The role model
Last week, we started with Chrysler’s ‘idea cars’, which are definitely worth reading, here. It was also mentioned that there were quite a few of these concept cars, so here is the continuation. Because one thing led to another: in addition to the Special that we presented last week, the 1952 D’Elegance was also at the Paris Motor Show. This was effectively the coupé, again based on a New York platform, but with a wheelbase shortened by 25 centimetres to 292 centimetres. It is assumed that Giovanni Savonuzzi was responsible for the design at Ghia.
Maybe two were actually built. What is certain, however, is that the D’Elegance was ‘one of my father’s favourite vehicles’, as Virgil Exner Jr. likes to recall. It is a very special blend of Italian elegance and American performance, with a few pretty details that make it a true show car, such as the free-standing rear lights. Certain design approaches were later used for Chrysler, such as the mighty front grille, but the fact that the car looks somehow familiar to us has a completely different reason: Savonuzzi designed the Karmann Ghia coupé for Volkswagen based on the D’Elegance design.
The car we are able to show here was driven on the road by a member of the Chrysler family until 1987 – and at some point was given a significantly more potent Hemi engine. After that, chassis number #321953 was part of the Blackhawk Collection for a long time, changed hands several times, was auctioned by RM Sotheby’s for the first time in 2011 (and sold for $946,000, pictures above), and again in 2017, when it only fetched $885,000 (pictures below).
Of course, the story of these ‘idea cars’ continues to this day. In the meantime, however, you can admire other American rarities under ‘Numbers’.
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