1963 Dual-Ghia L6.4 Coupe

If the Chrysler-powered Facel-Vega is a French Imperial, consider the L6.4 a Mopar Maserati

by B. Mitchell Carlson

The brainchild of Eugene Casaroll, the Italian-American hybrid known as the Dual-Ghia was largely based on the Ghia-designed Chrysler Firearrow, a concept car for which he acquired the production rights. Luxurious and extravagant, it had the longest production line in the world—from Detroit to Milan and back—as it utilized an American drivetrain and Italian coachwork.

Sales were modest, however, and in 1960, a redesigned coupe version appeared in Paris, spearheaded by the American Ghia agent Paul Farago, with little input from Casaroll. It had every imaginable amenity, including fitted luggage and luxurious styling, and the public response to the largely hand-built L6.4 was encouraging.

The car continued to use a Chrysler V8 engine—a 383-ci unit—but the construction was almost entirely conducted in Italy, making this version more of an import than before. Fewer off-the-shelf parts were used, and with high-quality materials, the price skyrocketed...