Evaluation: One of four built, two each for French and Italian customers, by Ghia on a Chrysler New Yorker chassis. Exhibited at the Turin Motor Show and purchased by a French plastics executive but later left to rot at a Paris shop. Fully restored in 2014 and looks like it has mostly been used as a show car since. Given its origins, that makes sense. Other than slightly imperfect panel fit and two scratches on a rear quarter window, it’s pretty much perfect. The engine looks hardly run and the seats look hardly sat in.
Bottom Line: Chrysler in Michigan and Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin had quite a fling in the 1950s, collaborating on both wild Jet Age concept cars and limited production automobiles. Their prices vary depending on many factors, but all Chrysler Ghias are fascinating to look at and expensive to buy. If you think you’ve seen this one at auction before, you may very well have. In Paris 11 years ago, still in run-down barn find condition, it sold for $106,000. After it was restored to its former glory in 2014, it hit the US auction circuit to a no-sale in Scottsdale in 2015, a $527,500 sale at Monterey 2018, a $450,000 no-sale at Mecum Glendale 2019, and a $375,000 no-sale at Kissimmee 2020. Sold at RM Monterey 2018 for $527,500. $450k no-sale at Glendale 2019. $375k no-sale at Kissimmee 2020. Very mixed results, then, not helped by the fact with a rare car of mixed heritage like this, finding comparable sales isn’t exactly straightforward. This result is surprisingly high given its recent string of results, Mecum’s presale estimate, and other, more dramatically styled and unique Ghia-bodied cars selling for less.
