were virtually identical to the Thomas Special, with the exception of their one-piece windshields and slight changes in trim. Chrysler Special ST by GhiaThe Adventurer bears many resemblances to the SS and Thomas Special, but Ghia shrank the bold fender lines so that the car resembles Pinin Farina’s Simca 8 Sport and Facel’s design for the French Ford Comete and Monte Carlo, which it preceded. There is also a number of Ghia-bodied Ferraris. Oscar Lacroix, the CEO of the plastics company Gilac, and was registered in October 1955 in Paris. These were known as the GS-1, Chrysler Special or Ghia Special Feb 25, 2025 · Ghia’s “production” Chrysler Special was based upon the original show car but built upon a standard-wheelbase, 125. Virgil Exner, Jr. However, all these cars are small, and the De Soto carries the proportions to full size, with extraordinary poise Feb 5, 2021 · Vehicle history and comps for 1955 Chrysler ST Special Coupé Par Ghia VIN: N55*8769 - including sale prices, photos, and more. That changes today, with this very rare 1953 Chrysler Special. The Chrysler-Ghia alliance furnished many of the influential dream cars of the 1950s and early 1960s, with Virgil Exner's groundbreaking designs being the driving force. Nov 24, 2022 · With only four total examples ever produced, this 1955 Chrysler Ghia ST Special was on display at the Turin Motor Show in April of that same year, and it’s even got a Hemi! This rarity will be part of the Mecum auction in Kissimmee, Florida this January, and if you’d like to take a look it can be found here on the Mecum website. The 1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special Coupe was a limited production car with an inspired design. A young woman strolls along, casually waving her hand fan before taking a seat in the beautiful Chrysler. For Chrysler and Ghia, the Styling Special was a face that launched a thousand ships. There’s no reserve Imperial Home Page -> Literature -> Articles -> 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special One of six cars built for Chrysler in 1953 by Carrozzeria Ghia and based on Virgil Exner's design for the Thomas Special and 1952 Caroler Special. What a difference a decade makes! This 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special Coupe is worlds different in style and futuristic feel than the Turbine Car but it's fantastic in its own way. Ladouch, reportedly the same man responsible for transferring the Special’s styling cues to Chrysler Special ST by GhiaThe Adventurer bears many resemblances to the SS and Thomas Special, but Ghia shrank the bold fender lines so that the car resembles Pinin Farina’s Simca 8 Sport and Facel’s design for the French Ford Comete and Monte Carlo, which it preceded. Image: the author Starting in 1957, Ghia was commissioned by Chrysler to manufacture these exclusive long-wheelbase limousines to special order. The Thomas Special inspired a short run of Chrysler Specials, built to a similar design for customers of Chrysler's French distributor and Ghia themselves, and then a modified version of the Special called the GS-1. S. Thomas commissioned a Plymouth design study Jan 6, 2023 · Beautifully preserved older restoration in striking colors One of the most significant of all Chrysler automobiles One of the first Chrysler show cars designed by Virgil Exner and built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia, the appropriately named Chrysler Special was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in October 1952. Vehicle history and comps for 1958 Chrysler California Ghia Hardtop VIN: AC68736MD - including sale prices, photos, and more. Chrysler only had six Ghia Special Coupes constructed, but Ghia followed up with another dozen Special Coupes of their own. A quick overview of this stunning 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special a the Walter P. K. Jan 23, 2023 · For some people, the Ghia name is immediately associated with a luxury trim level of some domestic Ford models. more May 19, 2023 · The Chrysler Special featured a “fastback” roof line and knifeedge fender shapes. This high output V8 engine is guaranteed to bring you years of joy and fun driving as it pushes you through every number on the full speedometer. This superbly restored example is part of the Jerry J. Chrysler Special Ghia 1953 LHD In the early fifties some US automobile manufacturers, looking for a more modern European style, planned to collaborate with the small but thriving Italian carrozzerie, which were amongst the last custom coachbuilding firms left in the world. Chrysler's Export Division sent two 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe chassis to Ghia to be clothed with variants of the Special design. It managed to break free from the reality of manufacturing capabilities and production economics. Mar 15, 2021 · That changed when Chrysler and Ghia formed an unlikely partnership, one that oversaw the birth of a few stunning production cars and concepts. Mar 13, 2021 · We recently saw a later offspring from the design partnership between Chrysler and Ghia of Italy in the 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car. , incidentally, subsequently worked for Ghia, and did the Type 34 K-G. Skilled European labor was comparably cheap in the post-war period, and