Vanderbilt Cup Races

Holy cow! Finally!! Now here’s one where I can put my first love and deep knowledge of Volkswagen’s great history to good use! I immediately recognized the specific Italian design language of all the cars, but that last car in the line, being the 1953 Chrysler-Ghia D’Elegance concept car, was said to be the inspiration for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

http://langstonjamesautoworld.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/the-history-and-restoration-of-the-classic-karmann-ghia/

There’s a great list of Italian, Chrysler partnerships culminatating with one of my favorite flops of all time, Lee Iaccoca’s ‘Chryserati’ in the late 80’s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_TC_by_Maserati

The other Ghia concept cars were;

In front, a DeSoto Ghia Adventurer II Concept Car (1954) and behind that, a Dodge Firearrow II Roadster Concept Car (1954)

What is the likely location for the photo?

Can’t wait to find out! Probably Italy, or may be Detroit? Going to look this one up…

Best I can do on this is. I zoomed in at 400% to try to see the car emblems, couldn’t make it out, but concept #3 resembles a larger version of the 2007 Volkswagen Karmann GHia, That’s my best shot

Car number 1 is a 1954 (some reports say 1955) DeSoto Adventurer II.
Number 2 is a 1954 Dodge Firearrow II. Number 3 is a 1954 Chrysler D’Elegance.
Since all 3 cars were from Chrysler Corporation, the logical site for the photograph would be Chrysler’s Chelsea Proving Grounds.

Hi Howard,
Concept Car #1: I think that this is a 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II.
Concept Car #2: I think that this is a 1954 Dodge Firearrow II.
Concept Car #3:  This is a little difficult because it is partially hidden.  However using the rear lights on the fender as a clue, I have concluded that it is a 1953 Chrysler Ghia d’Elegance.
Location: I really don’t know, but as it is unlikely that all three of these cars would get too far from home at the same time, I’m guessing that it is at some sort of Chrysler test facility in Michigan.

Steve McKelvie
Franklin, MA

A Mopar Fest !
I believe,
Front - 1954 Desoto Adventurer II
Center - 1954 Dodge Firearrow II
Rear - 1952 Chrysler D’Elegance
I do not know where, but have a suspicion that it is Sebring. I have no reason for this thought,
            Thanks As Always,
                                Antiqueynot

The best I can do is call them all Chrysler’s.

Had to research but it was fun. Searching for concept cars turned out interesting and amazing. Thank you Bill for posting the photo and for the fun time that followed.

Foreground:  1954 Chrysler Desoto Adventurer II

Center:  1954 Dodge Firearrow II

Background:  1953 Chrysler D’Elegance

Location of photo may possibly be the Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge car testing facility where the vehicles appear prepared for transport to….?    1954?

All of the cars appear to be Ghia concept cars. Car #1 is a 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II Ghia Concept Car. Car #2 is a 1954 Dodge Firearrow II by Ghia. Car #3 is a 1953 Chrysler Ghia-D’Elegance. The venue is most likely the Autodromo Nazionale Monza race track.

From Frank Femenias

Concept Car #1 (Foreground): 1954 Chrysler Desoto Adventurer II

This design, largely the effort of Ghia, featured the long hood, short deck style that was similar to the Corvette. It had no front bumper and was never seriously considered for production. However, the Adventurer name did live on in 1956 to 1960 Desoto models. Similar to the big Chrysler 300 letter series cars, the Adventurer is highly underappreciated in the auction market today despite its excellent drivetrain and design.

Concept Car #2 (Middle): 1954 Dodge Firearrow II

Concept Car #3 (Rear): 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance

Styled by Ghia of Italy, this prototype just oozes sex appeal. It was the signature effort from Virgil Exner, Chrysler’s styling guru. In the early 1950’s, Chrysler was experiencing lagging sales and Exner was commissioned to build a series of concepts to pique the customer’s interests. With its distinctive full wheel openings to the gun sight taillights on the rear fenders, this was a true beauty.  This design was later purchased by Volkswagen and it was modified to become the Karmann Ghia.

I wasn’t too far wrong. I knew that #3 gave Volkswagon the idea for the Karmann Ghia

Knew they were Chrysler-Ghias but certainly not which.  Look again at that 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II; the tail lights remind me of the inboard doo-dads on the 1962-64 Ghia-bodied Chrysler turbine cars.  Sam, III

Neat photo that I have not seen before. I can tell you that the mini grand stand is under construction for the dedication ceremonies of the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan (June 1954). During the ceremonies, there was a parade of 1951-1954 Idea Cars designed by Virgil Exner and built by Carrozzeria Ghia. Recently, I asked Virgil Exner, Jr., what happened to the 1951 K-310 Idea Car. He told me that he personally witnessed the destruction of the Chrysler K-310, 1952 Chrysler C-200 and 1953 DeSoto Adventurer I Idea Cars in the mid 1950s.