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I know, i know, but there is a article on our beloved Dodge C bodies and the designer actually admits Chrysler designers admired pontiac and took styling points off of the Pontiacs
I know there's "cross talk" between manufactures in lots of cases (some Hyundai's look like Mercedes...imagine that).....I'd be naive if I said I was surprised. I have some Japanese Car Design books where people from Mazda and Datsun (Nissan) admit to the same thing. Chrysler, Pontiac, Ford, Honda......they're all chasing the same thing...but I firmly believe Chrysler made a momentous step when the fuselage design was introduced in 69'.....and since Chrysler was the smallest of the big three, they HAD to be on the cutting edge of design/engineering or risk being shut down.
 
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If you can recall that article I'd love to read it so as to understand the mindset behind their actions.....oh, and Chrysler is not without fault and cannot surpass scrutinization during this era either IMO.
 
The point is one is style, and the other is design. Are you gonna follow everyone as they jump off the golden gate bridge?QUOTE]
This is exactly the point. At the dawn of the Exner/Chrysler forward look period. It started slow in 1955 and by 1957 both GM and Ford realized they had been caught with their, (styling), pants down.

In GM's camp the 58 chevy was suppost to be a 57. The 57 Chev was a last minute effort retool of the 55/56 body, (with fins), because of issues with the new body style. People lost their jobs at Chevrolet due to the 57 restyle and chevys were outsold by Fords for the first time. (seems ironic the 57 Chevy became such an icon of the 50's).

Ford even added the fins to their new cars after the positive reaction to the 56 chrysler corp style/design.

Virgil had the trump card for style/design in the mid 50's. Because of that Chrysler let him run with it ...... and he did. Times became more conservative in the late 50's, early 60's. But Virgil didn't...... ( I'm thinking he was an exterestrial).

I view his legacy of style and design as a reward to us.
 
Wait Will? I thought more Chevys were sold in 57 than in any other year....to that point.

"Chevrolet model year production peaked at 1,515,177 cars. Calender year sales were counted at 1,522,536 units. Chevrolet outsold Ford by only 136 units on a calendar year basis, but Ford actually built more 1957 spec models then Chevrolet."
*reference standard catalog of American cars.
 
The point is one is style, and the other is design. Are you gonna follow everyone as they jump off the golden gate bridge?QUOTE]
This is exactly the point. At the dawn of the Exner/Chrysler forward look period. It started slow in 1955 and by 1957 both GM and Ford realized they had been caught with their, (styling), pants down.

In GM's camp the 58 chevy was suppost to be a 57. The 57 Chev was a last minute effort retool of the 55/56 body, (with fins), because of issues with the new body style. People lost their jobs at Chevrolet due to the 57 restyle and chevys were outsold by Fords for the first time. (seems ironic the 57 Chevy became such an icon of the 50's).

Ford even added the fins to their new cars after the positive reaction to the 56 chrysler corp style/design.

Virgil had the trump card for style/design in the mid 50's. Because of that Chrysler let him run with it ...... and he did. Times became more conservative in the late 50's, early 60's. But Virgil didn't...... ( I'm thinking he was an exterestrial).

I view his legacy of style and design as a reward to us.
You'll get no arguments from me on this. History tells us GM/Ford/Chrysler offered it up, and the public bought it as if it were gold. That's it.
 
You'll get no arguments from me on this. History tells us GM/Ford/Chrysler offered it up, and the public bought it as if it were gold. That's it.
I know you think the auto industry produces a product and then tries to shove it down the publics throat, and in this day & age there is truth to that..... mainly due to federal regulations applied to manufactured vehicles.

But in the 50's the auto market was very competitive and with a lot of choices avaliable to the buyer. And for that reason the auto industry responded to what the public demanded, or suffered loss of sales. Simple, basic marketing.......!
 
I know you think the auto industry produces a product and then tries to shove it down the publics throat, and in this day & age there is truth to that..... mainly due to federal regulations applied to manufactured vehicles.

But in the 50's the auto market was very competitive and with a lot of choices avaliable to the buyer. And for that reason the auto industry responded to what the public demanded, or suffered loss of sales. Simple, basic marketing.......!
This is choice?

UGLY1.jpg


UGLY3.jpg


UGLY6.jpg
 
"50% of today's vehicle design is driven by regulation and the other 50% is driven by the market needs of the people responding to regulation."
Stanley P.
 
Lets see ........
I had the twin to this Chevy, (without the skirts or conny kit).

I drove this 58 Savoy sport coupe for awile.......

And this 57 Country Squire was my daily driver for over two years.....

I think I miss the Ford wagon the most.... It was a 292 3 on the tree.

1957-Chevrolet-Convertible7-960x639.jpg


58 savoy (Large).jpg


57 ford wagon (Large).jpg
 
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