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. 

This vintage Dodge Firearrow II is way too cool

According to Robb Report, RM Sotheby’s is set to host some significant automotive offerings for the Monterey auction on August 13 and 14. As per usual, 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 1954 Dodge Firearrow II, you’re not alone. This vintage Dodge is one of the most striking examples of Jet age concept cars. 

What is the Jet age? 

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. 

What makes the Firearrow II special?

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. 

What will this vintage Dodge concept car go for? 

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. 

Gord Duff, global head of auctions at RM Sotheby’s, says: “We are thrilled to offer the Dodge Firearrow at the Monterey auction, as this show-stopping example has brought one of the most memorable concept cars to life and is sure to capture the attention of collectors and enthusiasts today as much as it did in period while on the show circuit as a concept car.”