The book, "Chrysler and Imperial : The Postwar Years", by Richgard M.
Langworth, shows two photos supposedly from February 1960 on page 157.
The photos were taken after the Plymouth and Dodge Dart were downsized,
although their trim styling, along with the Valiant and Lancer, were not
quite there yet. The photos also show the rejected 1962 Imperial proposal
in a side and front quarter view.
Interestingly, the front ends of the 1963 Plymouth and Dodge were all by
finalized by August, 1960, a full year before the 1962 cars went on to the
market. At that time they began working the roof and rear end treatments.
It seems the new Chrysler management knew they had a disaster on their hands
well in advance.
Yes, it was Newberg, and not Colbert. Memory is failing as the years
progress. The downsized car Newberg overheard Chevrolet GM Ed Cole talking
about was, in reality, the Chevy II. Thinking about it, if the downsized
Plymouth and Dodge models were in full-size clay almost ready for production
in February 1960, the Newberg incident must have occured in late 1959.
As you say, the styling, especially on the Imperial, Chrysler and DeSoto, is
not very attractive, The 1962 Plymouth, though (also covered in an article
in "Collectible Automobile", December 1996, pp. 64-75), was not a bad
looking car. Better than what was produced, IMHO. Also, the rejected 1962
Exener designs, with their curved side glass, bring to mind Engel's 1969
fuselage styling. Engel did a better job of it, though.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
----- Original Message -----
From: A. Foster
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 5:38 PM
Subject: IML: Virgil Exner (Was 1963 Imp styling)
Hello All;
To anyone interested in Virgil Exner's career here is an article from
"Collectible Automobile" I believe. By the way Bill, it was William E.
Newberg, Chrysler's Vice President, not Tex Colbert, that was behind the
1962 styling disaster. He heard a rumour about G.M shrinking their wheel bas
es and demanded a crash program to reduce already established designs.
Fortunately they only did this with the midsize cars, and only pulled minor
facelifts with the full-size cars and A-bodies. Judging by the clay mock-ups
they made most of the 62's would have been ugly even without Newberg's
meddling.(consult the book,The Cars That Never Were, it's a facinating read)
Fortunately they cleaned up the 62' designs considerably for 1963-64 and
also expanded the short deck lid theme to the full size cars, except
Imperial.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A Left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
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