Topic: MPC#036 - Solved - Betty Skelton and Dodge Firearrow

[Iluvatar]

Tell me the story behind this girl and this car for one point...

[Iluvatar]

Up!

[Jean-Marie H]

Ghia Dodge Firearrow III Coupe

Upon delivery to the Chrysler Corporation, the blue coupe was earmarked to be the center of attraction at the opening of the company’s new Chelsea Proving grounds in June 1954, at which point entered a daring young woman by the name of Betty Skelton. By the early 1950s, Miss Skelton had made quite a name for herself. While her first love was flying, (she had flown solo at age 12 and by age 20 was considered one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world) she had taken on a job as a charter pilot and in the course of transporting race drivers between events became friends with NASCAR founder Bill France.

Chrysler had made a deal with the U.S. Customs Department that in order to avoid paying some hefty import duties due to the Italian coachwork by Ghia, the car would go back to the country of its origin. In early 1955, the Firearrow III was crated up and sent back to the Turin shops of Ghia. From there Firearrow III was sold to a private individual in France where it remained in the same ownership for the next 30-plus years.

[Iluvatar]

Ghia Dodge Firearrow III Coupe

Upon delivery to the Chrysler Corporation, the blue coupe was earmarked to be the center of attraction at the opening of the company’s new Chelsea Proving grounds in June 1954, at which point entered a daring young woman by the name of Betty Skelton. By the early 1950s, Miss Skelton had made quite a name for herself. While her first love was flying, (she had flown solo at age 12 and by age 20 was considered one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world) she had taken on a job as a charter pilot and in the course of transporting race drivers between events became friends with NASCAR founder Bill France.

Chrysler had made a deal with the U.S. Customs Department that in order to avoid paying some hefty import duties due to the Italian coachwork by Ghia, the car would go back to the country of its origin. In early 1955, the Firearrow III was crated up and sent back to the Turin shops of Ghia. From there Firearrow III was sold to a private individual in France where it remained in the same ownership for the next 30-plus years.

Yes! that's it!
The point is yours, but maybe there is something to be added about that girl at that event... do you know what? (for sure yes... and you can easily find it on the web...) 

[Jean-Marie H]

Betty Skelton driving a Corvette at Daytona Beach in 1956, she set the land speed record for women at 145 mph.

She also set records in, among other cars, one of the Ghia-built Dodge Firearrow cars. Betty Drove the Firearrow III (1954) - a 2-seater Sport Coupe, also called the Firebomb - to a clocked at 143.44mph at the Chrysler proving grounds.

Betty also set another land speed record for women at Bonneville in Art Arfons Cyclops with her run of 277.62 mph with a top speed of 315.72 mph in 1965.

[Iluvatar]

Betty Skelton driving a Corvette at Daytona Beach in 1956, she set the land speed record for women at 145 mph.

She also set records in, among other cars, one of the Ghia-built Dodge Firearrow cars. Betty Drove the Firearrow III (1954) - a 2-seater Sport Coupe, also called the Firebomb - to a clocked at 143.44mph at the Chrysler proving grounds.

Betty also set another land speed record for women at Bonneville in Art Arfons Cyclops with her run of 277.62 mph with a top speed of 315.72 mph in 1965.

Yes... the women speed record is what I was looking for...

[Otto Puzzell]

Skelton's exploits in the Corvette (and another shot of her with the Dodge) can be seen here:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=6926.10