Chrysler New Yorker Ghia

Vehicle Overview

The Chrysler New Yorker Ghia, also known as the Chrysler Ghia GS-1, is a limited-production luxury coupé designed by Virgil Exner and hand-built by Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin, Italy, during the mid-1950s. This model exemplifies the collaborative spirit between American automotive engineering and Italian coachbuilding at a time when design innovation was gaining global prominence. The GS-1 was developed from the 1953 Chrysler Thomas Special concept car, also designed by Exner and constructed by Ghia. Intended as a limited-production grand tourer, the GS-1 was to be built in a run of 400 units. However, only 12 examples were ultimately completed, each slightly different in detail. These hand-built vehicles varied in their trim, body features, and finishes, reinforcing their exclusivity. The GS-1 coupés were built on a Chrysler New Yorker chassis with a wheelbase of 125.5 inches. Power came from Chrysler’s 331 cubic-inch FirePower Hemi V8 engine. The original GS-1 models were equipped with a four-speed semi-automatic Fluid Torque Drive transmission, although later examples featured Chrysler’s new PowerFlite two-speed automatic. This combination provided smooth performance and solid grand touring capability. A distinguishing characteristic of this particular example is its quad-headlamp configuration and an unusual hood treatment, highlighting Exner’s evolving design language that would influence future Chrysler products. The exterior design presented a blend of American proportions with restrained European elegance: long hood, short deck, flowing fastback roofline, and modest chrome detailing. One known example of the Chrysler New Yorker Ghia GS-1 was exhibited at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a venue recognized for showcasing rare and historically significant automobiles. Previously, this vehicle had been owned by French industrialist Léon Coulibeuf and appeared at the 1953 Concours d’Élégance in Enghien-les-Bains. The Chrysler Ghia GS-1 represents a significant chapter in postwar automotive design, combining advanced American mechanicals with bespoke Italian craftsmanship. Its rarity, elegance, and international pedigree make it a highly regarded artifact of mid-century automotive history.