Maximilien Gagnebin
Senior Specialist
LOT 158
1953 Chrysler ' Thomas Special ' Coupé Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia Chassis no. 7232631 Engine no. C 53 835701
Estimate: €330,000 - €390,000
Lot 158
1953 Chrysler 'Thomas Special' Coupé
1953 Chrysler 'Thomas Special' Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia
Chassis no. 7232631
Engine no. C 53 835701
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia
Chassis no. 7232631
Engine no. C 53 835701
• Unique example
• 5.4-litre Chrysler Hemi V8 engine
• An older restoration
• Formerly part of the Bortz Auto Collection
• Registered in the EU
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Carrozzeria Ghia enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the Chrysler Corporation. The result was some of the most spectacular styling exercises and concept cars ever seen, which were the sensations of the era's motor shows.
Chrysler's products of the late 1940s were typically well engineered but somewhat dated in appearance, although that would change in 1949 with the arrival from Studebaker of master stylist Virgil Exner. Exner rejuvenated Chrysler's line up and collaborated with Ghia to create to create some of the era's most memorable styling exercises, commencing with the XX-500 of 1951. This large coupé was styled by Exner and manufactured by Ghia, though later concept cars would be designed and built entirely in Italy.
Taking its name from C B Thomas – head of Chrysler's export division – the 'Thomas Special' was based on the Exner-designed, Ghia-built Styling Special but on the longer standard wheelbase, making it a full five-seater. Thomas used it as his personal car. Virtually identical apart from a different front grille, the GS1 variant was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1953, and Ghia would go on to build a limited run (18-19) of similar cars.
Little else is known of this Thomas Special until 1982 when it featured in an article by Denis Adler published in Car Collector magazine's December edition: "the sports coupe is possible (sic) the original Thomas Special although there is no documentation." According to historian Raphael Burnett, the car was in Switzerland, as evidenced by photographs showing a Swiss sticker on the front bumper.
Eventually the Thomas Special was sold to restorer Fran Roxas, and in the 1980s was restored by him for the second time, such was his commitment to perfection; indeed, the Thomas Special was considered one of the finest restorations in his collection. In 1992 the Thomas Special was sold to the Bortz Auto Collection, home to some of the most spectacular concept/dream cars of the 1950s and 1960s. The interior was restored by Chris Nersthiemer and the car exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance that same year. In 1997 the Thomas Special was one of 27 cars from the Bortz Auto Collection featured in the Chicago Tribune.
The Thomas Special was meticulously cared for and used sparingly, and by the time it was sold at a US auction circa 2007 had covered a mere 1,000-or-so miles while in Mr Bortz's custodianship. In 2010 the car was exhibited at Meadow Brook and on 1st April 2016 was registered in the UK. It has been registered in Romania since 2020/2021.
Combining the best of American styling and Italian coachwork, the Thomas Special is worthy of a place in any important private collection.
• 5.4-litre Chrysler Hemi V8 engine
• An older restoration
• Formerly part of the Bortz Auto Collection
• Registered in the EU
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Carrozzeria Ghia enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the Chrysler Corporation. The result was some of the most spectacular styling exercises and concept cars ever seen, which were the sensations of the era's motor shows.
Chrysler's products of the late 1940s were typically well engineered but somewhat dated in appearance, although that would change in 1949 with the arrival from Studebaker of master stylist Virgil Exner. Exner rejuvenated Chrysler's line up and collaborated with Ghia to create to create some of the era's most memorable styling exercises, commencing with the XX-500 of 1951. This large coupé was styled by Exner and manufactured by Ghia, though later concept cars would be designed and built entirely in Italy.
Taking its name from C B Thomas – head of Chrysler's export division – the 'Thomas Special' was based on the Exner-designed, Ghia-built Styling Special but on the longer standard wheelbase, making it a full five-seater. Thomas used it as his personal car. Virtually identical apart from a different front grille, the GS1 variant was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1953, and Ghia would go on to build a limited run (18-19) of similar cars.
Little else is known of this Thomas Special until 1982 when it featured in an article by Denis Adler published in Car Collector magazine's December edition: "the sports coupe is possible (sic) the original Thomas Special although there is no documentation." According to historian Raphael Burnett, the car was in Switzerland, as evidenced by photographs showing a Swiss sticker on the front bumper.
