Rare dream car 1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400 goes under the hammer at Bonhams
One of the most important cars from the renowned Ramshead Collection went under the hammer at Bonhams Scottsdale auction earlier this year. This stunning and impressive one-off Ghia-styled concept car – the Super Dart 400 – boasts not just uniqueness in its styling and auto show history, but also impeccable originality and preservation, having been owned by discerning collectors as a truly important show car since it was brand new.
Chrysler had two bespoke show cars built by Carrozzeria Ghia to be shown on the Turin firm’s stand in 1956 and 1957; the Dart, shown in 1956, and its sister car, the potent 400 horsepower Super Dart 400 seen here, shown in 1957. Based on a 1957 300C Chrysler chassis, the Super Dart 400 emblems on the tailfins are appropriate for telling the world that this car has a 400-horsepower Chrysler Hemi under the hood fed through two massive four-barrel carburettors. The engine was assembled on Chrysler’s industrial engine line and fitted with a combination of performance parts, paired with the optional Power Pack offered by Chrysler at the time with 10:1 compression ratio, resulting in the higher horsepower rating.
The striking Ghia-designedand- built coupe bodywork was extremely elegant yet fast and futuristic looking, while reminiscent of its Gilda and Dart predecessors. The exaggerated high-rise fins, artistic front grille and rakish roofline add to the unique character of this automobile. Perhaps one of the most notable design features is the custom recessed side trim joining the front and rear bumpers in a pleasing and practical wraparound fashion. It inspired Virgil Exner and his ‘forward look’ for Chrysler designs that would shortly follow the introduction of these Ghia designs and merge into the look and design of Chrysler’s future production cars. The one-off show car was finished in a soft yellow exterior colour, just as seen on the car today, while the roof was covered in contrasting black nappa. On the inside of the Super Dart, it has a very fine custom Italian feel with four sporty individual bucket seats trimmed in black and white, the instrument panel trimmed with the large round gauges that Ghia was known for, a pushbutton three-speed Torqueflite automatic and a full front-to-rear flowing centre console. Additional features include Chrysler Airtemp air conditioning, power windows, front power-operated seats, AM radio and Chrysler’s impressive Highway Fidelity record player. Power steering was fitted to better manoeuvre the big car, while front disc brakes would help it stop. Following its unveiling at the 1957 Turin Motor Show, the Super Dart 400 would make its way to the United States where it would be sold to Dual Motors and then be shown under the Dual Motors name on its stand at the 1958 New York Auto Show. At this time the hubcap centres were modified to say Dual Ghia, and similar badging was added to the hood and trunk lid. Why 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 as the company was a good client for Ghia, it was an easy sale once Ghia was done showing the car on behalf of itself and Chrysler.
During the 1958 New York Auto Show, the Super Dart 400’s first private owner, Mr Alex Freeman, would see the car for the first time and promptly approached the owner of Dual Motors, Gene Casaroll, proposing to buy the car. Mr Casaroll did not want to sell the Super Dart, but Mr Freeman wouldn’t take no for an answer and reportedly handed Mr Casaroll a blank cheque, resulting in a selling price of $15,000 for the Super Dart; a large sum of money in 1958. Mr Casaroll demanded payment up front, while delivery could not be taken until Dual Motors was finished showing the car for one year, presumably in hopes of calling Mr Freeman’s offer to pay $15,000 dollars a bluff. But Mr Freeman paid and would become the first private owner of the one-off show car. After taking delivery, Mr Freeman would drive the Super Dart 400 regularly, putting a total of around 38,000 miles on the car during his almost 20-year ownership tenure, while keeping it in impeccable original condition. The Super Dart 400 would change hands again in the late Seventies and would then stay with the next owner for another 40 years.
Continuously preserved and never restored, the Super Dart 400 finally joined the Ramshead Collection a few years ago. In August 2022, the Super Dart 400 was invited to be shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it participated in the Tour d'Elegance while deservedly winning a class award in the postwar Preservation Class, testimony to just how well preserved this car is. Even today, the Super Dart 400 presents itself in original condition with original paint, chrome and upholstery and is a beautiful time capsule and an incredible piece of custom coachbuilding, showing just 49,725 miles on the clock. The Super Dart 400 is arguably one of the most significant postwar Ghia show cars, its status recognised in the fact it hammered for $819,000 (including premium).
Beautifully preserved interior. Highway Fidelity record player. Dart was built on a ’57 300C chassis.
Tailfins foretold of things to come. Chrysler Hemi motor and dual quad carburettors. On show. Unique recessed chrome beltline.