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And don't forget to check the website! We've got some
great articles that discuss this very topic. Here's a few:
Best of all, Mike Trentin interviewed Virgil Exner, Jr
last year. You can find that great article here:
As much as I love the Exner Imperials (and the rest of the
Forward Look line), I have to say that it was a stroke of good fortune that he
left before he could execute his ideas for the '62-'63 Imperial. If you can
imagine a '62 Chrysler NewYorker front end grafted onto a '60 Valiant. Some say
the '62-'63 Imperials -- as executed -- were shorn examples when compared to the
'61, I have to say they are some of the excellent examples of Exner's ideas
during a transitional time.
Engle is to be commended for coming up with some very
handsome designs with the '64 Imperial.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:37
PM
Subject: Re: IML: The rise and fall of
Virgil Exner
Here is an interesting page of information about Exner. I was not
aware that he had previously worked for Studebaker, and even Pontiac.
Teresa Smith
--- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 2:46
PM
Subject: RE: IML: The rise and fall of
Virgil Exner
There are a lot of factors to consider around the time
period of Exner's last years at Chrysler. For one, there was a
recession going on around 1958 which slowed down car sales. As a
result, money for re-tooling or redesigning things was tight. To boot,
Chrysler was stung with a stigma for poor reliability and build quality not
so long before. Add to that a historically fickle public, and the
stage is set for finger pointing and rash decisions at the executive board
room.
Exner was better suited designing for a coachbuilder on his own
terms. He was a man who set high expectations, but were fallen short -
dictated by budgetary constraints. Unfortunately, all we have is just
a sampling of his genius. Like Frank Lloyd Wright, a lot of what
survives is on paper to dazzle our imaginations, and inspire other artists
to come close.
I haven't seen any books detailing Exner's life
in any great depth. Just a lot of scribbles here and there on the web
and on car publications.
--- On Tue 07/13,
< DONALDDICKINSOND@xxxxxx >
wrote:
From: [mailto: DONALDDICKINSOND@xxxxxx]
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date:
Tue, 13 Jul 2004 09:56:16 EDT
Subject: IML: The rise and fall of Virgil
Exner
<HTML><FONT
FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10
FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Since I have been involved with
Imperials (The last 2 1/2 years). One of the most fascinating things to me
has been Virgil Exners rise and fall. This rise and fall has mirrored the
success (or lack of) of the Imperial. The interesting conundrum in my mind
is <I>how could the 1957 Imperial be 3 years ahead of its time and by
1962</I> <I>3</I> <I>years behind its
time</I>. What say you, you Imperial history buffs? Also is there a
good bio out there on Exners career that might address this riddle?
<BR>
<BR>
Don Dickinson<BR>
Prospect, KY
<BR>
<BR>
1955 Imperial Newport, Canyon Tan and Desert
Sand<BR>
1967 Imperial Custom Convertible, Ivory and
Burgundy</FONT></HTML>
<p>
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