On August 18, RM Auctions will sell a unique 1960 PlymouthPlymouthUnited States of America, 1928 > 200119 models
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XNR concept named after designer Virgil Exner. Plymouth has not existed since 2001 and was Chrysler'sChryslerUnited States of America, 1925 > present70 models
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budget brand since 1928. 

The car uses a 250hp 2.8-liter slant six engine with a four-barrel carburetor and a three-speed manual gearbox. The car was penned by Chrysler design guru Virgil Exner who wanted Chrysler to have a roadster like the CorvetteChevrolet Corvette Gen.1United States of America, 1953 > 196218 versions
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or the then discontinued two-seat ThunderbirdFord Thunderbird Gen.1 [I]United States of America, 1954 > 19573 versions
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. Carrozzeria GhiaGhiaItaly, 1914 > present2 models
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who had a close relationship building special Chryslers at the time built it. The platform was borrowed from the Plymouth ValiantPlymouth ValiantUnited States of America, 1960 > 19764 series
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.

According to Exner's son, the rear fin was inspired by the Jaguar D-TypeJaguar D-TypeUnited Kingdom, 1954 > 19572 photos
and the general concept came from a 1930s StudebakerStudebakerUnited States of America, 1868 > 196611 models
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that was entered into the Indy 500 that Exner owned. Even though it was a concept, Ghia formed the interior body in steel. Most concepts used fiberglass at the time. The car sits just 43in high. In testing the car hit 152mph at Chrysler's test track. 

After being shown, it was shipped back to Ghia and sold to a Swiss buyer who then sold it to the Shah of Iran. By 1969 it was sold to a buyer in Kuwait and appeared in a National Geographic pictorial about the growing wealth in the country. The car then went to Lebanon where it was hidden during the Lebanese Civil War. An enterprising man named Karim Edde was buying rare cars from the rich during the civil war and bought it cheaply from the owner to hide in a warehouse until the war ended. 

In 2008, Edde had the car restored by RM. It was finished in 2011 and displayed at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. The car was mostly complete but missing key pieces. The original hubcaps were made from 35 pieces, and all four had to be remade from scratch. 

The car won the Gran Turismo Trophy at the 2011 Amelia Concours and will be featured in Gran Turismo 6. It was also featured on Jay Leno's Garage. 

Source: Autoblog and RM Auctions