PLYMOUTH ASIMMETRICA ROADSTER

[George Smolinski]

Looks a lot like a Valiant with a funny nose on it.

The Asimmetrica Roadster was based on the same Plymouth Valiant platform as the XNR, utilizing the slant six engine and the Hyper-Pack features – cast-iron split headers and a Carter AFB carburetor, similar to the NASCAR Valiants.

The design of the Asimmetrica was a tempered, more user-friendly take on the XNR concept car, with a folding top, a full windshield, a less prominent D-Type-style fin behind the driver, and door handles.

The headlights of the original design were moved from inside the grill to the front fenders, and the indicators that had originally been fitted to the wings were moved down to a more traditional location under the headlights.

Inside, the Plymouth Asimmetrica Roadster was opulent by the standards of its time, with full leather upholstery, rich carpeting, a wood rimmed steering wheel, and polished chrome accents throughout.

The car was first shown to the public at the Turin Motor Show in 1961, where it was seen by Georges Simenon, the acclaimed French author of the Maigret detective novels. It was love at first sight for Simenon and he wrote a cheque to Ghia on the spot to buy it, on the condition that it would be delivered immediately after the show ended.

He remembered the encounter in his memoirs:

“On the Chrysler stand I am struck by a splendid flame red car, with a new and unseen line. I am fascinated by the model and address the seller, who introduces me to the famous Italian coachbuilders Ghia, the creator of this exclusive model. The price is shocking, but . . . I buy it for (my wife) Denyse; I sign a check and Ghia promises to deliver the car immediately after the show closes.” – Georges Simenon

Over the intervening decades the Asimmetrica would pass through a limited number of hands before it was carefully restored to original specification in 1989/1990, after which it was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1990.

Since 2000 the car has belonged to a private collector in the Pacific Northwest who has only publicly shown it very rarely, preferring to drive it and enjoy it as part of a very exclusive collection.

The Asimmetrica is now due to be publicly sold for the first time in almost 20 years at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey on the last weekend of August. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images: Josh Bryan ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Edited July 31, 2021 by George Smolinski (see edit history)

[plymouthcranbrook]

Well I am not sure what the designer was trying to accomplish with this but I have to say to me it never made it.  

Edited July 31, 2021 by plymouthcranbrook (see edit history)

[Fossil]

Not only the design studio that's at fault, the brain dead people who approved it for production are as much to blame. What a waist of a wonderful slant 6. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by Fossil (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

They say artificial sweeteners leave an aftertaste.

 

To me, this car leaves an aftertaste:  The image of

the horrible styling remains in my mind long after

the picture is gone...

 

 

Edited August 3, 2021 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[deaddds]

Nicely detailed eyesore.

[George Smolinski]

6 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

They say artificial sweeteners leave an aftertaste.

 

To me, this car leaves an aftertaste:  The image of

of the horrible styling remains in my mind long after

the picture is gone...

 

You’d have the only one at a show or cruise.😁

[58L-Y8]

Its just Virgil Exner in his Space Age Mannerist crisis.   Pushing the styling envelope can produce sterling design at time, but ripping the envelope results in this...

[carbking]

Anyone remember the Chrysler TV ads from the early 1960's where they promoted having (I don't remember exact numbers) about 2000 engineers, and fewer than 15 stylists?

 

Well, their engines/transmissions were bullet-proof, and someone once said beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Jon.

[Guest]

Wow, tough crowd.  😄

I think one needs to look at this more from a 1961 perspective. Thin ties, Playboy club key, guilt free cigarettes.

I think it's a very chic example of a bygone custom era. 

I would drive that car up and down Santa Monica Blvd. all day long listening to Dean Martin on the AM radio and get nothing but thumbs up at every intersection.

[plymouthcranbrook]

7 minutes ago, GregLaR said:

Wow, tough crowd.  😄

I think one needs to look at this more from a 1961 perspective. Thin ties, Playboy club key, guilt free cigarettes.

I think it's a very chic example of a bygone custom era. 

I would drive that car up and down Santa Monica Blvd. all day long listening to Dean Martin on the AM radio and get nothing but thumbs up at every intersection.

Yes perhaps LA would have some type of appreciation for it but I wouldn’t try it in Chicago.

[roysboystoys]

I'm hoping they only built one.

[JamesR]

Love it or hate it, cars like this help keep the "Not Mine" sales section interesting. 😉

[58L-Y8]

4 hours ago, JamesR said:

Love it or hate it, cars like this help keep the "Not Mine" sales section interesting. 😉

Yes, Beside the potentially good-value-for-the-money cars, we strive to find and post the interesting and unusual...even cars that are 'not for the squeamish' to quote Alfred Hitchcock as he intoned on his show introduction one time.  

[oldIHtruck]

Sold for $335k.....I've got a bridge to sell in Brooklyn...

[Guest]

A bargain!