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Italian Soul
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1954 Chrysler Ghia GS1. Photo: David Gooley
1954 Chrysler Ghia GS1. Photo: David Gooley
Roadcar Profiles

Italian Soul

 Jim Richardson

1954 Chrysler Ghia GS1

When Bob Frumpkin drove up in his 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS1 Special, at the Marina in Santa Monica, California, where we had agreed to meet, office workers and the boatyard crew came out to have a look. Several of them took out their cell phones and grabbed snapshots, stepping in front of Vintage Roadcar photographer David Gooley to do so. It didn’t take long for us to realize we needed a more secluded spot for our photo shoot. We decided to head to another location, so Bob tossed me the keys.

Photo: David Gooley
Photo: David Gooley

I open the big, broad driver’s side door and climb into the low bucket seat. I give the key a twist and the engine comes to life instantly. It is then I realize that under this stunningly beautiful Italian/American bodywork beats the stout heart of a Chrysler New Yorker. And, in 1954, that would have been the best of both worlds. Chrysler was known for great engineering, and the Italians have been the designers of the world since Roman times.

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Brand (Cadillac)Brand (Chrysler)Brand (Ghia)Brand (Mopar)Decade (1950s)Featured (Roadcar Feature)People (Dean Martin)People (Raymond Loewy)People (Virgil Exner)Profiles (Roadcar Profile)Profiles (The Cars)

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Jim Richardson
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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