Hello Forward Lookers,
Right now there's a lot of discussion about what other cars could
properly be included in the Forward Look family here at the FLML.
Personally, I favor welcoming owners of 1962 through 1964 Chryslers and
Dodge 880s. Those cars are certainly the last direct descendents of the
finned FL models.
But it's important that we accurately remember the history of this
special time at Chrysler. The Forward Look, as has been discussed on the
list before, official began in the 1955 model year and continued through
the 1961 model year. It is only in those years that we find the famous
logo attached to everything from actual cars to ads to parts boxes. And
certainly not every Chrysler product built during this period had fins;
the 1955s were virtually finless, and the 1961 Plymouth was defiantly
finless among its corporate cousins. But because of the revolutionary
1957s, fins have been forever associated with the FL and Exner.
Thanks to the informative articles written by Jeff Godshal, we know that
beyond the 1961 models, Exner originally planned for an entirely new look
for all Chrysler products, except the recently-introduced compacts. These
somewhat smaller cars would harken back to the classic era with long
hoods, short rear decks, V-windshields and back glass, and contemporary
fender blades. Sadly, top Chrysler management vetoed this redesign and
ordered Exner to face-lift the big cars for '62 and truncate his original
designs for the Dodge and Plymouth.
Besides sending mixed design messages, this decision extended the life of
those 1960 unit body full-size cars for several more years. Today, this
means owners of 1962 through 1964 Chryslers and Dodge 880s comfortably
overlap into the interests of the FLML. But are these cars part of the
Forward Look? The facts would seem to clearly say No. Yet, they are an
interesting, even unique, part of our favorite auto company's history.
They're the cars that shouldn't have been, but were, so let's do all we
can to help preserve those that remain.
Bruce in Tulsa
1960 DeSoto Fireflite
1967 Imperial Crown Coupe
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