Among historic automotive alliances, that in the 1950s between Chrysler Corporation and Italian coachbuilder Ghia is among the most significant.

In Chrysler, Ghia found a ready source of post-war work, that would use its creations for highly public displays all over the world—thus providing an important stream of both attention and American dollars to the firm’s coffers.

In Ghia, Chrysler found a skilled shop that would add European elan to its products and happily carry out the dramatic styling whims of Virgil Exner and his team, at relatively low cost.

It was a true win-win arrangement, and for much of the decade the Chrysler-Ghia dream cars were something that auto showgoers eagerly awaited with each new season.

The most influential of these cars was that offered here, the Chrysler Styling Special, styled by Exner, built by Ghia, and debuted at the 1952 Paris Motor Show.

What it lacked in the grace of its nomenclature, it made up for in being a genuinely rakish automobile.

The...