1954 Dodge Firearrow II by Ghia

You might need to sit down when you hear the guide price of between $900k-1.2m but if ever a car was worth the money, it might just be this, frankly spectacular, 1954 Dodge Firearrow II by Ghia which is going under the hammer with RM Sotheby’s. It is going up for sale in the luxury auction house’s Monterrey auction and this stunning steed is sure to generate a lot of buzz amongst classic car aficionados. This dazzling, Jet Age Italo-American concept is one of the first fully functional Firearrows; widely exhibited in-period and it is a sensational sight to say the least.

The 1954 Dodge Firearrow II by Ghia from RM Sotheby’s boasts effortlessly elegant bodywork by Carrozzeria Ghia; “Red Ram” Hemi V-8 power and it is amongst the most memorable, sought after, and influential manufacturer show cars of its generation. The concept cars of styling boss Virgil Exner in the years following World War II were some of the most awe-inspiring, influential, and unforgettable concepts ever made. These included the four successive Dodge Firearrows, which wore hand-crafted bodywork by Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin, Italy, and, if you happen to have a million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, you can add one to your own classic car lineup.

FULLY FUNCTIONING VEHICLE

The original concepts of the Firearrow were full-sized models but had no engines so couldn’t run but this 1954 Dodge Firearrow II by Ghia is completely operational and will be the crowning glory of a collector’s lineup of vehicles. Like the original concept vehicle, this is a sleek, two-seat roadster with a dramatic frameless windshield and sharp, subtle fins, and it was also crafted upon a Dodge chassis (in this case, one with a 119-inch wheelbase). It differs from the original in a number of ways as well with quad headlamps to two wide-spaced units, round taillights, chromed wire wheels, a new toothed grille treatment, and trim that stopped at the sides, instead of wrapping around the front and rear fascias.

Finished off in a light yellow, this understated beauty is all elegance and style and has a distinct 50s vibe that is sure to appeal to classic car collectors. The 1954 Dodge Firearrow II by Ghia from RM Sotheby’s boasts a 241-cubic-inch, 150-horsepower “Red Ram” Hemi V-8 nestled under the hood, mated to a Gyro-Torque four-speed automatic transmission that provides an impressively powerful performance. Production features such as exterior door handles may have been absent, but the Firearrow II was an operational car.

Painstakingly restored in its correct light yellow over a black two-seat interior, it’s hard not to be bowled over by this machine. Whilst it is part of the famed concept car collection of Joe Bortz in the early 1990s, the Dodge Firearrow II appears as forward-looking today as the day it rolled off the production line. Its wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel, as well as the Ghia badges it wears, are excellent nods to its Italian heritage, yet its Dodge chassis and Hemi V-8 give it undeniably American power and road presence. One of the reasons it has the $1m guide price is because it was the first of the drivable Firearrows, it makes fewer concessions to production-readiness than its successors, exemplifying Jet Age concept car design at its very best.