Chrysler Ghia D'Elegance Coupe Up for Auction

The forthcoming Monterey auction will include the sale of a very special lot, coming in the form of a 1952 Chrysler D’Elegance by Ghia, RM Auctions announced. The vehicle in question, finished in a striking red metallic paint with black and cream leather interior, is estimated to fetch between $1,000,000-$1,300,000.

It is built on a New Yorker chassis, which was shortened 10 inches to 115 inches, and it is strictly a two-seater. The dash panel is thought to be the best of the Ghia designs, offset before the driver, with six large gauges with large speedometer on the left, large clock on the right and fuel, ammeter, oil and temperature gauges in the center. The dash-mounted gearshift is on the left, and there’s a Chrysler push-button radio on the right.

This Chrysler D’Elegance’s engine has been upgraded to a later 354-cubic inch Hemi V-8 with 280 horsepower – 100 more than originally offered – and a later Torqueflite transmission. Additional options include power windows and steering and Ausco-Lambert self-energizing disc brakes, which were fitted to a few Chrysler Town and Country and Imperial models in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

This car was so well received when it debuted in Paris in October 1952 that Ghia reportedly built an additional 25 examples for Europe only, and a number of these do survive. However, this is the first example, RM Auctions claims.

However, an addendum in the car’s description reads: “Please note this car’s catalog description incorrectly asserts that Ghia built an additional 25 d’Elegances in Europe. There is only one Chrysler d’Elegance and this is it, as confirmed by Virgil Exner, Jr. Exner does confirm, however, that Ghia built a second notchback “Thomas Special” coupe, after the initial fastback SS, but its whereabouts are unknown.”