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| Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion | Message format |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481   Location: near St Augustine, FL | |||
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| 60 Finatic |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | |||
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| 60 Finatic |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | 1941 Thunderbolt (41-Thunderbolt.jpg) (41-Thuderbolt1.jpg) (41-Thunderbolt2.jpg) Attachments ----------------  41-Thunderbolt.jpg (73KB - 183 downloads) 41-Thuderbolt1.jpg (73KB - 186 downloads) 41-Thunderbolt2.jpg (55KB - 194 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1941 Chrysler Newport, designed by Ralph Roberts and custom-built by LeBaron, was one of the last dual cowl phaetons. It featured an all-aluminum body, concealed headlamps, folding windshield and hideaway top. A total of 6 Newports were built and four are known to exist today. A Chrysler Newport became the first concept car selected as the pace car in front of the 1940 Indianapolis 500. The car was originally powered by a Chrysler 323.5 cubic inch 8 cylinder engine developing 137 hp. Notice license plate? This car was originally bought by Henry J “Bob” Topping Jr. who at one time owned the Yankees and was a former husband of Lana Turner… (41-Newport.jpg) (41-Newport1.jpg) (41-Newport2.jpg) (41-Newport-Indy-Pac.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 41-Newport.jpg (68KB - 197 downloads) 41-Newport1.jpg (82KB - 173 downloads) 41-Newport2.jpg (60KB - 191 downloads) 41-Newport-Indy-Pac.jpg (62KB - 190 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | This 1952 Chrysler D’Elegance was the sixth in a succession of 12 concept cars built in a collaborative effort between Chrysler and Ghia Coachbuilders in Turin, Italy. It was the hit of the 1952 Paris Auto Show. The car sits on a shortened Chrysler New Yorker chassis and is motivated by a 331 cubic inch Hemi. This car was discovered in Italy in the 1960s and returned stateside. It was then made roadworthy and driven over 100,000 miles before being sold in late 1980. Look close at it! Oddly enough, a scaled down version of this design would become the Karmen Ghia (the rear fenders/quarter panels - hard to see from this angle)! (52-Delegance.jpg) (52-Delegance1.jpg) (52-Delegance2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 52-Delegance.jpg (66KB - 180 downloads) 52-Delegance1.jpg (70KB - 172 downloads) 52-Delegance2.jpg (54KB - 187 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1952 Chrysler SWB (Short Wheelbase) Ghia Thomas Special was presented to the public at the 1953 Paris Auto Show. It is the only Chrysler show car of the era that sat atop a shortened wheelbase. Powered by a 331 Hemi, it has four-wheel drum brakes and three speed automatic. Other styling elements included concealed door handles and a fully concealed drop-down spare tire compartment. A limited production order for 400 Ghia GS-1 cars for Europe was placed but only 12 were built, all different. (52-ThomasSpecial.jpg) (52-Thomas-Special1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 52-ThomasSpecial.jpg (65KB - 182 downloads) 52-Thomas-Special1.jpg (74KB - 200 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1953 Plymouth Beaumont was built for Chrysler by Briggs Manufacturing Company on a Plymouth 114-inch wheelbase chassis and boasted a couple of firsts for the struggling Chrysler division. It was the first to have a body constructed of fiberglass instead of steel, and was the first Plymouth fitted with a V-8 engine and Hy-Drive semi-automatic transmission. It stretched out long (nearly 192 inches from tip to tail) and low (maximum height of just 49 inches). The Belmont debuted at the 1954 Chicago Auto Show in a metallic light blue and exhibited what Exner and his team believed to be an aerodynamic design theme. (53-Beaumont.jpg) (53-Beaumont2.jpg) (53-Beuamont1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 53-Beaumont.jpg (69KB - 194 downloads) 53-Beaumont2.jpg (48KB - 191 downloads) 53-Beuamont1.jpg (58KB - 178 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1954 Plymouth Explorer was mounted on a 114-inch wheelbase Plymouth chassis and was just 54-inches tall. Powering the vehicle was a 230-cubic-inch Plymouth L-head six that offered a meager 110 horsepower. There was a semi-automatic Hy-Drive transmission, twin exhausts that exited through the rear fenders, and wire wheels. Another of the Chrysler and Ghia projects, it was discovered in Sweden in the 1980s with numerous modifications. A full restoration finally brought it back to the original vision and condition. (54-Explorer.jpg) (54-Explorer1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 54-Explorer.jpg (79KB - 174 downloads) 54-Explorer1.jpg (65KB - 184 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1954 Chrysler La Comtesse is a modified New Yorker. It was used as an Auto Show promotional vehicle and was the predecessor of the Dodge La Femme. It was sold to a private owner in the 50s and spent most of its life in California. Bought by Chrysler in 2006, a full restoration began in 2012 and was recently completed. This is the first public display the vehicle since the 50s. Note the Plexiglas