Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 such a pristine coachbulding jewel of 1950s

ONE-OFF As one of the major American automotive brands, Chrysler often collaborates with Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia in order to develop the best automotive products. And here's the Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 is launched in the 1950s, and said possibly a production version for the Chrysler Dart and Ghia Gilda concept cars.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 is the only remaining Dart series car in completely original unrestored and unmodified condition since it was first launched. (Picture from: Bonham)

The car's story begins in 1955 when Ghia's Technical Director Giovanni Savonuzzi would design the Chrysler' dream car called the Gilda. There're few automobile models have been so representative of their times as this Gilda' futuristic creation that come to mind featured with long, narrow, sleek, and aerodynamic designs which allow to produce speed as well.

The 1955 Ghia Streamline X 'Gilda' Concept is the forerunner of the Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 design. (Picture from: UltimateCarPage)

Initially, Carrozzeria Ghia used the Gilda theme for Ferrari 410 America, for a small Guzzi engined record car called the Nibbio 2 that established several speed records at Monza and, most importantly, Chrysler based two models on the Gilda, and although they were not Savonuzzi’s work, (he had joined Chrysler in 1957), they were both built by Ghia called the Dart and the Super Dart 400, later shown on the firm’s stand during the Turin Auto Show 1956 and 1957.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 is a unique-shaped concept car created by Ghia for Chrysler and specifically to be shown for the first time at the 1957 Turin Motor Show on the Ghia stand. (Picture from: Bonham)

This car, the Ghia Super Dart 400 is one of the most significant post war the Italian coachbuilder's show cars and the only remaining Dart series car in completely original unrestored and unmodified condition. Unlike its sibling car, the 'Dart' has been majorly modified since it was debuted a year before in 1956 (finally known to be transformed into the 1957 Chrysler Diablo Concept).

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 resplendent in yellow and black, with a grill that would look quite at home on a flying saucer. (Picture from: RobbReport)

As quoted from Autoevolution, this unique-shaped concept car created by Ghia for Chrysler and specifically to be shown for the first time at the 1957 Turin Motor Show on the Ghia stand. This car built based on a 1957 300C Chrysler chassis, its '400' emblems on the tail fins are appropriate telling the world that this car has a 400 horsepower derived from Chrysler Hemi under the hood coupled with dual 4 barrel carburetors.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 is featured with long, narrow, sleek, and aerodynamic designs which allow to produce speed as well. (Picture from: RobbReport)

The body of this car is extremely elegant yet fast and futuristic, very reminiscent of the Gilda dream car that this was derived from. Ghia’s two Dart series cars and the Gilda were certainly what inspired Virgil Exner and his futuristic vision for Chrysler designs that would shortly follow the introduction of these Ghia designs.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 is built by Carrozzeria Ghia based on a 1957 300C Chrysler chassis. (Picture from: RobbReport)

While on the interior of the Super Dart, it has a very fine custom Italian feel with 4 black and white leather bucket seats, big round gauges that Ghia was known for, push button 3 speed automatic transmission, air conditioning and a full front to rear flowing center console.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 has a fine custom Italian feel with 4 black and white leather bucket seats, big round gauges that Ghia was known for, push button 3 speed automatic transmission, air conditioning and a full front to rear flowing center console. (Picture from: Bonham)

Very over the top beautiful, futuristic and showy, yet very useable and comfortable. Following the 1957 Turin Motor Show, the Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400 would make its way to the United States. However, uniquely for unknown reasons this car sold to Dual Motors and later showed it under their name and on their stand at the the 1958 New York Auto Show.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 also came with some ground-breaking technology for the era, including the company's Highway Hi-Fi record player. (Picture from: Bonham)

At this time the hubcap centers were modified to say "Dual Ghia" as well as the addition of "Dual Ghia" badging on the hood and trunk lid. Why Carrozzeria Ghia sold this car to Dual Motors at this time is not known, as it was not originally intended for Dual Motors. It is speculated that they were a good client for Ghia so it might have just been an easy sale for them once they were done showing the car for themselves and Chrysler.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 is powered by a beefed-up version of the 392-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FirePower V8 engine. (Picture from: Bonham)

During the 1958 New York Auto Show, the Super Dart’s first real private owner, Alex Freeman was seen the car for the first time, and approached the owner of Dual Motors, Gene Cassarol, wanting to buy the car. Initially, Gene Cassoral did not want to sell the Super Dart 400, but Alex Freeman would not take no for an answer and handed Cassoral a blank check, resulting in a sale of $15,000 for the Super Dart which was huge money.

This '400' emblems on the tail fins are appropriate telling the world that this car has a 400 hp derived from Chrysler Hemi under the hood coupled with dual 4 barrel carburetors. (Picture from: RobbReport)

At the time, Gene Cassoral demanded payment up front and delivery could not be taken until Dual Motors was finished showing the car for 1 year in hopes of Alex Freemans offer to pay $15,000 just a bluff, but it wasn’t and he paid up front. After taking delivery, Freeman would drive this car regularly and put a total of 38,000 miles on the car during his ownership over almost 20 years until 1977.

The 1957 Dual-Ghia Super Dart 400 has extremely elegant yet fast and futuristic bodywork, very reminiscent of the Gilda dream car that this was derived from. (Picture from: Bonham)

At the time, this unique Super Dart prototype purchased by by Fred Kanter, owner of Kanter Auto Products, and kept the car in its original condition for 40 years, showing it occasionally as well. As we could seen today the Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400 presents itself in completely original condition with original paint, chrome and upholstery.

As quoted of SportsCarMarket, the Super Dart 400 was purchased by John White’s Ramshead Collection a few years ago, still preserved and never restored or even repainted. After White’s passing, the car was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, winning a Class Award in the Post-War Preservation Class. At the time, this one-of-a-kind, three-owner show car remains in its original condition with just under 50,000 miles on its odometer.

It's such an increadible virtual time capsule, and an incredible piece of custom coachbuilding as well. With all those achievements mentioned above, so it is not surprising that at an annual auction event of the 2023 Bonhams: Scottsdale Auction held by Bonham in March 2023, this classic car was sold at the highest bid price of around $819,000. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SPORTSCARMARKET | BONHAM | AUTOWEEK | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | ROBBREPORT | DRIVESTODAY | AUTOEVOLUTION | CONCEPTCARZ ]

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