1952 Chrysler D’Elegance (by Ghia)
Its influence reached further than Chrysler ever intended. When Ghia’s Giovanni Savonuzzi adapted the D’Elegance’s proportions for a series of Alfa Romeos and, in 1955, for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, a one-off American show car became the direct ancestor of a European production model.
Designed by Virgil Exner and built by Ghia, the D’Elegance was constructed on a New Yorker chassis shortened by 10 inches to a 115-inch wheelbase. Ruby red metallic paint, a bold egg-crate grille, free-standing headlamps set into curved nacelles (an intentional reference to 1930s styling), and “gunsight” taillights defined its appearance.
A hydraulic system in the rear deck could raise the trunk lid and lower the spare tire to the ground at the touch of a switch.
Inside, two armchairs faced an engine-turned instrument panel with six large gauges. Equipment included power steering, power windows, and Chrysler’s early disc brake system developed with Ausco-Lambert.
The grille design previewed themes later seen on Chrysler’s 300 Letter Cars, while similar taillight elements reappeared on the 1955 Imperial.
The original engine was at some point replaced with a 1956-vintage 354 cubic-inch Hemi V-8, rated at 280 horsepower in factory form and offering a significant increase over the original 331 cubic-inch FirePower V-8. Exner himself considered it among his favorite designs.
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