Ultra-rare Dodge concept cars go on the block at Barrett-Jackson
This January's Barrett-Jackson Collector Car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, will follow up last year's Detroit concept car theme with this pair of Dodge "Firearrow" concepts - the only convertible versions in the world.
A series of Firearrows was produced in 1953 and 1954, under the supervison of Virgil Exner. The two Firearrows shown were built by Ghia on a standard Dodge chassis. Both are from the collection of Sam and Emily Mann, who have shown the cars regularly on the concours circuit. The red convertible's design was licensed to Dual Motors, who partnered with Ghia to produce the Dual Ghia in the late '50s.
More pics after the jump - enjoy!
[Source: Barrett-Jackson]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Greeny 8:15AM (3/09/2008)
They look like fish out of water !
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Charles Saloway 12:49PM (9/17/2006)
Often ugly is as timeless as beauty.
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idave 12:53PM (9/17/2006)
Is it just me, or does the pearl colored convertible look a little too much like an odd fish from Finding Nemo?
Dave
http://www.itakepropecia.com
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Frank 1:26PM (9/17/2006)
You have to judge these cars by the state of automobile styling and design at the time they were made. Look at the other cars availiable in 1952-54 and they don't look bad at all. Besides they were concept cars meant to test new ideas. Some ideas work and others don't, that's why they build concept cars.
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BOB 4:03PM (9/17/2006)
I think ALL of the Chrysler - Ghia cars from the era are beautiful )OK, I would take off some of the extra chrome put there for American fashion, and the fat whitewalls.) -- especially if you consider what a '52 Dodge, the chassis donor, looked like. For the posters above, maybe it helps to have been around at the time. Look at all the beautiful, exciting American dream cars at the shows now -- oh, wait!! There aren't any.
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Bill 4:55PM (9/17/2006)
Virgil Exner and Raymond Loewy are probably my two all-time favorite automotive designers.
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Paveway 5:52PM (9/17/2006)
Anybody remember the "XNR" concept car? (Virgil Exner's baby, named after him of course).
For all of their audacity, these two men helped usher in a new styling for American automobile manufacturing.
With a few changes, that red one could be a good "Legacy" styled coupe based on the Crossfire.
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Andy 9:06PM (9/17/2006)
The 1954 Pontiac Bonneville concept failed to generate the same numbers as the Olds F-88. Those cars were attractive; the fate of these show pieces is less likely to excite since they're uglier than Rosie O'Donnell in a thong. With the collector car market burning out, I look forward to seeing the idiotic millionaires lose out on these "investments."
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Richard Warren 9:05AM (9/18/2006)
#4 Exactly right.
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Big L 10:07AM (9/18/2006)
Interesitng that they look T-bird in size. I hope the "millionaires" don't lose money. They are the ones keeeping these cars in shape for the hobby to enjoy. Also classic car restoration provides an amazing amount of highly paid jobs,imo.
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Greeny 8:07AM (10/13/2007)
They look like fish out of water !
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