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L6.4
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  Ghia L6.4      

  Article Image gallery (31) Chassis (2) Specifications  
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Country of origin:Italy
Produced from:1960 - 1963
Numbers built:27 (Including the prototype)
Introduced at:1960 Paris Motor Show
Designed by:Paul Farago for Ghia
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:January 29, 2018
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Click here to download printer friendly versionDuring the second half of the 1950s, American entrepreneur Eugene Casaroll bankrolled the limited production of what started life as a Ghia styled Chrysler show car. Known as the Dual-Ghia, the lavish cabriolet combined American underpinnings with a body designed and built in Italy. Even though owned by America's rich and famous, the Dual-Ghia was not a profitable venture and Casaroll ceased his backing in 1959.

One person determined to continue was Ghia designer Paul Farago. He had designed a new 2+2 Coupe successor, and pressed on without the help of Casaroll's Dual Motors. Chrysler remained a partner and its designer Virgil Exner further refined the design. This was thoroughly modern and did not feature the twin headlights and large fins that were popular during the second half of the 1950s. The large two-door coupe did boast a prominent grille and a very airy greenhouse.

Chrysler also provided the mechanicals and running gear but as the American company had switched to a unitary construction a bespoke chassis was created for the new car. Like the body, the frame was hand-built by Ghia in Italy and then completed with Chrysler-sourced suspension components. The car was powered by a B-Series Chrysler V8, which roughly displaced 6.4 litres and provided the Ghia L6.4 type name. Producing around 330 bhp, it was mated to Chrysler Torqueflite, three-speed automatic.

Build to the very highest standards, the Ghia L6.4 was once again aimed at the rich and famous. However, even they flinched at the very steep price of $13,500. This was the result of extraordinarily expensive process of building a car in Italy, using American mechanicals and then shipping it back once more to the United States for retail. Among the most famous owners that did acquire the Ghia L6.4 were the members of the Rat Pack like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Just a few years after the Ghia L6.4 was introduced at the 1960 Paris Motor Show, production ceased. At that time just 26 examples and a prototype had been completed. It was one of the very last of the small production custom luxury cars, which had catered to the world's wealthy since the dawn of motoring.

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  Article Image gallery (31) Chassis (2) Specifications