Historic Concept Cars to be Stars of RM Auctions' Arizona Event!

You dream of owning a concept car or a classic automobile that would fulfill your fantasies? Well, now’s your chance to satisfy both urges at once. A number of these from the 1950s are found in the catalogue of RM Auctions for the Automobiles of Arizona event to be held on January 21-22.

Chrysler Plainsman

Back then, models like the 1956 Chrysler Plainsman, 1954 Mercury Monterey XM-800, 1956 Cadillac Maharani and 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Raindrop were labeled as "dream cars." Along with many other exuberant creations, they were the crown jewels of the Big Three at major auto shows of the post-WWII era.

Today, these exclusive items are highly coveted by car collectors and dedicated enthusiasts all over the world. They will be the stars of the 11th annual Automobiles of Arizona auction at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about three of these vintage concept cars:

Chrysler Plainsman: The suburban
The Chrysler Plainsman stood out from its peers in more ways than one. First of all, it was arguably the only wagon concept ever showcased by an American automaker in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Introduced at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show, the Plainsman has never been restored since. It was penned by Virgil Exner as a bold expression of the suburban trends in American living. That explains, among other things, the gold-colored Texas Longhorn medallions on the car.

The eight-passenger body fuses two disparate roof sections around the massive B-pillars. Actually, they look like they came from two different cars and give the overall impression of a two-headed monster!

Equipped with a motorized hatch and a backward-facing third-row bench seat, the Plainsman could almost be considered as the pioneer of modern SUVs. Built on a Plymouth chassis by Italian coachbuilder Ghia, it’s now worth somewhere between $US250,000 and $US300,000.