Sinatra's Rat Pack drove rare classic cars

Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Lawford, and Bishop drove the most glamorous cars of their day.

The Rat Pack swung through the twilight of the space age with a highball in one hand and a babe in the other. Cocky-angled Italian hemp porkpie hats, sharkskin suits and coachbuilt luxury cars signified star power and Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop had it in spades. The Rat Pack loved and laughed their way through the late 1950s early 1960s like the party would never end. Their cars reflected their swanky lifestyles like only handbuilt Italian-American hybrids could.

1953 Dodge Firearrow idea car inspired the Rat Pack's signature ride, the Dual Ghia.

Dual Ghias were owned by Debbie Reynolds, Hoagy Carmichael, and Ronald Reagen as well.

Around 100 Dual-Ghias were built from 1956-58. Some 30 are accounted for.

Dean Martin's very own Ghia L6.4. The coupe succeeded the legendary Dual Ghia convertible.

Just 26 of the sleek Ghia L6.4 coupes were built. Seventeen are accounted for today. Sinatra and Martin both bought black ones. Sinatra's is on display at The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Italian bodywork and Chrysler V-8 running gear meant these cars had the best of both worlds. Nice ‘n Easy was a Sinatra hit at the time and that’s the way they liked it.

1955-74 VW Karmann-Ghia by Italian coachbuilders who built the Rat Pack's exclusive rides.

Dean Martin personified the Rat Pack's breezy elegance.

Cruising from Beverly Hills to Palm Springs or Vegas demanded a slick ride and the Rat Pack had the cash to buy the best. With their continental cut suits and skinny ties, They were nothing if not stylish. It comes as no surprise that their cars reflected the Rat Pack's groove.

57-58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was a handbuilt dream car with a stainless steel roof.

Eldorado Brougham was introduced to compete with handbuilt 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II.

What would the Rat Pack drive today? Unlike the late 1950s, there's a large number of exclusive, handbuilt cars offered today. The Spyker might work, or maybe a Bugatti Veyron. Today's exclusive European handbuilts are all hardcore two seat sports cars, as opposed to the boulevard cruisers the Rat Pack favored. The Bentley Continental probably comes closest in spirit, but it's not exclusive enough. Nothing built today really seems to have quite the panache of the finned Dual Ghias and Ghia L6.4s. Maybe we're all the poorer for it.

Bentley Continental: beautiful, expensive, and powerful, but common as Camrys in Beverly Hills.

For more info:Check out Dual Ghias and the Rat Pack.