I remember my Day seeing his first 59 Che** fins and saying "You could keep
chickens in there if you put chicken wire over them".
----- Original Message -----
From: Greg and Russell <65luxuryliner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 8:54 PM
Subject: IML: thanks for the fin info!
> Thanks Chris and Doug for your posts about finned cars! I like the finned
> era cars and enjoy learning the history behind them. I knew about the jet
> fighter airplane inspiration for the '48 Cadillac's fins but was unaware
of
> the mopar stories or the technical info regarding the tests performed. I
> appreciate you both taking the time to share your knowledge about the
> history as well as what model mopars had canted fins. As to the '59
Impala
> fins you are right Doug, they are indeed almost horizontal. I just never
> thought about those '57 - '60 models being canted because I have not seen
> one from the rear. Have a great holiday guys and enjoy those fins!
>
> Greg (finless in Alabama)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Bray (Bray's Auto Body)" <braysautobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 11:27 AM
> Subject: Re: IML: finned cars
>
>
> > Hi Greg,
> >
> > The canted fins, or actually "slanted" fins came on several cars of the
> late
> > 50's. The most pronounced canting of the fins are on the Chrysler and
> > DeSoto for 1960 and 1961. Plymouth had canted fins in 57, 58, and 59 as
> did
> > Chrysler, and Dodge. The Dodge fins are barely slanted, and can only be
> > seen as such straight from the back end of the car.
> >
> > Imperial also had canted fins from 57 to 60. The cant on these fins was
> > slight, especially the 60.
> >
> > Apparently, this engineering was supposed to give these cars a "dart
> flight"
> > look.
> >
> > The 61 Imperial has huge fins, but I'm not sure if they are canted or
> > not--I've never seen one up close.
> >
> > Hope this helps you!!
> >
> > Chris 60 Imperial Crown Sedan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Greg and Russell" <65luxuryliner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 9:21 AM
> > Subject: IML: finned cars
> >
> >
> > > Hi finned car entusiasts!
> > >
> > > Although I don't currently own one I love the fins too. I was just
> > > wondering and thought I'd ask the fin experts which Imperials or other
> > > Chrysler/Dodge/Pltymouth models had canted fins? When I think of
canted,
> I
> > > think of the headlights on the '62 Chryslers. As for canted fins, I
> think
> > > of the '59 Impala or the '60 Ford cars. I will be eager to be
> > enlightened!
> > >
> > > Greg (no finned car yet but wishing for one)
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Alan Harper" <alan__harper@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 3:31 AM
> > > Subject: IML: finned cars
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >The Exner-era cars have a bad reputation, but it wasn't Virgil's
> > designs
> > > that
> > > > >caused this it was the corporate big wigs at Chryslers. Virgil
Exner
> > was
> > > a
> > > > >meticulous designer. Today people mostly remember the decadent fins
> of
> > > the
> > > > >late fifties and equate them to Exner. The fin was only one of many
> > > design
> > > > >elements incorporated into these cars. All fins are not created
> equal,
> > > > >however. Exner actually tested models of his designs on a wind
tunnel
> > to
> > > get
> > > > >the most efficient aerodynamics. This is how he came to the
> conclusion
> > > that
> > > > >the canted fin was best. Unlike Exner, GM's designers tacked on
> > > inefficient
> > > > >straight up style fins on their cars. The casnted fin proved itself
> in
> > > wind
> > > > >tunnel test to have the best aerodynamics and ability to cheat the
> > effect
> > > of
> > > > >cross winds. This is why Mopars have canted fins rather than
straight
> > up
> > > > >fins. The design that we know as "Forward Look" was originally
slated
> > for
> > > the
> > > > >1960 model year. As I mentioned before the big wigs wanted to push
> the
> > > > >production of these designs three years forward for 1957. While
they
> > did
> > > > >steal GM's crown, the rush of these cars into production meant poor
> > > quality
> > > > >control. This is the true reason why these cars rusted prematurely.
> The
> > > fin
> > > > >era ended as abrubtly as it started. While today nouveau folks
think
> > that
> > > > >winged cars are laughable. In the late 50's they pointed the way to
a
> > > future
> > > > >that wouldn't arrive.
> > > > >
> > > > > Doug
> > > > > 58 Crown coupe (Exner designed)
> > > >
> > > > ============
> > > >
> > > > I always equated the finned car design to the public's attention to
> the
> > > new
> > > > jet planes that were arriving on the scene. The Canadian Avro Arrow
> > > CF-105
> > > > was a very advanced plane in the late 50's. I'm not all that
familiar
> > > with
> > > > the American ones, but that was the time when the sleek fighters
first
> > > > appeared with delta wings and various fins on them.
> > > >
> > > > Even more attention-getting was the space program. In 1957, I was
10
> > > years
> > > > old. We didn't have a television yet, but I read the newspapers and
> > > > listened to the radio. Nothing, but NOTHING, was bigger news than
> those
> > > > pesky Russians putting the first ship in orbit. The space race was
on
> > and
> > > > every launch was front page news, with pictures. Those space ships
> all
> > > > had, you guessed it, FINS!
> > > >
> > > > That aerodynamic design, emphasizing speed and power with its fins
> > caught
> > > > the publics attention, big time, and that included car design. The
> car
> > > > companies built those fins on cars, because it sold cars. Its what
> > people
> > > > wanted, at least for 3 or 4 years until the novelty wore off.
> > > >
> > > > I remember reading a full page article in the Toronto newspaper, in
> > 1957,
> > > > which predicted that in 10 years, 1967, we would all be driving
flying
> > > > cars, and it had drawings of cars with fins and wings big enough for
> > > > flight, flying all over the city. Like Doug said, that future never
> > > arrived.
> > > >
> > > > Anybody else notice that?
> > > >
> > > > Alan Harper
> > > > 64 Mercury 3/4 ton flatbed
> > > > 69 Dodge D100 pickup
> > > > 76 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham
> > > > 92 Ford T-Bird
> > > > alan__harper@xxxxxxxxx
> > > > SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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> > >
> > >
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> >
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