Vehicle Description
Detroiter Eugene Casaroll may not have worked directly for any of
the Big Three, but he was nevertheless an essential player in the
US automobile industry. His business, Auto Shippers, Inc., had
close ties with the Chrysler Corporation, handling the critical
task of delivering new Chrysler products to dealers around the
country. His other company, Dual Motors, produced massive
twin-engine tank haulers for the US Military during World War II,
leaving Mr. Casaroll with a handy pile of cash after the war. While
touring the 1953 New York Auto Show, Eugene Casaroll was stopped in
his tracks by a stunning new dream car by Chrysler - the
Ghia-designed Dodge Fire Arrow. Chrysler's head of design, Virgil
Exner, had cultivated a fruitful relationship with the Italian
carrozzeria, but he struggled to convince Chrysler's conservative
board that the cars were worthy of production. Mr. Casaroll, on the
other hand, had no board to answer to, an idle factory, a pile of
cash burning a hole in his pocket, and a dream to see his name in
chrome. He acquired the rights to the Fire Arrow design, and Ghia
was more than happy to supply him with as many bodies as needed.
Casaroll incorporated the new venture as Dual-Ghia and commissioned
a prototype, and once the curiously named "Fire Bomb" hit the show
circuit, orders for this opulent new boulevard cruiser soon came
in. Casaroll struck an agreement with Chrysler to supply bare 1956
Dodge chassis, which were shipped to Torino, Italy, to receive
their coachwork. They then returned to the USA to be fitted with
either a 315 cubic-inch Hemi or 315 cubic-inch Poly-head V8.
Naturally, this was an extremely costly endeavor, translating into
an exorbitant sticker price. Such exclusivity appealed to a select
clientele, which included such names as Ronald Reagan, Frank
Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, and Lucille Ball. While exact production
numbers have long been a source of debate, marque historian Dr.
Paul Sable estimates 100 Dual Ghias were built, including one or
possibly two hard tops, of which 80 complete cars are known. This
striking example is chassis 105, the fifth Dual-Ghia produced. It
was built for Mrs. Esther Jacobson of the Detroit-based Jacobson's
Department Store family. This car is the subject of a meticulous,
multi-year restoration by the respected White Hall Restorations of
Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and is very near to exact original
specifications. When discovered by the most recent owner, the car
had been repainted and was a bit rough around the edges, but
overall quite sound. After careful research, they determined the
original specs and colors and aimed to restore the car as
faithfully as possible, a process that took in excess of three
years of painstaking labor. Dual-Ghia 105 looks positively
resplendent in its original shade of Chrysler Vermont Green,
accented with a matching two-tone interior, dark green top, and
rare original Motor Wheels chrome wire wheels. The paintwork is
gorgeous, and the body is crisply defined with exceptionally
straight panels. A minor paint crack is noted along the ridge of
the hood, though the finish is otherwise exceptional. The extensive
brightwork was beautifully restored at considerable expense. The
Dual Ghia's cabin is a marvelous blend of Italian sophistication
and American mid-century opulence. Chrome dials and controls
decorate the body-color metal dash, and an engine-turned instrument
cluster houses the large, chrome-trimmed gauges. The detailing is
exquisite and a testament to the restorer's craft. The leather was
custom dyed to achieve the proper color, and months were spent
sourcing the unique NOS patterned carpeting. As with many early
Dual-Ghias, the glovebox bears an engraved plate with the original
owner's name. Similar attention to detail was paid beneath the
hood, where the 315 c.i. Mopar Poly-head V8 sits in an immaculate
engine bay. It is authentically detailed in the correct shade of
red/orange, topped with a gloss-black oil bath air cleaner, and
dressed with period-correct hardware, plumbing, and clamps. Other
correct details include the Mopar washer bag and combination
generator/power steering pump. The big V8 is paired with a
Torque-Flite automatic transmission for effortless cruising
ability. The result of all this fastidious effort is one of the
finest examples of a Dual-Ghia extant. It has numerous awards and
accolades to its credit, including First in Class & Best in Show at
the 2014 Hemmings Concours, a cover story in Hemmings Classic Car
(July 2015), AACA 1st Junior Award at Hershey, and many class and
special awards at events including Winter Park, The Elegance at
Hershey, Boca Raton, Keeneland Concours, Keels & Wheels, Hilton
Head, and the Cavallino Classic. The Dual-Ghia has all the makings
of automotive greatness - rarity, power, style, coachbuilt cachet,
and a fascinating origin story. This gorgeous example will be right
at home in any prestigious collection and is ready for its next
custodian to delight in its visual splendor. Offers welcome and
trades considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7480-1957-dual-ghia/
