The
Belmont was a convertible, made for the 1954 Chicago Auto Show by
Briggs Manufacturing (rather than the usual Ghia, because Chrylser had
just bought Briggs); it was designed in the Advanced Styling Studio,
under the supervision of head stylist Virgil Exner. Underneath the fancy
curves was a chassis shared by Plymouth and Dodge, with a 114 inch
wheelbase. The V8 engine was, according to the numbers, the 14th
allocated to Plymouth, which had no V8 powered cars at the time; it was
used in Dodges as the Red Ram, and squeezed 150 horsepower out of its
241 cubic inches, good at the time. The transmission was the corporate
semi-automatic, sold by Plymouth as the Hy-Drive.
The Plymouth Belmont was long (191.5 inches), low (49 inches), and sleek, painted light metallic blue (it would later be repainted in red), with what passed for an aerodynamic theme; it also had turbine styling cues, not surprising given that Chrysler was seriously intending to release a turbine engine at the time (“[Chrysler’s] gas turbine has solved high fuel consumption, exhaust heat problems usually associated with turbine engines.”) The roof itself was a soft top hidden behind the seats, with a hard cover.
According to Second Chance Garage, Belmont used a stock engine, except for chrome valve covers and a low-profile air cleaner (to allow the hood to close) on the standard Stromberg WW-3-108 carburetor. The wheels were stock Chrylser options, and tail lights were from the prior year’s Chryslers; various pieces were taken from standard cars across the Chrysler Corporation lines. The windshield itself was made of Plexiglass. Virgil Exner had gotten permission to keep the Belmont after it was shown; it was sold in 1968, and changed hands a couple of times before being left on its own a garage. It was later rescued and is now in Don Williams’ collection in New Jersey.
Source: Internet
