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- Chrysler "613" Concept Car, 1955-1956 - In the 1950s, Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Styling Studio remade the carmaker's stodgy image with sleek, smooth lines inspired by jet aircraft. The department, headed by chief stylist Virgil Exner, developed several fully operational concept models. Pictured here is the body of #613, an "idea car" that exemplified Exner's "Forward Look" and influenced much of the styling for Chrysler's 1957 300C.
- 1955-1956
- Collections - Artifact
Chrysler "613" Concept Car, 1955-1956
In the 1950s, Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Styling Studio remade the carmaker's stodgy image with sleek, smooth lines inspired by jet aircraft. The department, headed by chief stylist Virgil Exner, developed several fully operational concept models. Pictured here is the body of #613, an "idea car" that exemplified Exner's "Forward Look" and influenced much of the styling for Chrysler's 1957 300C.
- Packard Predictor Scale Model, 1956 - This 1/16-scale model depicts the Packard Predicator, a concept car designed by William Schmidt and Richard Teague. The Packard Predictor concept was a 1956 exercise to visualize a future design direction for Packard. But by 1959, the Packard brand was history.
- 1956
- Collections - Artifact
Packard Predictor Scale Model, 1956
This 1/16-scale model depicts the Packard Predicator, a concept car designed by William Schmidt and Richard Teague. The Packard Predictor concept was a 1956 exercise to visualize a future design direction for Packard. But by 1959, the Packard brand was history.
- Wooden Buck for the 1952 Chrysler Special, Ghia Factory, Torino, Italy, circa 1950 - A close relationship between Chrysler Corporation and coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia began in 1950, when the Italian company built its first high-quality body for a standard Chrysler chassis. Ghia would create many of the forward-looking "idea cars" designed by chief stylist Virgil Exner. This photograph shows Ghia executives with the wooden buck used to shape metal for Exner's 1952 Chrysler Special.
- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Wooden Buck for the 1952 Chrysler Special, Ghia Factory, Torino, Italy, circa 1950
A close relationship between Chrysler Corporation and coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia began in 1950, when the Italian company built its first high-quality body for a standard Chrysler chassis. Ghia would create many of the forward-looking "idea cars" designed by chief stylist Virgil Exner. This photograph shows Ghia executives with the wooden buck used to shape metal for Exner's 1952 Chrysler Special.
- Chrysler "613" Concept Car, 1955-1956 - In the 1950s, Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Styling Studio remade the carmaker's stodgy image with sleek, smooth lines inspired by jet aircraft. The department, headed by chief stylist Virgil Exner, developed several fully operational concept models. Pictured here is #613, an "idea car" that exemplified Exner's "Forward Look" and influenced much of the styling for Chrysler's 1957 300C.
- 1955-1956
- Collections - Artifact
Chrysler "613" Concept Car, 1955-1956
In the 1950s, Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Styling Studio remade the carmaker's stodgy image with sleek, smooth lines inspired by jet aircraft. The department, headed by chief stylist Virgil Exner, developed several fully operational concept models. Pictured here is #613, an "idea car" that exemplified Exner's "Forward Look" and influenced much of the styling for Chrysler's 1957 300C.
- Stutz Blackhawk Prototype in Body Buck, Carrozzeria Ghia Factory, Italy, 1968-1969 - Banker James O'Donnell and former Chrysler design head Virgil Exner revived the Stutz Motor Company and built new models under the brand from 1971 through 1987. The Blackhawk coupe was based on a General Motors platform but included luxury features like gold-plated trim and mink carpeting. The high-end car appealed to celebrity owners like Sammy Davis, Jr., and Elvis Presley.
- 1968-1969
- Collections - Artifact
Stutz Blackhawk Prototype in Body Buck, Carrozzeria Ghia Factory, Italy, 1968-1969
Banker James O'Donnell and former Chrysler design head Virgil Exner revived the Stutz Motor Company and built new models under the brand from 1971 through 1987. The Blackhawk coupe was based on a General Motors platform but included luxury features like gold-plated trim and mink carpeting. The high-end car appealed to celebrity owners like Sammy Davis, Jr., and Elvis Presley.
- 1952 Chrysler Special Designed by Virgil M. Exner - Virgil Exner left Studebaker Corporation in 1949 to begin work as chief of Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Styling Studio. His newly created department was tasked to develop forward-looking Chrysler concept models. This "idea car," the Chrysler Special, was unveiled to much acclaim at the 1952 Paris Auto Show. Unlike most concept cars, Exner's Special was both stylish <em>and</em> fully operational.
- 1951-1952
- Collections - Artifact
1952 Chrysler Special Designed by Virgil M. Exner
Virgil Exner left Studebaker Corporation in 1949 to begin work as chief of Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Styling Studio. His newly created department was tasked to develop forward-looking Chrysler concept models. This "idea car," the Chrysler Special, was unveiled to much acclaim at the 1952 Paris Auto Show. Unlike most concept cars, Exner's Special was both stylish and fully operational.
- 1957 Chrysler Dart Concept Car - Created under Chrysler design head Virgil Exner, the Chrysler Dart concept car debuted during the 1956 auto show season. Its streamlined aluminum body and tall tailfins echoed Exner's "Forward Look," then appearing on Chrysler's production models. Dodge appropriated the Dart name for a production car introduced for 1960.
- 1957
- Collections - Artifact
1957 Chrysler Dart Concept Car
Created under Chrysler design head Virgil Exner, the Chrysler Dart concept car debuted during the 1956 auto show season. Its streamlined aluminum body and tall tailfins echoed Exner's "Forward Look," then appearing on Chrysler's production models. Dodge appropriated the Dart name for a production car introduced for 1960.