Monday, December 29, 2025

1955 Ghia ST Special Chrysler

The period 1951-1955 saw four generations of Chrysler Special coupes built by Carrozzeria Ghia.  The 1952 car was designed by Virgil Exner as a concept car.  In 1953 the original design was adapted for a longer wheelbase and a limited number were made by Ghia for sale in Europe.  This design was modified for 1954 and also built in a small quantity.  I dealt with all those here.

Today's subject is the final version, based on 1955 Chryler New Yorker components (some background here).  Only four of these cars were built.

In the post linked above, I speculated that the facelift of the 1954 GS-1 was the work of Ghia, not a design sent to Italy from Chrysler.  Internet information on the 1955 ST Special is scanty.  So once again, I'll speculate, asserting that its design was entirely by Ghia, not counting some exterior items from '55 New Yorkers.

The design is attractive in the classic 1950s Italian coachbuilding idiom for coupes.  Some gestures toward contemporary Chrysler production styling were included to help justify that the cars were more than new designs atop Chrysler chassis' and running gear.

Gallery

1952 Chrysler Styling Special - factory photo
The original Styling Special by Exner.

1953 Chrysler Special (production version) - Hyman, Ltd. photo
The longer wheelbase version.

1954 Chrysler GS-1 (Ghia Special) - Hyman
And its facelift.

1955 Ghia ST Special Chrysler - RM Sotheby's Auctions photo
Although the design is in the 1950s Italian coupe idiom, the car is larger than normal for Italy, being based on production '55 Chrysler New Yorkers.

1955 Chrysler New Yorker St Regis Coupe - Mecum Auctions photo
Carryover items from production Chryslers such as seen here include the bumper and its attachments that include a grille bar.  The headlight assemblies are also from Chrysler, as is (probably) the windshield.

1955 Ghia ST Special Chrysler - Mecum Auction photo
Besides echoing the production 1955 fender sculpting, the 1954 GS-1 sculpting is essentially retained.

1955 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Nassau Coupe - Mecum
Sides of ST Special seem slightly narrower than production Chryslers.  The letter's fenders and side sculpting being shapely, rather than sketched as on the ST here.

1955 Ghia ST Special Chrysler - Mecum
Rear quarter view.  Most of the body, along with the passenger compartment greenhouse, strikes me as being on the austere side.  I chalk that up as a consequence of the larger-than-normal-for-Italy body package.  That is, the design would have been more pleasing on the smaller car.

1955 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe Newport Coupe - car-for-sale photo
Borrowed features include the tail light assemblies and the bumper.  The Chrysler crest above the trunk keyhole has different "wings."

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