roof, rose brocade seat inserts and other styling cues for the woman. (54-LaComtesse.jpg) (54-LaComtesse1.jpg) (54-LaComtesse2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 54-LaComtesse.jpg (73KB - 168 downloads) 54-LaComtesse1.jpg (65KB - 179 downloads) 54-LaComtesse2.jpg (57KB - 176 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | There have only been two De Soto concept cars; the 1953 De Soto Adventurer I and the 1954 De Soto Adventurer II. I have only seen two photographs of the Adventurer I. The 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II is considered to be one of the 10 greatest automotive designs, of any marque, of all time. It was another joint venture between Ghia and Chrysler and powered by the famous Red Ram HEMI V8. The Adventurer is extremely large for a two seater but its graceful lines make it attractive. It’s most distinctive feature was the backlight (rear window) sliding down into the trunk. The elegant fastback roofline would be copied on numerous sports and muscle cars as we all know, the Adventurer’s tail fins became a major styling cue for the rest of the decade. When completed, it was shipped to Detroit for the opening of the Chrysler Cheslea Proving Grounds. It was then shipped back to Turin for the European car show circuit. Subsequently, it was sold new to King Mohammed V of Morocco. (54-Adventurer1.jpg) (54-Adventurer2.jpg) (54-Adventurer3.jpg) (54-Adventurer4.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 54-Adventurer1.jpg (80KB - 181 downloads) 54-Adventurer2.jpg (83KB - 184 downloads) 54-Adventurer3.jpg (64KB - 182 downloads) 54-Adventurer4.jpg (86KB - 179 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | This 1954 Dodge Firearrow II was a true roadster. It was very similar to the Firearrow I, main difference being the body side molding didn’t wrap around car (the Firearrow I did not have a drivetrain). It was built on a Dodge chassis. (54-FireArrowII-.jpg) (54-FireArrowII-1.jpg) (54-FireArrowII-2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 54-FireArrowII-.jpg (65KB - 175 downloads) 54-FireArrowII-1.jpg (46KB - 176 downloads) 54-FireArrowII-2.jpg (47KB - 182 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | Subsequently, the Dodge Firearrow III was built as a coupe. Much similar in appearance, it had four headlights and the grill consisted of concave vertical slats acting as air intakes. It was built on the Dodge Royal production platform, complete with Red Ram Hemi and the Torqueflite transmission. It was also present at the opening of the Chelsea Proving Grounds where race driver Betty Skelton set a new world record for a woman on a closed course and 143.44 mph. She did it wearing a dress and high heels. A second Firearrow III was built as the roadster seen here (54-FireArrowIII.jpg) (54-FireArrowIII-1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 54-FireArrowIII.jpg (81KB - 177 downloads) 54-FireArrowIII-1.jpg (87KB - 172 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1954 Dodge Firearrow IV, also known as the Dodge Firebomb. The Firearrow series sparked the interest of wealthy car enthusiast Eugene Casaroll who purchased the production rights to the design. Teaming up with engineer Paul Farago, the two of them created a practical road car; the 1956-1958 Dual-Ghia. Both Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra owned one. (54-FireBomb.jpg) (54-FireBomb-1.jpg) (54-FireBomb-2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 54-FireBomb.jpg (76KB - 175 downloads) 54-FireBomb-1.jpg (95KB - 179 downloads) 54-FireBomb-2.jpg (67KB - 182 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1955 Chrysler Falcon is similar in size to both the Corvette and Thunderbird. It arrives on a shortened Chrysler 300 chassis. It was powered originally by 276 Hemi mated to a two speed Powerflite. The car is considered one of Virgil Exner’s best designs. (55-Falcon.jpg) (55-Falcon1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 55-Falcon.jpg (68KB - 177 downloads) 55-Falcon1.jpg (60KB - 169 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | 1956 Chrysler Dart/Diablo was personally designed by Virgil Exner and built and fitted by Ghia in Italy. Originally built as a hardtop, it was called the Dart. Exner removed the roof, created a convertible and called it the Diablo. Its manta ray face, curved hood and muted fins produced a wind tunnel coefficient of drag of just 0.17. It’s massive body is 223 inches long, 80 inches wide and 54 inches tall. It was built on a 1956 Chrysler 300 chassis. It is powered by a modified Chrysler 392 C.I. Hemi with 3 two barrel carbs, pushbutton Torqueflite, Star Wars dashboard (speedometer to 220) and four bucket seats. It even has a chrome CO2 fire extinguisher. When built, it cost Chrysler over $250,000. It was showcased at the 1958 Chicago Auto Show. (56-Dart-Diablo.jpg) (56-Dart-Diablo1.jpg) (56-Dart-Diablo2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56-Dart-Diablo.jpg (70KB - 184 downloads) 56-Dart-Diablo1.jpg (76KB - 169 downloads) 56-Dart-Diablo2.jpg (64KB - 172 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The 1958 Chrysler Dual Ghia 400 was based on a 1955 design study named ‘Gilda.’ It was designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi for Dual Motors. Pieces of this design ended up being on the Ferrari Superamerica and the Chrysler Dart. It was displayed at the 1958 New York auto show where it caught the eye of two New Jersey men, Alex Freeman and then 13-year-old Fred Kanter. Alex bought it and Fred eventually bought it 20 years later. This is the original car without restoration: a true survivor. (58-Dual-Ghia-400.jpg) (58-Dual-Ghia-400-1.jpg) (58-Dual-Ghia-2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 58-Dual-Ghia-400.jpg (72KB - 173 downloads) 58-Dual-Ghia-400-1.jpg (57KB - 174 downloads) 58-Dual-Ghia-2.jpg (65KB - 179 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | To say that the 1960 Chrysler XNR was radical would be an understatement. It was built on a 1960 Valiant chassis using the standard 106 inch wheelbase and was powered by the hairiest version ever developed of Valiant’s 225 Slant Six, which pumped out 250 horsepower -- 1.11 horses per cubic inch. At the Chelsea Proving Grounds, it ran over 150. It is constructed in hand formed steel (not fiberglass) and was not built by Ghia. At one point, it was owned by the Shah of Iran. The car was discovered in Beirut, Lebanon in 1980 by its present owner. (60-XNR.jpg) (60-XNR1.jpg) (60-XNR2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 60-XNR.jpg (29KB - 165 downloads) 60-XNR1.jpg (82KB - 172 downloads) 60-XNR2.jpg (77KB - 177 downloads) | ||
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | The Chrysler turbine program began in 1954 and lasted until 1981. There were a total of seven generations of turbine engines. This vehicle has a fifth generation engine. The majority of turbine engines were installed in standard Chrysler cars and trucks. Only the 1963 Ghia version was specifically designed to be powered by turbine engine. A total of 50 Ghia bodied gas turbine cars were built between 1963 and 64. Most of the vehicles were loaned to members of the general public for a three-month period. A total of 200 families used the vehicles. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. All vehicles were painted the “Turbine Bronze” and had matching interiors. This vehicle rides on 110 inch wheelbase and weighs 4100 pounds. Fuel type consists of kerosene, diesel, JP-4 jet fuel and even ran on perfume and alcohol. The turbine engine was never put into production due to the cost of its manufacture and the fact that fuel economy ratings were never dramatically better than the standard internal combustion engine. At the end of the evaluation, all but nine of these cars were scrapped due to tax and import tariffs. Of the nine remaining, three were kept by Chrysler and one each was given to other museums. Only five are in running condition. Hope you enjoyed these! (DSC05350.jpg) (DSC05351.jpg) Attachments ---------------- DSC05350.jpg (63KB - 173 downloads) DSC05351.jpg (63KB - 174 downloads) | ||
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| Matthew Keij |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: The Netherlands | |||
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| 55CRL |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 907  Location: Magra, Sweden | Great to see tthat many of the fabolous cars in one spot, love it!  | ||
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| Lancer Mike |
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  Location: The Mile High City | |||
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| GaryS |
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Expert Posts: 1207  Location: Ponder, TX | |||
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| d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | who/what owns the Turbine car? BTW, in various publications you might read that there were "three" Falcons built. Wrong; what an owner discovered, decades ago, was that the silver, red and black colors that the car was seen wearing, was actually an over-laying of those paint schemes on top of each other. Same thing, with the adventurer 1; silver and white over-sprayed on to it. BTW(ii): the whereabouts of the Ad-1 is unknown. Ex famously personally drove it, and in the 70's/80's it was rumored to be living somewhere in South America. Ex would not have allowed it to be crushed, and I've not read his biography, but, I've never heard anything about the factory (deciding to) crush it. Edited by d500neil 2014-07-14 4:12 PM (PICT1012.JPG) Attachments ---------------- PICT1012.JPG (91KB - 162 downloads) | ||
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| StillOutThere |
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Location: Under the X in Texas | |||
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| d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | |||
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| Lancer Mike |
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Location: The Mile High City | |||
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| jimntempe |
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Expert Posts: 2312 Location: Arizona | |||
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| d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9900 Location: Lower Mainland BC | |||
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| firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3155 Location: NY & VT | |||
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