Exner’s 1955 Chrysler Ghia Falcon Returns To Pebble Beach

One of the most stunning concept cars in Chrysler history is heading back to the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2025. The 1955 Chrysler Ghia Falcon, designed under the watchful eye of Virgil Exner and currently owned by collector Joe Bortz, will be featured in a special class celebrating Exner’s revolutionary “Idea Cars.”

Built by hand in Turin, Italy by Carrozzeria Ghia, the Falcon was Chrysler’s ambitious answer to the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird. Though it never reached production, it remains one of the most admired concept cars of the 1950s. Only three examples were built, each showcasing a unique blend of American power and European craftsmanship.

Bortz’s Falcon—arguably the most famous of the trio—rides on a shortened 1955 Chrysler C-300 chassis and is powered by a 5.4-liter (331 cubic-inch) FirePower HEMI® V8 paired with a 2-speed PowerFlite automatic transmission. It features power steering, power brakes, power windows, leather upholstery, and a handcrafted Nardi wood steering wheel. It wasn’t just a design study—it was a fully running and drivable concept car, and it still drives today.

The car was first shown to the public at the Chrysler International Salon in 1955, but its design was so forward-thinking that it still turns heads nearly 70 years later. Its iconic egg-crate grille, exposed side exhaust pipes, and wire wheels became styling cues that Chrysler would revisit in later years. In fact, Exner’s personal attachment to the car was so strong that he kept a brass model of the Falcon on his desk throughout his time at Chrysler.

Bortz has preserved the car in his collection for over 40 years, and it’s no stranger to high-profile appearances. In 2024, the Falcon was featured at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles as part of their “Fast/Forward” exhibit, showcasing futuristic designs from the past. Its return to Pebble Beach on August 17, 2025, marks a homecoming of sorts—it was previously displayed there in 1990, making history as one of the first postwar American concept cars ever shown on the famed concours lawn.

As part of the upcoming Virgil Exner “Idea Cars” class at Pebble, the Falcon stands as a testament to what Chrysler might have accomplished had it followed through with production. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most influential cars are the ones that never made it to showrooms.

If you’re a fan of American design, automotive history, or just want to see one of the most beautiful concept cars ever created, don’t miss the opportunity to witness this piece of rolling sculpture in person at Pebble Beach 2025.

Picture Source: Petersen Automotive Museum

1955 Chrysler Falcon Concept by Ghia Image Gallery: