car is listed by RM Actions as the 1953 Chrysler

Actually, the car is listed by RM Actions as the 1953 Chrysler “Thomas Special” Coupe by Ghia. A mouthful, we know. It goes on the block at the Meadow Brook auction in Rochester, Mich., on July 24. (We’re still waiting, though, for someone to crack ADK’s Mystery Car, also on the Forum, here.)

It takes its name from its first owner, C.B. Thomas, president of Chrysler’s export division in the 1950s:

Departing from its conservative styling history, Chrysler hired the visionary Virgil Exner away from Raymond Loewy’s studios to build several “idea cars,” RM says in its history of the car. Exner, in turn, contracted with Italy’s Carrozzeria Ghia to build them. Says RM:

There was some serious thought about making the “Thomas Special” for production, but eventually only six were made for Chrysler and Ghia built 12 for itself.RM says some of the styling touches — the perfect proportions, minimal chrome and big engines — are reflected in today’s Chrysler 300. Adds RM:

Advertisement