The 1957 Ghia is hard to spot as it used the 1958 grille with the 1957
bumper. And all 1957-1959 Crown Imperials used the 392-cid hemi V8 engine.
Ghia, which was a body builder in line of Judkins, Dietrich, Derham,
LeBaron, et al, built special bodies for many European auto manufacturers,
as well as Chrysler. It was purchased by Ford in the 1970's, which is how
Ford could market Granada Ghia models from 1975.
The Ghia firm built a number of Exner-designed show cars for Chrysler during
the 1950's as it was cheaper to have them built in Italy and shipped to the
U.S. (import duties and all) than to have them built in the U.S.
Getting back to Imperials, the 1961 Crown Imperials were based on the 1960
model and none were built in 1962.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
> List-
>
> Just to clarify matters, ALL 57-9 Ghias originated from 1957 chassis,
> evidenced by the 1957 data plates, dashes, and '57 FirePower hemis.
> (production '58s had 'Imperial' hemis, and '59s had 413s)
> The VINs, on the other hand, are specific to the model year of
> completion, i.e. C57 XXXX for 1957, LY1 XXXX for 1958, and M657 1XXXXX
> for 1959. The 'bubble-top was actually 'built' in the 1959 model year,
> and not simply upgraded from an existing '57. (Has anyone ever actually
> seen a true '57? They weren't offered until early 1958, and by the time
> most of them were completed three+ months later, the '58 model year had
> arrived!)
>
> Bob
>
> mark ollerton wrote:
>
> > hello all,
> > re bill watson's mention of this car:
> > the 1959 ghia limo used for the royal tour of canada
> > in 1959 was actually a 57 converted to 59 appearance.
> > it had the rear of the roof fitted with a removeable
> > glass dome.
> > the big 3 automakers each contributed a limo to the
> > canadian government for the tour.
>
>
>
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