The Pietro Frua Challenger
10-22-2006, 10:07 AM
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The Pietro Frua Challenger
When People think of American Cars that were rebodied by European coachbuilders, the Scagletti Corvettes, Exner-Ghia dreamcars, and some of the Montiverdis immedately come to mind...One such car is the Pietro Frua Challenger!
Looking like something out of the finest Italian coachworks of its contemporary time, the Pietro Frua Challenger Special is a work of art. With a style and hand-built body with lines that echo a Ferrari Daytona or an Alfa, this unique ride started as an R/T S.E. built in the last quarter of 1969.
Pietro Frua was a custom coach builder in Turin Italy, (much like Paninfarina, Ghia, and Bertone) and no stranger to making beautiful examples of automotive artwork. When Dr. Alferd Shepard (a Swiss bank director) commissioned him to build an automobile, this was the stunning result
Starting with a 383 R/T S.E., and bits from various European cars, and paying close to 100,000 Euros (1970 dollars, nonetheless!)Dr. Shepard had a Mopar that was uniquely European, much like the Jensens and the Monteverdis of its time.
Looking inside the car, it takes a second look to realize that this was at one time a Challenger.
Most of the interior is unique, but some details are originally Challenger.
A second item worthy of mention is the VIN tag - the character seperation is not what Moparites are used to seeing, and in fact, are identical to the French-built Challengers.
The tags were possibly a European mandate, as the Challenger Special was in Switzerland at the time of its conception.
The car is owned now by a second owner, Nicolas Leutwiler. The Car was completely restored in 1977, and the cream-white interior was added then.
More information, and more photos (and videos!!!) of this jewel can be seen at: Pietro-Frua.de
[IMG]local://upfiles/485/78DD36A71F624C1A984C727388C681F3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/485/9DC696E5CB734FBEBEAE65B0DE4EC672.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/485/F476042602C040A79E7C44376E9BAABE.jpg[/IMG]
Looking like something out of the finest Italian coachworks of its contemporary time, the Pietro Frua Challenger Special is a work of art. With a style and hand-built body with lines that echo a Ferrari Daytona or an Alfa, this unique ride started as an R/T S.E. built in the last quarter of 1969.
Pietro Frua was a custom coach builder in Turin Italy, (much like Paninfarina, Ghia, and Bertone) and no stranger to making beautiful examples of automotive artwork. When Dr. Alferd Shepard (a Swiss bank director) commissioned him to build an automobile, this was the stunning result
Starting with a 383 R/T S.E., and bits from various European cars, and paying close to 100,000 Euros (1970 dollars, nonetheless!)Dr. Shepard had a Mopar that was uniquely European, much like the Jensens and the Monteverdis of its time.
Looking inside the car, it takes a second look to realize that this was at one time a Challenger.
Most of the interior is unique, but some details are originally Challenger.
A second item worthy of mention is the VIN tag - the character seperation is not what Moparites are used to seeing, and in fact, are identical to the French-built Challengers.
The tags were possibly a European mandate, as the Challenger Special was in Switzerland at the time of its conception.
The car is owned now by a second owner, Nicolas Leutwiler. The Car was completely restored in 1977, and the cream-white interior was added then.
More information, and more photos (and videos!!!) of this jewel can be seen at: Pietro-Frua.de
[IMG]local://upfiles/485/78DD36A71F624C1A984C727388C681F3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/485/9DC696E5CB734FBEBEAE65B0DE4EC672.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/485/F476042602C040A79E7C44376E9BAABE.jpg[/IMG]
10-22-2006, 10:23 PM
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RE: The Pietro Frua Challenger
The interior looks possibly Ferrari category. Very nice! But the outside looks too much like a classic Jaguar. I like Jaguars, but a Challenger's exterior was good as is. It doesn't need to be changed. Thanks for posting, kelly!
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"To Debate and Moderate" since 2006
College Graduate:
B.S. in Marketing
A.A. in nothing
The first 426 Dual Quad member.
The first to 2000 posts
