Chrysler Styling Special

The Chrysler Special was a limited-production coupé designed by Virgil Exner and built by Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin during the early 1950s. It was developed from the series of Chrysler-Ghia experimental cars that began with the K-310 and C-200 and formed part of the collaboration between Chrysler Corporation and the Italian coachbuilder. The project evolved from the Chrysler Styling Special, a one-off show car presented at the 1952 Paris Motor Show. Exner’s design differed substantially from contemporary Chrysler production models. The low coupé body featured relatively flat sides, pronounced front and rear fenders, a compact glazed cabin and a wide trapezoidal grille integrated with the front bumper. The proportions and detailing reflected contemporary Italian coachbuilding practice, with similarities to Ghia’s work on the Fiat 8V. Following the reception of the Styling Special, Ghia developed the design into a small series intended for private customers. Approximately 16 Chrysler Specials are believed to have been constructed, with around eight known to survive. Most were reportedly sold through France Motors, Chrysler’s distributor in Paris. Unlike the original Styling Special, which used a shortened chassis with a wheelbase of approximately 119 inches, the production Specials provided greater cabin space. Their bodies were individually constructed by Ghia and consequently show detail differences between examples. Typical features included a very low roof, limited chrome decoration, wire wheels and distinctive front and rear treatments. One example was sold new through France Motors in 1953 to American jockey Johnny Longden. Period documentation records that Longden shipped the car to the United States aboard the SS Liberté in September 1953. It was subsequently registered at his home in Arcadia, California. Longden later confirmed that the car had originally been finished in grey and maroon. By 1960, this example belonged to Chrysler collector Robert Frumkin of Los Angeles, who retained it for nearly two decades. It was acquired by its subsequent long-term owner in 1979 and preserved without a complete restoration. Its odometer records slightly more than 58,000 kilometres, while portions of the interior, including the door panels and leather covering of the folding rear seat, are believed to remain original. The Chrysler Special should not be confused with the later Chrysler GS-1, introduced for 1954. Although closely related stylistically, the GS-1 used a higher roofline, different bumpers and more standardized components. The earlier Special represents the limited-production development of Exner and Ghia’s original Styling Special and was among the first Chrysler-Ghia designs offered directly to private customers.areful sorting prior to extended use.