MiscRoadcar ArticlesSpecial Feature

1958 Dual-Ghia Convertible

Casey Annis

As a man possessed of virtually boundless vision and drive, Eugene Casaroll almost single-handedly invented the car-delivery business with his foundation of Auto Shippers and his Dual Motors Corporation built fleets of twin-engine military vehicles for America and its WWII allies. Next, he diversified into high-end automobile manufacturing by acquiring production rights to the Virgil Exner-designed, Ghia-built Dodge Firebomb concept car of 1955, which he renamed the Dual-Ghia.

Dual Motors shipped modified Dodge chassis from Detroit to Ghia in Turin, where the sleek, handmade bodies were fitted. Once back at the Dual facilities, Dodge D-500 V-8 engines and PowerFlite automatic transmissions were installed. Production ran from 1957 to 1958, with the original Virgil Exner design only slightly modified under the watchful eyes of Paul Farago (Casaroll’s partner and Ghia’s American representative), who increased passenger and luggage space and specified the subtle aircraft-inspired tailfins.

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Casey Annis
Casey M. Annis is the Founder and Editor of Vintage Road & Racecar magazine, as well as Editor of Alfa Owner, The Oily Rag and BMW Ultimate Classic magazines. He founded Parabolica Publishing in 1997 after a career in neurobiology. Along with his passion for automobiles, Casey is a long distance open-ocean paddleboard racer who’s competed over 10 times in the 32-mile Catalina to Manhattan Beach race and the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu race. Casey still contributes and writes about the world of vintage road and racecars and edits and curates the content for this website.
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