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1956 Plymouth Plainsman (Ghia)

Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Spare Tire
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Spare Tire
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Spare Tire
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Spare Tire
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - The unique Plainsman was Virgil Exner’s tip of the hat to the American West, complete with a cowhide interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - The unique Plainsman was Virgil Exner’s tip of the hat to the American West, complete with a cowhide interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
Chrysler-Plymouth Plainsman Experimental Station Wagon, 1956 - Interior
1956 Chrysler Corporation Plainsman Concept Vehicle
1956 Chrysler Corporation Plainsman Concept Vehicle
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Chrysler Plainsman (Ghia), 1956
Images: www.autoweteran.gower.pl; www.imperialclub.com; Darin Schnabel/RM Auctions
Rating:  9    -10    +19
1956 Chrysler "Plainsman" Concept Car
Chrysler Corporation unveiled the experimental Plainsman "idea station wagon" during the January, 1956 Chicago Auto Show. Mounted on a 115-inch wheelbase Plymouth chassis, the 2-door wagon accented a Western theme with its "Palomino beige" finish, gold-colored Texas Longhorn medallion and hand-worked bronze trim which was chrome plated. A unique cantilever, stepped roof contained a centered louvered ventilator that provided draft-free ventilation of the 8-passenger cabin, and the padded white fabric top covering the rear two-thirds of the all-steel roof was weather-resistant. Clever idea on the Plainsman that made its way into the 1957 station wagon models by Chrysler Corp. was the spare tire and wheel hidden behind the right wheel and accessed via a lift-up panel.
Source: www.chicagoautoshow.com
Coachbuilder: Ghia
1933 Fiat 508S Balilla Spider (Ghia), 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet (Ghia), 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Coupe (Ghia), 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Supergioiello (Ghia), 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter (Ghia), 1951 Chrysler K-310 (Ghia), 1951 Plymouth XX-500 (Ghia), 1951 Talbot-Lago T.26 Record Coupe (Ghia), 1952 Chrysler C-200 (Ghia), 1952 Chrysler Special (Ghia), 1953 Abarth Fiat 1100 (Ghia), 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint Supergioiello (Ghia), 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Supersonic Conrero (Ghia), 1953 Cadillac Coupe (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler GS-1 Special (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler Thomas Special (Ghia), 1953 Cisitalia 505 DF (Ghia), 1953 Dodge Firearrow I (Ghia), 1953 Fiat 8V Boano Coupe (Ghia), 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Coupe (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CS Speciale (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 2000 Abarth (Ghia), 1954 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia), 1954 DeSoto Adventurer I (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firearrow II (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firearrow III (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firebomb - Firearrow IV (Ghia), 1954 Jaguar XK120 Supersonic (Ghia), 1954 Plymouth Explorer Special (Ghia), 1954 Simca Convertible Special (Ghia), 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 Supergioiello (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Falcon (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep I (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep II (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler ST Special Convertible (Ghia), 1955 DeSoto Adventurer II (Ghia), 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Coupe Speciale (Ghia), 1955 Ghia Gilda I, 1955 Jaguar XK140 (Ghia), 1955 Lincoln Futura (Ghia), 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (Ghia), 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II Supersonic (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Dart (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Norseman (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Special K300 (Ghia), 1956 Dual-Ghia Convertible (Ghia), 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica (Ghia), 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Berlina/Convertible (Ghia), 1956 Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956 Plymouth Plainsman (Ghia), 1957 Chrysler 375 Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Chrysler Diablo (Ghia), 1957 Dual-Ghia Sport Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Fiat 1100 TV Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Fiat Jolly (Ghia), 1958 Dual-Ghia 400 (Ghia), 1958 Simca Special (Ghia), 1959 Ghia Selene, 1960 Chrysler Valiant (Ghia), 1960 Ghia Dragster IXG, 1960 Plymouth XNR (Ghia), 1961 Chrysler TurboFlite (Ghia), 1961 Dodge Flite-Wing (Ghia), 1961 Dual-Ghia L 6.4 (Ghia), 1961 Ghia Cart, 1961 Maserati 5000 GT (Ghia), 1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica (Ghia), 1961 Volvo P1800 (Ghia), 1962 Fiat 500 Ziba (Ghia), 1962 Ghia Selene II, 1962 Plymouth Valiant St. Regis (Ghia), 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car (Ghia), 1963 Ghia G230S, 1964 Chrysler V280 (Ghia), 1964 Ghia 1500 GT, 1964 Renault R8 Coupe (Ghia), 1965 Bugatti Type-101C (Ghia), 1965 DeTomaso Competizione 2000 (Ghia), 1965 DeTomaso Vallelunga (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta Spyder (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Pampero (Ghia), 1966 Duesenberg Model D (Ghia), 1966 Fiat 850 Vanessa (Ghia), 1966 Ghia 450/SS, 1966 Isuzu 117 Sport (Ghia), 1966 Maserati Ghibli (Ghia), 1967 DeTomaso Rowan (Ghia), 1967 Iso S4 Fidia (Ghia), 1967 Oldsmobile Thor (Ghia), 1968 Ghia Serenissima, 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spider (Ghia), 1968 Maserati Simun (Ghia), 1969 DeTomaso Mustela (Ghia), 1969 Isuzu Bellett MX1600 (Ghia), 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 Competizione (Ghia), 1969 Lancia Marica (Ghia), 1970 DeTomaso Pantera (Ghia), 1970 Ghia City Car, 1971 DeTomaso 1600 Spider (Ghia), 1971 DeTomaso Deauville (Ghia), 1971 DeTomaso Zonda (Ghia), 1971 Ford GT-70 (Ghia), 1972 DeTomaso Longchamp (Ghia), 1973 DeTomaso Pantera II/Montella (Ghia), 1973 Ford Mustela II (Ghia), 1973 Lincoln Mark I (Ghia), 1974 Ford Coins (Ghia), 1975 Ford Flashback (Ghia), 1975 Ford Urban Car (Manx) (Ghia), 1976 Ford Corrida (Ghia), 1976 Ford Prima (Ghia), 1977 Ford Megastar (Ghia), 1978 Ford Fiesta Tuareg (Ghia), 1978 Ford Lucano (Ghia), 1978 Ford Megastar II (Ghia), 1978 Ford Microsport (Ghia), 1978 Ford Mustang III (Ghia), 1978 Ghia Action, 1978 Mercury XM (Ghia), 1979 Ford GTK (Ghia), 1979 Ford Navarre (Ghia), 1979 Ford Probe I (Ghia), 1980 Ford Granada Altair (Ghia), 1980 Ford Mustang RSX (Ghia), 1980 Ford Pockar (Ghia), 1981 AC ME3000 (Ghia), 1981 Ford Aerovan (Ghia), 1981 Ford Avant Garde (Ghia), 1981 Ford Cockpit (Ghia), 1981 Ford EXP-II (Ghia), 1981 Ford Shuttler (Ghia), 1981 Ford Super Gnat (Ghia), 1982 Ford Brezza (Ghia), 1982 Ford Quicksilver (Ghia), 1982 Ford Topaz (Ghia), 1982 Ghia Mini Max, 1983 Ford Barchetta (Ghia), 1983 Ford Trio (Ghia), 1984 Ford APV (Ghia), 1984 Ford Vignale Mustang (Ghia), 1984 Ford Vignale TSX-4 (Ghia), 1985 Ford Probe V (Ghia), 1985 Ford Urby (Ghia), 1986 Ford Vignale TSX-6 (Ghia), 1987 Ford HFX Aerostar (Ghia), 1987 Lincoln by Vignale (Ghia), 1989 Ford Saguaro (Ghia), 1989 Ford Via (Ghia), 1990 Ford Fiesta Bebop (Ghia), 1990 Ford Zag (Ghia), 1990 Ford Zig (Ghia), 1991 Ford Connecta (Ghia), 1992 Ford Focus (Ghia), 1993 Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale (Ghia), 1994 Ford Arioso (Ghia), 1996 Ford Alpe (Ghia), 1996 Ford Lynx (Ghia), 1996 Ford Saetta (Ghia), 1996 Ford Vivace (Ghia), 1996 Lincoln Sentinel (Ghia), 1998 Ford Touring Ka (Ghia), 2000 Ford Street Ka (Ghia), 2001 Ford Forty-Nine (Ghia)
Comments
ron kongslie
Sunday, March 16, 2008
This Plainsman looks like it is full of optimism for the near future. (1960) But doesn't it look a little too much like a hearse to be a Family wagon? But....yessir. I wish i owned it. When I was a kid my Dad bought a '56 Belvedere 4-dr. We loved that Push-button drive. A nice car.
