Vehicle Description
-Burgundy with Tan leather interior with Burgundy Inserts, Piping
and carpeting, Dark Red convertible top, Concours restored, 5.2
liter V8, Chrysler Powerflite automatic transmission, One of only
117 manufactured in total.
When Chrysler decided against putting its striking Dodge Firearrow
show cars into production, Detroit trucking magnate Eugene Casaroll
purchased the rights to the design.
By 1957, his company, Dual Motors, known for the twin-engine trucks
it once produced, modified the Firearrow that was destined for
production , and now called it, and how it is, formally known, the
Dual-Ghia.
This new, elegant convertible featured an unbeatable combination of
reliable Detroit Motor City-bred Dodge V-8 power, clothed in a
superb hand-formed bodywork by Italian coachbuilders Ghia, of
Turin.
Casaroll personally hand-chose his customers from a list of A-list
applicants. Frank Sinatra, who was the brightest of all stars at
the time, was a natural choice, as were his friends Peter Lawford
and Eddie Fisher. It was this one-upmanship that led legendary
Hollywood columnist Dorothy Kilgallen to wisecrack that a
Rolls-Royce was the "status symbol for those who can't get a Ghia."
Presumably, there were a lot of Rolls-Royces delivered in the late
1950s, but only about 100 Dual-Ghias were made between 1956 and
1958. With the exception of the prototype coupes, all were
convertibles.
The car offered here is believed to have been delivered new in
California. Its early history is unknown until it's being found and
restored by Mr. R. Golden, Inwood, New York. During Mr. Golden's
ownership, a nut and bolt restoration to concours standard was
performed by well-respected restoration company, Redline
Restorations, Bridgeport, Connecticut. While in The Golden
collection, this Dual-Ghia have been shown at various concours
event, including, this past years The Bridge Concours.
The restoration of this Dual-Ghia is absolutely superb in every
way, it has been performed to an utterly outstanding concours
standard. The end result is an absolutely breathtaking presentation
and well preserved since.
America's most prestigious automobile in the 1950's, over half a
century later, the Dual-Ghia remains one of the most elegant
convertible the automotive world has had the pleasure of viewing,
but due to its limited manufacture, few have had the pleasure to
own. One of the most prestigious automobiles ever made, this
Dual-Ghia is superb in every way and ready for immediate use or
show.
