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Italian-American Beauty: Dodge Firebomb Concept CarMany Mopar faithful aren’t familiar with the Dodge Firebomb concept, even though they know the Firearrows, to which the Firebomb is a successor. It’s also, as you can clearly see, a drop-dead gorgeous car, thanks to Italian design, that’s packing a Hemi under the curvaceous hood.
These Ford Mustang concepts are anything but gorgeous.
Amazingly, it wasn’t forces inside Dodge that created the Firebomb but instead the driving entity was one Eugene “Gene” Casaroll. He owned a car shipping company based in Detroit, was an Indianapolis 500 sponsor, and had his own boutique automaker called Dual-Motors.
Image via RM Sotheby’sFascinated by the Firearrow concepts, as were many Americans at the time, he actually bought the copyright tto the Firearrow IV design. Then he turned those over to Italian coachbuilder Ghia, which refined the styling to make something even more beautiful: the Firebomb.
The crowds at the 1955 Geneva Motor Show were astounded when the concept car was revealed. But for the US debut, Casaroll decided to go decidedly more upscale, renting out the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club north of Detroit, clearly choosing a location that did such a classic vehicle justice.
Image via RM Sotheby’sAmerican consumers of the more genteel quality were impressed by the Dodge Firebomb, especially since it not only looked classic but had some real power to get it moving. That helped propel Casaroll forward with making the concept a production reality.
The Firebomb was the predecessor for the Dual-Ghia, a car that back in the day was wildly expensive and the ride of choice for many celebrities, including Frank Sinatra. While finding a Dual-Ghia is incredible with only a few dozen known to still be in existence, the Firebomb is even rarer.
Image via RM Sotheby’s Today, a single Firebomb is known to have survived. It failed to meet reserve the last time it crossed the auction block at Amelia Island, but perhaps the impressive styling will one day re-emerge.
Images via RM Sotheby’s
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The Dodge Firebomb Concept Car, a testament to Italian-American aesthetica and engineering excellence. From its sleek curves that evoke the rush of Speedway lanes in Southern California tanning into pure passion on American roads.
