The Chrysler Special is one of the most distinctive American-Italian cars of the 1950s. years. The model was a collaboration between Chrysler and legendary Italian coachbuilder Ghia, who handcrafted the bodywork.
The design was heavily influenced by Virgil Exner, who would later make Chrysler famous for its iconic Forward Look models. The Chrysler Special was one of the first projects where his new design direction became fully apparent.
This particular piece from RM Sotheby’s catches the eye:
- low roof
- elegant rounded mudguards
- minimalistic chrome details
- very clean proportions typical of Italian GT cars of the 1950s
Under the hood is a 5.4-liter Chrysler FirePower Hemi V8, which was one of the most powerful American engines of its time. The car was built on the Chrysler New Yorker platform, but was given a completely unique hand-built body.
Production was extremely limited – only about 19 examples were made, most of which were originally shipped to Europe.
It was the combination of the American V8 and Italian design that made the Chrysler Special one of the most influential Chryslers of its era, and a precursor to later models like the Dual-Ghia.
