Chrysler ST Special coupé par Ghia
French title Engine N°: C542 8 35205 - Ideal for concours d'élégance - Excellent investment - Rare, matching numbers - Superb original presentation The very first Chrysler Special designed by Virgil Exner was presented to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952. The car received much attention, and Charles Ladouch, CEO of France Motor, the dynamic importer from Neuilly sur Seine, with the help of C.B.Thomas, export manager for Chrysler, obtained authorisation to have a limited number built by Ghia. This amounted to 18 in total, to be sold exclusively in France, with the bare chassis delivered to Turin, to be bodied by Ghia. At the Paris Motor Show in October 1953, France Motors presented a new design, the Chrysler GS Special, of which 15 examples were produced. The following year at the Paris Motor Show, France Motors unveiled an evolution of the GS Special : the Chrysler ST Special. This had a distinctive radiator grille, "Frenché" lights and longer rear wings. The pure Italian styling was down to the designers at Ghia, and the car had the feel of a large Ferrari or Maserati. Two chassis, including 7275388, were delivered to the Italian Chrysler dealer Autofamosa in Rome, to be bodied by Ghia, and two others to France Motors in Neuilly, to receive the same body. Thus, 7275388 is one of just four identical cars built. Bought new from Autofamosa by Rodolfo Berger from Milan, 7275388 was black with a dark red roof and red and black leather interior. According to information from the vendor, who is a connoisseur of these Ghia Specials, this was the car used at the Paris Motor Show and the Enghien concours d'élégance in 1954, as it was the only black car. The others were liveried in light colours. Rodolfo Berger had the car repainted gold in 1964, and the leather upholstery dyed tobacco colour, later having brown alpaca covers made, which are still in the car today. He used the car until his death in 1967, when it was left in the garage of his villa in Lago Maggiore. After several decades of neglect, it was bought in the 1990s by an Italian collector from Varese, who recommissioned the car and painted it green. Bought in 2005 by the current owner from Paris, the front end, steering box and brakes have been renewed. It has taken part in numerous shows, causing a sensation each time, notably in 2011 at the Polo de Paris concours d'élégance. This car has had just three owners in 58 years, and kept its original Milan registration until 2005. It is essentially in original condition, with the same V8 engine with 331 ci (5.4 l) hemispherical cylinder heads, two-speed automatic gearbox and original keys, as well as most of the original leather upholstery. It has power steering and electric front windows. Copies of original Italian documents, including the record of its assembly at the factory showing the engine number, will be supplied with the car. This Chrysler Ghia was made to be admired in motor shows and concours d'élégance in the hands of celebrities, and to be driven daily (at least in period). All the ingredients are here to re-write history. Pebble Beach, why not? The car represents an excellent investment for an enthusiast of exclusive cars. According to the vendor, just four examples would have been built in this grand Italian style by one of the finest coachbuilders of the day.
French title Engine N°: C542 8 35205 - Ideal for concours d'élégance - Excellent investment - Rare, matching numbers - Superb original presentation The very first Chrysler Special designed by Virgil Exner was presented to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952. The car received much attention, and Charles Ladouch, CEO of France Motor, the dynamic importer from Neuilly sur Seine, with the help of C.B.Thomas, export manager for Chrysler, obtained authorisation to have a limited number built by Ghia. This amounted to 18 in total, to be sold exclusively in France, with the bare chassis delivered to Turin, to be bodied by Ghia. At the Paris Motor Show in October 1953, France Motors presented a new design, the Chrysler GS Special, of which 15 examples were produced. The following year at the Paris Motor Show, France Motors unveiled an evolution of the GS Special : the Chrysler ST Special. This had a distinctive radiator grille, "Frenché" lights and longer rear wings. The pure Italian styling was down to the designers at Ghia, and the car had the feel of a large Ferrari or Maserati. Two chassis, including 7275388, were delivered to the Italian Chrysler dealer Autofamosa in Rome, to be bodied by Ghia, and two others to France Motors in Neuilly, to receive the same body. Thus, 7275388 is one of just four identical cars built. Bought new from Autofamosa by Rodolfo Berger from Milan, 7275388 was black with a dark red roof and red and black leather interior. According to information from the vendor, who is a connoisseur of these Ghia Specials, this was the car used at the Paris Motor Show and the Enghien concours d'élégance in 1954, as it was the only black car. The others were liveried in light colours. Rodolfo Berger had the car repainted gold in 1964, and the leather upholstery dyed tobacco colour, later having brown alpaca covers made, which are still in the car today. He used the car until his death in 1967, when it was left in the garage of his villa in Lago Maggiore. After several decades of neglect, it was bought in the 1990s by an Italian collector from Varese, who recommissioned the car and painted it green. Bought in 2005 by the current owner from Paris, the front end, steering box and brakes have been renewed. It has taken part in numerous shows, causing a sensation each time, notably in 2011 at the Polo de Paris concours d'élégance. This car has had just three owners in 58 years, and kept its original Milan registration until 2005. It is essentially in original condition, with the same V8 engine with 331 ci (5.4 l) hemispherical cylinder heads, two-speed automatic gearbox and original keys, as well as most of the original leather upholstery. It has power steering and electric front windows. Copies of original Italian documents, including the record of its assembly at the factory showing the engine number, will be supplied with the car. This Chrysler Ghia was made to be admired in motor shows and concours d'élégance in the hands of celebrities, and to be driven daily (at least in period). All the ingredients are here to re-write history. Pebble Beach, why not? The car represents an excellent investment for an enthusiast of exclusive cars. According to the vendor, just four examples would have been built in this grand Italian style by one of the finest coachbuilders of the day.