Mike Binis
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Did this car really exist? I thought I knew every Plymouth model from the 1952 to 1978, but was this a european model or a concept car one-off? Seeing it in a suburban setting rather than on a car show stage means it's real...

Where is it and how many were made?
xxx
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
There was only one made. My Brother owns it and it currently resides in San Mateo California awaiting restoration. Bob rpjasin@pacbell.net
wally
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Australian Plainsman, and Wayfarer. The car above is a one of a kind show car but Chrysler did in fact build and sell Plainsman wagons. I hve no clue as too how they look. In addition to the Royal four-door sedans, Chrysler marketed two related, more utilitarian models, the "Plainsman Station Wagon," named after the Chrysler "dream wagon" of 1956 and the "Wayfarer," whose name harked back to the lowest-price Dodge line of the late forties. Basically both were Royal sedans forward of the "B"-pillar, with different roof, glass treatment and side panels behind. Neither sported the controversial added fin on the AP2 sedans. The Wayfarer, carrying a capacity of 1/2-ton, came as a six only while the Plainsman came with the V8 as well (192 sixes, but only 32 V-8s). Special commercial versions of the wagon were also sold for use as ambulances and hearses.
There were several commercial versions of the Plainsman. There was a 'panel van' version which was essentially the Plainsman without external door handles on the rear doors (these don't seem to have been very popular, judging from rego figures), but from what we know, hearses were simply standard Plainsmans with the rear seats removed.
Ambulances had specially built bodies and were not converted from Plainsmans as far as we know. A few custom built hearses (similar to ambulance bodies) also exist in the AP3 series.
The Wayfarer was an early example of the popular "utes," coupe/pickup combinations now seen everywhere in Australia. Both models are extremely rare; just 224 Plainsmans and 1,205 Wayfarers were sold between 1958 and 1960. The Plainsman was made in both AP1 and AP2 series, while the Wayfarer was made in the AP2 and AP3 series.
After 1960, there was a gradual thinning out of the "Royal" models; 1961 saw the demise of the Plainsman and by 1963, only the 4-door V-8 remained.
Stuart McCarthy
Friday, March 6, 2009
Did Exner have any input in the styling of this car? The windshield looks similar to those found on other Ghia-bodied cars.
M Hunter
Sunday, March 8, 2009
I think we saw this about 10 years ago as part of a Joe Bortz display at the Gilmore museum. It was remarkably complete and straight. If I recall correctly, it had a 70s California license plate and an 8-track bolted under the dash.
Kate
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
This is truly one weird looking car. My first thought was that is looks like a modified hearse. Also, on first glance, it is difficult to tell whether it is coming or going.

But, such was the 50's. A time of much experimentation as we moved into the "modern age".

Debbie
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Hi Mike Binis,
Yes, the Plainsman does exist. I am going to be listing it on eBay for sale on Thursday. It is definitely a very historic piece of automotive history. (See Old Cars Weekly front page article from January 21, 2010). Virgil Exner was in charge of design and the car was sent to Ghia for the body. This year Pebble Beach is going to be featuring Ghia designed cars.
Debbie
Pete
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
The car is being restored in New Orleans by two collectors. It will be over the top restored. You will see it soon
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