as American automakers explored global expansion, Chrysler forged an amicable partnership with Fiat to help assess the Yank automaker’s European needs. The car was generally devoid of chrome trim, with brightwork around the windows and one body strip The basic design of the limited-production cars was based upon the original Special but on a standard-wheelbase, 125. Over the years, these cars were known alternatively as the GS-1, the Chrysler Special, and the Ghia Special. Over the years, these cars were known alternatively as the GS-1, the Styling Special, the Chrysler Special, and the Ghia Special. Feb 8, 2017 · Using the Chrysler New Yorker’s chassis and Hemi V-8 engine, the ST wore a Ghia-crafted body that was similar to Virgil Exner’s design for the original Special, yet different enough to be distinctive. Text and Photos by Dennis Adler Jun 2, 2025 · A 1965 Imperial limousine by Ghia. Chrysler D`Elegance by GhiaChrysler initially approached Pinin Farina to build prototype bodies in 1950, by 1951 an agreement had been signed with Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin to build a series of cars based upon designs by Chrysler chief stylist Virgil Exner. The Ghia Special Coupe is one of them. With May 14, 2014 · The Chrysler Ghia Special Coupe that crossed the block in Monaco last Saturday, chassis number 7231533, came powered by its original 331-cu. Chrysler’s Export Division had two 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe chassis, each with a 125. Later, Ghia produced 18 Specials, 6 for Chrysler, 12 for Ghia, Aug 5, 2020 · That’s certainly not the case with this 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special Coupe which is being auctioned by Gooding & Company. In the early '50s, the Chrysler Ghias were about as close as any American automaker came to recreating the coach built classics of the Chrysler Special GS-1 GhiaThe third Ghia car was called the SS, for Styling Special, and with it, Exner hit his stride. Vehicle Overview The Chrysler Special Ghia emerged subtly yet significantly with one of the first Exner-designed and Ghia -built Chrysler show cars, the simply named Chrysler Special, which was first displayed at the Paris Salon of October 1954. The first of these cars, distinguished by its unique split two-piece windshield, was Thomas’s personal car, known as the “Thomas Special. This example was later purchased by Mr. In the early '50s, the Chrysler Ghias were about as close as any American automaker came to recreating the coach built classics of the 1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special Coupe by Ghia Lori Cunningham and 296 others 297 reactions · 16 comments · 95 shares Bob Kauffman World Cars from the 1930s to 1980s 7y · Public 1953 Chrysler GS-1 Special by Ghia The 1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special Coupe was an inspiring design that broke free of the cold, hard realities of manufacturing capability and The Thomas Special was highly acclaimed, and series production of the car was heavily contemplated, with sales ultimately being handled by Chrysler’s French distribution arm, Société France Motors. Later, a small production run was fabricated by Ghia, but used a longer wheel base to accommodate a full-size trunk and a rear seat. Chrysler commissioned six Chrysler Ghia Specials and allowed Ghia to build another 12 for its clients. The Chrysler Ghia ST Special made its debut at the Turin motor show in April 1955 on the Carrozzeria Ghia stand. The car was generally devoid of chrome trim, with brightwork around the windows and one body strip Apr 8, 2020 · Chassis number 7252367 is one of approximately 15 Chrysler Ghia GS-1s produced in 1954 and is among a mere handful of known survivors. The Ghia Specials were powered by the formidable 180-hp FirePower V-8 engine and offered either a four-speed semiautomatic transmission with Fluid Torque Drive or the 1953 Chrysler "Thomas Special" Coupe by Ghia for sale at RM Sotheby's Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook Jan 19, 2021 · 1953 Chrysler Special Coachwork By Ghia Classic Promenade 6. Several different series were produced. Sep 8, 2021 · Under the hood of this gorgeous 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe is a wicked 331 ci Hemi V8 which boasts a crazy four-barrel carburetor allowing for maximum power. 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe by GhiaThis is such an exciting and special car. Aug 30, 2001 · Today, the 1955 Chrysler ST Special remains one of the most renowned masterpieces of the Chrysler/Ghia partnership and one of the most beautiful coachbuilt rarities of its era. Chrysler Museum. Thomas not only had a second one built for himself, but also authorized Charles Ladouch, Chrysler’s importer in France, to have Ghia build about 16 more (other sources claim only a dozen more were built). Vehicle history and comps for 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe by Ghia VIN: 7232631 - including sale prices, photos, and more. Keller was Chrysler's President from 1935 through 1950. However, all these cars are small, and the De Soto carries the proportions to full size, with extraordinary poise Jul 5, 2022 · There’s an interesting article Langworth did for Special Interest Autos in 1974 about Chrysler and Ghia, which also talks about the Karmann Ghia. The 1952, 1953 and 1954 Chrysler Special and D’Elegance remained as showroom models or very limited production cars and helped generate interest in the Chrysler brand during a difficult economic period. Hand built by Ghia on a 1960 Chrysler chassis with a 383-cubic-inch 'Wedge' V-8, only 26 examples were produced. 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia In 1953, Virgil Exner designed the unique Thomas Special, built by Ghia for C. These cars included the notable C-200, K-310, Special, and d'Elegance concepts. Similar to the 1953 Special, it differed primarily in the front end design, with a production Chrysler New Yorker bumper instead of the sleek handbuilt bumper integrated into the grille of the 1953 Special and with fenders that eliminated the leading-edge chrome Vehicle history and comps for 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia VIN: C53845706 - including sale prices, photos, and more. Unveiled at the 1952 Paris Motor Show, the Styling Special showcased a radical departure from conventional Chrysler design. Distinguishing the GS-1 from the 1953 Ghia Special are the later car’s larger bumpers, revised grille treatment, and a pronounced swage line adding definition to the body sides and accentuating the Jul 31, 2018 · 1952 Chrysler "Special" by Ghiahardware. Chrysler and its designer Virgil Exner became a close partner for 15 years, resulting in eighteen Chrysler Ghia Specials (1951–53), the K-310, the Chrysler Norseman, the Imperial Crown limousines (whose notable owners included Jackie Kennedy and Nelson Rockefeller), and others. Moore collection in Houston. Chrysler Special ST by GhiaChrysler initially approached Pinin Farina to build prototype bodies in 1950, by 1951 an agreement had been signed with Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin to build a series of cars based upon designs by Chrysler chief stylist Virgil Exner. Built on a New Yorker chassis that was shortened by 6 inches, it featured unusually radiused wheel arches that extended almost to the top of the fenders, smooth sides that Jul 12, 2025 · Amazing Classic Cars Jul 12 · 󰟠 Timeline photos 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia Carlos Alberto Araujo and 5. Built in 1952, it’s a recognizable long-hood, short trunk, close-coupled coupe – the configuration that defined high-speed European grand tourers though most of the 1950s. 4 coupe, whose crisper lines resembled the sharp suits of the Rat Packers that were amongst its biggest fans. Vehicle history and comps for 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe VIN: 7236150 - including sale prices, photos, and more. Racing knockoff wire wheels highlighted Exner’s desire to show the entire wheel. 5-inch wheelbase frame, a 235-horsepower Hemi V8, and a PowerFlite automatic transmission, and they were delivered to Ghia to be bodied with variants of the Special design. Over the next decade, Ghia would produce for Chrysler a string of more than two dozen "idea cars," the majority of which were masterful Italian executions of Vehicle history and comps for 1952 Chrysler Styling Special by Ghia VIN: C51834214 - including sale prices, photos, and more. Thomas, Chrysler's president of the export division. The car showed a lot of design similarities to the , the roofline was almost the same, front and rear were modified. ” The graceful 1953 Chrysler Thomas Special concept car had a European elegance. One of just four built, the Chrysler ST Special was the culmination of a three-year semi-production program that began when Cecil B. It won the 1959 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Chrysler TS Thomas Special by GhiaChrysler initially approached Pinin Farina to build prototype bodies in 1950, by 1951 an agreement had been signed with Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin to build a series of cars based upon designs by Chrysler chief stylist Virgil Exner. It was succeeded in 1962 by the Ghia L6. B. Following the unveiling of the C-200 and K-310 concepts, Chrysler and Ghia The 1953 Chrysler Special by Ghia concept car is seen in motion at the 2023 EyesOn Design Car Show. May 26, 2025 · Founded by Giacinto Ghia in 1915, Carrozzeria Ghia ranked amongst the oldest of the Italian carrozzerie. Jul 1, 2017 · The Special coupe was one of a handful of vehicles built out of a 15-year collaboration between Chrysler’s Virgil Exner and Ghia’s Mario Boano that also produced the Norseman, K-310, and The Chrysler ST Special Convertible emerged as a unique creation born out of a collaborative effort between Chrysler, Carrozzeria Ghia, and influential figures within the automotive industry in the early 1950s. The Thomas Special was highly acclaimed and series production was contemplated, with sales to be handled by Chrysler’s French distribution arm, Société France Motors. It's listed Chrysler and its designer Virgil Exner became a close partner for 15 years, resulting in eighteen Chrysler Ghia Specials (1951-53). One of the first Chrysler show cars designed by Virgil Exner and built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia, the appropriately named Chrysler Special was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in October 1952. y6ouq hsusymiq px yvzw8 na4ls spku8f vbo yscy 0c 9qdia