I love automotive dreams! Without folks that are willing to put the hard work into turning their ephemeral visions into metal and fumes, the automotive enthusiast world would be a much less fun place to participate in. This “Mirage” is one of those dreams. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about how this one came into being, apart from it being built using a 1966 Chrysler 300 as a donor car. The Mirage is currently located in Kenosha, Wisconsin (you have to wonder if its creator was connected with AMC in some way) and can be found for sale here on eBay. Bidding is just over $3,000 as I write this and hasn’t met the reserve yet, although considering this other ad listing it at $11,000 obo, I suspect the reserve is quite a bit higher than current bids.
Let’s compare some pictures. The picture above shows the car in the auction, presumably in it’s current condition. Nicely polished brass! All the bodywork is metal, by the way, so you know that took a tremendous amount of time and effort to get right. Just imagine what it took to get the curved wood correct for those front fender lips! I realize the Mirage might not be your style — it’s not mine — but you have to admire the passion and work that went into its creation.
Here’s a “before” picture. Ah, you say, but Jamie, this isn’t in the eBay ad. Correct. However, it is in this ad that I found after a little creative use of search engines. I can’t see two creations like this, so I’m pretty comfortable in saying it’s the same car. That listing has the price at $1,000 and says the car was recently purchased from an estate. Looks like a nice anticipated profit for some cleanup work, don’t you think? This prior ad does give us the VIN, which we can use this page to identify the donor car as a 1966 Newport/New Yorker/300 2 door hardtop originally equipped with a 383 V8 and a two-barrel carburetor. It also includes some detail pictures of some of the wood and brass “jewelry” the car is adorned with.
Things actually look pretty good under here, although I would figure out a way to install an air cleaner somehow. We’re told the car runs well. Based on the date in the pictures and the dates of the ads, it looks like the current seller may have either polished all the brass or installed some new parts.
I’m still astounded by the amount of time and effort that went into this one of a kind creation. Sure, it may not be your style — but how many of you can say your automotive dream has been taken to reality! I would really like to know the back story on this Mirage!
The seller says some body work and paint will be needed. I hope that isn’t all that gets done, but also that the new buyer completes some research into the origin of the Mirage and how it came to be. Any of our readers know more? I’d be happy to pass on any information we collect to the eventual purchaser. And even if you don’t like this car–tell us about any custom automotive dreams that you have made into reality in the comments!
I’m with you, there can’t be……or let’s hope to God, there isn’t more than one of these. Imagine what could have been produced with all that time and energy if the builder had had some taste……
I’m with 👆 BronzeGiant on this …imagine the resultscif the builder actually had taste…. i just see a boat anchor
Wow, why waste money on a “thing” like that!!!! Gotta be the ugliest car I’ve ever laid my eyes on!!!!!
Ugliest car Jake? Check out the Spohn cars that some collectors go nuts over.
The slanted nose flares made me think of this 1964 Rolls while I was writing it up.
Yikes. Yes, I can appreciate the craftsmanship that went into this. But but creativity and skill mixed with arguably horrible taste is a recipe for disaster, which is what we have here…
Well, it does follow a nautical theme. Certainly not my taste, but attention to detail is pretty good! Note the correct ‘port/starboard’ colored running lights under the headlights. The builder probably did this on a lark just to be different!
This was my other thought from the front — also a 1964, this time a Lagonda Rapide.
Ford tried this front end with the Edsel. It took Ford 3 years to kill off their approach to ridiculousness.
Pity no one else realized that yech by another name is still yech!
Something tells me there’s a connection to Liberace with this car, perhaps only culturally.
After spending 16 weeks in Europe, culture can only be defined as agriculture and/or yogurt.
. . .
Was it Field of Dreams where he kept having these dreams that became nightmarish until he did something about it. Maybe the creator of this was having a hard time sleeping at night too.
Cue it up once again…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMpW2dBeeUg
Had to have been built in the 70’s- not much good came out of that decade. ’56 Pontiac dash?
Nope
Love that its called a Mirage and I see a lot of man hours in this one! Easy to knock the head scratching styling but you can tell some one made this one with love. That being said it’s a 3K car…
I agree 3K = 3 krona (SEK). That’s Swedish money or about 0.3685 USD.
If it’s a mirage, will it disappear when I get closer? Interesting in the front and rear to a certain extent. However the side view is godawful!
Nope! I drank a half bottle of Scotch and it still looks the same.
I can always appreciate people’s dreams and aspirations, but it should have remained a 1966 Chrysler.
Is it just me? I can’t figure out what’s going on with that rear wheel well and fender in the side view. Are there detail photos showing how that works?
Sorry but this is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thing. The car Homer designed that put his automaker brother out of business. Adding two domes and a blower would be an improvement to this thing tho lol. Gotta give props for the wood working skills tho if not for the overall design.
Mirage? More of a nightmare.
Someone’s got one hellava clean garage!
$10,000 though just for cleaning it up and polishing the brass. That’s sad that people pick up cars just to turn for profit like this. It needs to go to someone that enjoys it and doesn’t see dollar signs.
The other thing I noticed was the one car said over 100,000 miles, and he is stating the car only has 38,000 miles. That throws up a flag for me. I doubt very much that there are two of these cars.
By the way, great job in researching. I would’ve never thought to look for other ads that the guy had for the car
Thanks, Mike. One of the most fun things I get to do is the research behind the cars. I was hoping to find a builder’s story, but alas, that doesn’t seem to be posted anywhere.
This. Is. So. Weird. I kind of want it!
As a hobby, I enjoy woodworking. I have “designed” and built many things. While this might not be “your thing”, the amount of work put into the wood on this vehicle, is staggering! Then add the metal work on top of it! Since this apparently came out of an Estate Sale, most likely the builder has passed on. But, this was obviously something important to that person and from the looks, the goal was achieved. Hopefully they were able to enjoy it some!
Haven’t you ever just had an “off the wall” goal? Did you fulfill it? Did it feel good, even if nobody else understood it?