Last updated on January 22, 2024
Today’s car is a 1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica Roadster concept car that was designed and built by Ghia. It was originally owned by Georges Simenon, the French author of the Maigret detective novels. Georges was fascinated with this Chrysler/ Ghia collaboration and contacted the seller. The price was shocking, but Georges bought it for his wife. It was delivered after the Geneva Motor Show. The Asimmetrica roadster was named because of its very unusually lopsided design, with an engine bulge and intake in front the driver and short fin behind the driver. I like the asymmetric look of the car especially the offset truck lid to the right of the fin and the Gas tank lid to the left.
I photographed this car at the Petersen Automotive Museum that had an event that was “Celebrating 100 Years of Hollywood”. This part of the event was a Hollywood Sign Parade that began at the Petersen Museum. The car is finished in red with a tan interior. It is powered by a 101 hp, very rare NASCAR-specification Hyper-Pak slant six engine, with 170. cu in, a very-long-ram Intake manifold with an AFB 4-barrel Carter carburetor. It is mated to a 3-manual transmission with 3.55:1 rear axle. Slowing this beauty down are drum brakes in all 4-corners. The Asimmetrica sits on a Valiant chassis that has independent front suspension with torsion bars and the rear suspension is solid axle with asymmetrical leaf springs.
The total 0f Plymouths produced were 356,257 units with 143,078 of them being Valiants with possibly only 2 of the Asimmetrica Roadsters that were built by Ghia. This restored concept car is the perfect car to take to a concourse shows or have a noteworthiness spot at the Petersen Automobile Museum. It was great seeing it in the parade on the drive to the Hollywood sign, at the Hollywood sign and back to the museum. I was lucky enough to have my Morgan to be in this fun event. Thank you for riding along. Frank
