frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 It's the 1954 Plymouth Ghia Explorer Sport. Underneath it's racy exterior beats a heart of gold that should look real familiar to everybody. Another great design by Virgil Exner and executed by the master craftsmen at Ghia, it's one of only two Chrysler concept cars to have flathead power that I know of (the other being the XX-500) and the only one equipped with Hy-Drive. Quote
drillmastertommy Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 It certainly is a beautiful car! Do you know if it's privately owned or part of a Chrysler/museum collection? Quote
RobertKB Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Plate on the trunk says Petersen Automotive Museum so I would assume they own it. If that is the case, the car lives in Los Angeles. Quote
randroid Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Gents, Frank is right; that's the most beautiful Plymouth I've ever seen! I am curious as to why engine coolant got piped around the fan shroud the way it did. I'd like to see what sort of radiator it's using, too, but these are curiosities on my part and not criticisms. -Randy Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Plate on the trunk says Petersen Automotive Museum so I would assume they own it. If that is the case, the car lives in Los Angeles. Sure, I saw that, Robert. That's the last place I thought it lived, but when I checked their site, it was not to be found. It's my understanding that the Petersen Museum has a permanent collection plus they exhibit cars belonging to other collections that they rotate in and out. Quote
RobertKB Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 I am curious as to why engine coolant got piped around the fan shroud the way it did. Probably to do with hood clearance. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Gents, Frank is right; that's the most beautiful Plymouth I've ever seen! I am curious as to why engine coolant got piped around the fan shroud the way it did. I'd like to see what sort of radiator it's using, too, but these are curiosities on my part and not criticisms. -Randy Probably a hood clearance issue. It looks quite low compared to a stocker. My guess is the radiator is a total custom piece. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Probably to do with hood clearance. Great minds think alike and, in this case, at precisely the same time! Quote
RobertKB Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) Great minds think alike and, in this case, at precisely the same time! Maybe we were twins separated at birth? Also remember......."Great minds think alike but small ones seldom differ" is the whole expression. Edited January 20, 2013 by RobertKB 1 Quote
Shifticus Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Anyone else get a kick out of the 140mph speedo? Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Anyone else get a kick out of the 140mph speedo? HA! I hadn't noticed that, shifty. Well, the Fifties were an optimistic time , hey? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 I believe my uncle's Packard Hawk for 58 had a 160 speedo....you speaking Italian minds at work here..they always pushed the limits a bit...if but on the drawing board... Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Maybe, Tim. But I suspect it also might have had to do with what speedo was readily available. That looks like a pretty standard Jaeger unit to me. Quote
mayflower48 Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Try this one, it also has a flathead engine. The reason that I knew is I have made parts for one of the five built. Not this one but a silver one that can be seen if you google Chryslar Thunderbolt.http://auto.ocregister.com/2010/02/12/attention-jay-leno-rare-41-chrysler-thunderbolt-for-sale/28601/ Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 I assure you the flathead will not take full advantage of the 160 speedo..and yes..I am very certain that the gauges used by the design team are house variety....number of my cars use Jaeger brand... Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Try this one, it also has a flathead engine. The reason that I knew is I have made parts for one of the five built. Not this one but a silver one that can be seen if you google Chryslar Thunderbolt.http://auto.ocregister.com/2010/02/12/attention-jay-leno-rare-41-chrysler-thunderbolt-for-sale/28601/ Quite right, although I think the Thunderbolt and the '41 Newport were both eight cylinder cars, right? I was thinkin' strictly postwar stuff, too. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 the Thunderbolt though way ahead of its time design wise does not appeal to me as one would think..can't rightly put my finger on the reason..but I would geuss there is a number of things about it just don' sit well with me...yeah..troglodyte Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 the Thunderbolt though way ahead of its time design wise does not appeal to me as one would think..can't rightly put my finger on the reason..but I would geuss there is a number of things about it just don' sit well with me...yeah..troglodyte No denying it's place in history, but it's certainly not the prettiest girl in class! Quote
Mark D Posted January 21, 2013 Report Posted January 21, 2013 Peterson museum does intact rotate its collection as well as shows other collections. There's a huge parking garage under the museum that opens occasionally. I try to visit at least once or twice a year when I am in the area. Unfortunately, I've never seen this Chrysler during my visits. Quote
desoto1939 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Posted January 21, 2013 the low profile of the front dictated that they had to route it to the side. If you ever looked at the Desoto airflows you will also note that the radiatpor hoes and themostate also came out the side of the head When looking at the head fromt the fron of the car it came out to the right instead of coming up to the top of the rad like our 30/40/ and 50s cars. Rich Hartung Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 22, 2013 Report Posted January 22, 2013 (edited) Similar vehicles: 1954 DeSoto Adventurer http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/DeSoto/54-DeSoto-Adventurer2_DV-10-GG_c02.jpg 1952 Chrysler DeElegance http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Chrysler/Chrysler-DElegance-Coupe-RM_Image-03-800.jpg 1954 Dodge Firearrow http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Dodge/54_Dodge-Firearrow-3_Ghia-DV-10-PBC_01.jpg Edited January 22, 2013 by BobT-47P15 1 Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Posted January 22, 2013 Similar vehicles: 1954 DeSoto Adventurer http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/DeSoto/54-DeSoto-Adventurer2_DV-10-GG_c02.jpg 1952 Chrysler DeElegance http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Chrysler/Chrysler-DElegance-Coupe-RM_Image-03-800.jpg 1954 Dodge Firearrow http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Dodge/54_Dodge-Firearrow-3_Ghia-DV-10-PBC_01.jpg Big fan of all of those, Bob. I love the fact that the main difference between MoPaR and GM and Ford is that a number of Chrysler's great concept cars, or versions of them made it out into the public market. Most notably, the Firearrow morphed into the Dual-Ghia and examples of the Chrysler Ghia and Thomas Ghia Specials survive as well. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 22, 2013 Report Posted January 22, 2013 Yep - pretty darn cool stuff. 1 Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Posted January 22, 2013 I should add....just wish I could afford to park one in my garage! Quote
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