The One-of-a-Kind Dodge Firearrow II
Is Like
Nothing You’ve Ever Seen
Selling One-of-a-kind cars
is a strange thing that can come with a bit of trepidation – the Bubonic plague is also
rare, but that doesn’t mean anyone wants it. However, in the case of this insanely cool vintage
Dodge Firearrow II
concept car, I think we may see a few more takers than a black plague kissing booth.
The Monterey car auction will include dozens of impossibly
rare
European race cars as well as a true show stopper, a one-of-a-kind vintage Dodge concept car from 1954.
If you’ve never heard of the Dodge Firearrow II, you’re not alone. This vintage Dodge is one of the most
striking examples of
Jet age concept cars.
The “Jet age” is a term used to describe a period of automotive design that dreamed of a streamlined, sleek
futurist take on design. Right after World War II, concept cars were coming out left and right. Automakers used
these cars as ways to dream and show the public what the designers were up to.
GM was one of the major proponents of these dream vehicles and built many concept cars between 1946-1961.
GM would showcase these fanciful creations at their carnival-esq shows known as the Motorama Auto shows.
While GM had America’s gaze, Chrysler was hard at work with their own concept cars. Of all the concept cars that
Chrysler built, the 1954 Dodge Firearrow II remains the most beautiful.
According to Robb Report, The Firearrow II concept car was a hybrid, long before the word suggested gas and
electric power-train configurations, but rather, the combination of sleek Italian coachwork and a powerful
American V8 engine. This vintage Dodge concept car has remained so beloved and relevant due mostly to its
breath-taking design and heritage.
Virgil Exner was the American Battista Farina, father of the highly praised Pininfarina. Exner was Chrysler’s chief of
advanced design and had a very particular signature flair and panache that resulted in many beautiful and truly
innovative concept cars. Exner didn’t actually design or fabricate the Dodge Firearrow II; that credit goes to
the Italian coachbuilder Ghia. However, as well as many other Italian designers of the time, Ghia references Exner
as one of their major influences in design.
There were actually four Dodge Firearrows built, each with hand-formed bodies crafted by Carrozzeria Ghia in
Turin, Italy. But the Firearrow II was the only one that was actually fully finished. Robb Report mentions that the
Firearrow I looked like a finished car but was actually a “pushcar,” meaning it had no engine. The vintage Dodge
Firearrow II concept car was the first one that was a fully functional concept car. It was shown extensively all
around the world, earning it plenty of notoriety.
Given the unpredictable nature of auctions, there is no way to guarantee what the Firearrow II will sell for.
However, the one-of-a-kind Firearrow II is estimated to sell for somewhere between $900,000-$1.2 million.
We didn't have any new members in July which is not unusual for this time of year.
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John Burlini with his 20
12 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, 2014 Jeep SRT
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Jan Titus - 10/05
Diane Morris - 10/06
Kevin Hasse - 10/08
Carol Vigneron - 10/13
Nancy Owen - 10/13
Robert Burns - 10/14
Kevin Welch - 10/14
Nancy Hess - 10/21
Mike Huffine - 10/22
Robert Means - 10/23
Michele Hasse - 10/23
Rich Baricza - 10/31
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The provided information is sourced from the club's roster. Kindly inform us of any errors or omissions so that we can rectify them promptly.
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Martin and Marcia Landis's '52 Chevrolet Pickup
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Just a quick heads-up - we've got a sweet lineup of member vehicles on display. Take a peek by clicking on the link below. If you don't spot yours in the spotlight, no worries! Just shoot us a pic or hit up Rick Goble at rick.goble@icloud.com, and he'll make sure your ride gets the attention it deserves.
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October is here, and that means the weather cools down while the events heat up! This is a big month for the club, packed with exciting opportunities to get involved and showcase your rides. Join us for the Goodyear Police Department's National Night Out, the Estrella Foothills High School Homecoming Parade, and our very own "Cars & Cocktails." Plus, don’t miss out on our regular monthly meetups! Click on the links below for more details and make sure you're part of the action this month!
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Goodyear Police’s National Night Out
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Monthly Membership Meeting
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2nd Annual Cars & Cocktails
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The September's Club Luncheon was at Fiesta Mexicana here in Goodyear
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September Luncheon at Fiesta Mexicana in Goodyear, we had 19 members in attendance with everyone
enjoying the Southern Mexico atmosphere. Everyone had a great time, getting caught up with good friends,
coupled with many styles of South of the Border dishes that satisfied & delighted everyone. Thank you all
once again for participating…And to Doug and Pam for making all happen.
Bill Owen, President
The following is a Video from
September's Cars & Coffee
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Last Month's Award Winners
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The Murray's 1972 Dodge D100are
cleaning up in South Carolina!
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Dave and his son Nicholas joined our club last year, but earlier this summer, they relocated to South Carolina. Since moving, their beautifully restored '72 Dodge D100 has been making waves in the car show scene. The father-son duo has been sweeping up awards left and right!
Here are just a few of the accolades they’ve brought home:
Project Jasmine Against Domestic Violence: Top 30 and Best Mopar.
Vettes for Pets: Best Classic Mopar.
Southern Fried Motorsports: Favorite Dodge Truck.
Flashlight Frenzy Car Show/Summertime Showdown: Top 10 and Best Mopar.
We're proud to see them doing so well and continuing to honor the car culture we love. Keep up the great work, guys!.
If you attend any shows and earn awards, be sure to let us know! It's always a pleasure to celebrate and share your achievements with everyone. Looking forward to seeing those trophies roll in!
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Some of you may find this interesting. If you get the Hagerty emails, you've probably seen the story recently about Ford's famous "Flathead" V8. I used to work for W.W. Wallwork Ford in Fargo ND, which was founded in 1921 by Bill Wallworks grandfather. Bill shared the following story about his grandfather's inte
raction with Henry Ford regarding this very engine.
As you may know from the article, Henry Ford was the conceptual father of the Flathead V8, with the goal of creating an engine that was cheap, simple, rob
ust, and reliable. However, when the motor was introduced in 1932, it developed an oil consumption issue. Bill's grandfather began receiving complaints from customers and passed them on to Ford, but the engineers—fearful of telling Henry—ignored them.
Frustrated, Bill's grandfather decided to take matters into his own hands. He drove a new car equipped with the Flathead engine from Fargo to Dearborn, saving the empty oil bottles along the way (yes, oil was sold in glass bottles back then). Once he arrived, he demanded to see Mr. Ford. When he finally met with him, he took Henry outside, opened the trunk, and revealed a pile of empty oil bottles. Ford asked, "What's this?" Bill's grandfather replied, "That's how much oil I used to get here from Fargo, ND."
And that’s how Henry Ford learned that his "cheap, simple, robust, and reliable" V8 had a problem.
Rick Goble
Our
newsletter is
produced for you. It is
a communication method
for our members
to use and
share information about
current club activities
with
members,
and
perspectives
in mind.
Your
newsletter
contains
updates, new stories, helpful content, or anything to keep
you
interested in
Estrella Mountain Car Club
.
We look forward to hearing from you
with related
items
of interest that you would like
to share with others.
Appreciate your participation
,
Bill Owen
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Estrella Mountain Car Club Foundation
Po. Box 5583, Goodyear, AZ 85338
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