Eventually the Thomas Special was sold to restorer Fran Roxas, and in the 1980s was restored by him for the second time, such was his commitment to perfection; indeed, the Thomas Special was considered one of the finest restorations in his collection. In 1992 the Thomas Special was sold to the Bortz Auto Collection, home to some of the most spectacular concept/dream cars of the 1950s and 1960s. The interior was restored by Chris Nersthiemer and the car exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance that same year. In 1997 the Thomas Special was one of 27 cars from the Bortz Auto Collection featured in the Chicago Tribune.
The Thomas Special was meticulously cared for and used sparingly, and by the time it was sold at a US auction circa 2007 had covered a mere 1,000-or-so miles while in Mr Bortz's custodianship. In 2010 the car was exhibited at Meadow Brook and on 1st April 2016 was registered in the UK. It has been registered in Romania since 2020/2021.
Combining the best of American styling and Italian coachwork, the Thomas Special is worthy of a place in any important private collection.
Footnotes
1953 Chrysler 'Thomas Special' Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia
Chassis no. 7232631
Engine no. C 53 835701
• Exemplaire unique
• Moteur Chrysler Hemi V8 de 5,4 litres
• Restauration ancienne
• Anciennement dans la collection Bortz Auto
• Immatriculée en UE
Tout au long des années 1950 et 1960, la Carrozzeria Ghia a entretenu une relation fructueuse avec la Chrysler Corporation. Il en est résulté certains des exercices de style et concept-cars les plus spectaculaires jamais vus, véritables sensations des salons automobiles de l'époque.
Les modèles Chrysler de la fin des années 1940 étaient généralement bien conçus sur le plan technique, mais leur apparence était quelque peu datée. Cela changea en 1949 avec l'arrivée de Virgil Exner, styliste en chef venu de Studebaker. Exner revitalisa la gamme Chrysler et collabora avec Ghia pour créer quelques-uns des exercices de style les plus mémorables de l'époque, à commencer par la XX-500 de 1951. Ce grand coupé fut dessiné par Exner et fabriqué par Ghia, bien que les concept-cars ultérieurs aient été entièrement conçus et construits en Italie.
Tirant son nom de C. B. Thomas – responsable de la division export de Chrysler – la « Thomas Special » était basée sur la Styling Special dessinée par Exner et construite par Ghia, mais reposait sur l'empattement standard plus long, ce qui en faisait une véritable cinq places. Thomas l'utilisait comme voiture personnelle. Virtuellement identique, à l'exception d'une calandre avant différente, la variante GS1 fut présentée au Salon de l'automobile de Paris en 1953, et Ghia poursuivit la construction d'une série limitée (18 à 19 exemplaires) de voitures similaires.
On sait peu de choses sur cette Thomas Special jusqu'en 1982, lorsqu'elle fit l'objet d'un article de Denis Adler publié dans le numéro de décembre du magazine Car Collector : « le coupé sportif est possiblement (sic) la Thomas Special originale, bien qu'il n'existe aucune documentation ». Selon l'historien Raphael Burnett, la voiture se trouvait en Suisse, comme en témoignent des photographies montrant un autocollant suisse sur le pare-chocs avant.
La Thomas Special fut finalement vendue au restaurateur automobile Fran Roxas qui, dans les années 1980, la restaura lui-mȇme pour la deuxième fois, tant son exigence de perfection était grande ; la Thomas Special fût par la suite considérée comme l'une des plus belles restaurations de sa collection. En 1992, elle fut vendue à la Bortz Auto Collection, qui abritait certains des concept-cars et dream cars les plus spectaculaires des années 1950 et 1960. L'intérieur fut alors restauré par Chris Nersthiemer et la voiture fut exposée la même année au Concours d'Elegance de Pebble Beach. En 1997, la Thomas Special faisait partie des 27 voitures de la Bortz Auto Collection présentées dans le Chicago Tribune.
La Thomas Special a été entretenue avec le plus grand soin et utilisée avec parcimonie ; au moment de sa vente lors d'une vente aux enchères aux États-Unis vers 2007, elle n'avait parcouru qu'environ 1 000 miles sous la garde de M. Bortz. En 2010, la voiture a été exposée à Meadow Brook et, le 1er avril 2016, elle a été immatriculée au Royaume-Uni. Elle est aujourd'hui immatriculée en Roumanie depuis 2020/2021.
Combinant le meilleur du style américain et de la carrosserie italienne, la Thomas Special mérite pleinement sa place dans toute collection privée d'importance.
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