Exner

[70_NPORT]

Well... I am and will go against the grain here. I think those fin cars are the ugliest cars ever to ride on asphalt (and the goes for the GM and Ford versions also) Fish fins just do not belong hanging off on the back of cars....along with all the other doodads and junk they typically stuck on cars of that era. That's my HO, it will never change. Perhaps becuase that era was long before I was born gives me unique perspective...but I get it, those of you who were around at the time have warm and fuzzy memories of that period and growing up with those cars. In my opinion fins belong on fish. Those who know me know Im a die hard fuselage guy so maybe that explains it for ya. But hey everyone is entitled to thier loves.....

 

[polara71]

I'm a die hard fuselage guy to but they evolved from fins

 

[commando1]

Man evolved from fins.
Evolution....

 

[polara71]

That's what I'm sayin'

 

[shooter65]

Even in 69 the fins hadn't completely disappeared.

 

[bluefury361]

Well... I am and will go against the grain here. I think those fin cars are the ugliest cars ever to ride on asphalt QUOTE]

And "BAA- HUMBUG" to you too Gary.
There's no accounting for bad taste.

 

[bluefury361]

Ive wanted certain cars before they became outrageous expensive,

I saw my first 61 Fury convertible in 1965, wanted it bad....! Dad was my co signer then and wanted nothing to do with a convertible.
It took until 2012 to find another one, and I've got it. It's a highly optioned, 45K mile example that has suffered from poor storage.
I can't wait to get after the restoration but am holding off until I can do it right and in a timely manner.

 

[rapidtrans]

I figure it's an age thing. Those 60 Desoto tail fins were as tall as i was when they came out. Many of us collect the cars we were too young to drive when new.

 

[saforwardlook]

Well... I am and will go against the grain here. I think those fin cars are the ugliest cars ever to ride on asphalt (and the goes for the GM and Ford versions also) Fish fins just do not belong hanging off on the back of cars....along with all the other doodads and junk they typically stuck on cars of that era. That's my HO, it will never change. Perhaps becuase that era was long before I was born gives me unique perspective...but I get it, those of you who were around at the time have warm and fuzzy memories of that period and growing up with those cars. In my opinion fins belong on fish. Those who know me know Im a die hard fuselage guy so maybe that explains it for ya. But hey everyone is entitled to thier loves.....

I am a diehard fuselage guy and a lover of fins - so what is wrong with me then? - best looking cars on the planet!!

And fish have stabilizers as well as cats and dogs to help them maneuver deftly - so why not cars? And all this time you probably thought it was the torsion bar suspensions that made the fuselage cars such standouts in terms of handling!

And even today's more interesting cars have spoilers on the back!

 

[sixtyf]

Those who know me know Im a die hard fuselage guy so maybe that explains it for ya. But hey everyone is entitled to thier loves.....

Fairly certain Ex was at the origins of the fuselage design too. He was aiming for a seemless transition between doors, windows and roof not long before he departed from Chrysler IIRC...

 

[saforwardlook]

Fairly certain Ex was at the origins of the fuselage design too. He was aiming for a seemless transition between doors, windows and roof not long before he departed from Chrysler IIRC...

I haven't read all the way through the Exner history yet, so you may be correct. But I believe most of the credit for the fuselage design came from Elwood Engle, whom Chrysler stole away from Ford. He did the 1961-3 Lincoln Continentals that I thought were awesome designs, and outclassed everything from Chrysler and GM at the time. Very clean and elegant. Even cars Gary could appreciate!

 

[rapidtrans]

Chrysler was right on the cutting edge of styling and engineering starting with the forward look on through the formals in my opinion.
I also, believe Engle brought with him the slab sided look with the 64 Imperial. I remember dad working a lot of overtime in 63 in a big rush to get the Engle 65 "C" bodies done. I still think the 65s are beautiful. The cars are huge yet slim at the same time.

 

[330dTA]

..:But I believe most of the credit for the fuselage design came from Elwood Engle [who] did the 1961-3 Lincoln Continentals that I thought were awesome designs, and outclassed everything from Chrysler and GM at the time. Very clean and elegant..."

I could not agree more. The '61 Continental was, along with the '61 Thunderbird, perhaps the most elegant car on the planet. In its day. - If only Lincoln could make anything even close to it. I'd be all over that car.

Meanwhile, a shot of my old man's '57 Fury. I believe the photo was shot in 1962 in front of his aunt's house. Don't ask me why there, and then:

 

[crv]

This is perfection.

 

[Zymurgy]

I put it in my Amazon wishlist, maybe Santa will bring it to me on Christmas.

 

[70_NPORT]

Even in 69 the fins hadn't completely disappeared.

View attachment 107135

this is quite true you have a point; but those are not 3ft vertically up in the air....and these do not appear to a deliberate design features...almost after thoughts. My Newport has a similar *** end. More tastefully done, less offensive IMO.

 

[70_NPORT]

I am a diehard fuselage guy and a lover of fins - so what is wrong with me then? - best looking cars on the planet!!

And fish have stabilizers as well as cats and dogs to help them maneuver deftly - so why not cars? And all this time you probably thought it was the torsion bar suspensions that made the fuselage cars such standouts in terms of handling!

And even today's more interesting cars have spoilers on the back!

View attachment 107146 View attachment 107147

The fuselage cars just look so much more....logical? As if the designers were getting closer to form follows function than the other way around...and there is no function for fins sticking up in the air....pure visual excess and wretchedness, an offensive attack against commom sense. Say what you will but huge fins on the *** end of any car (as well as all the doohicky crap tacked on the rest of the sheet metal bodies..non functional port holes, flying aircraft, yada yada) is just wrong...wrong, and wrong.

 

[70_NPORT]

Fairly certain Ex was at the origins of the fuselage design too. He was aiming for a seemless transition between doors, windows and roof not long before he departed from Chrysler IIRC...

Yeh, he had that small sports car design....the "XNR"...somehow he began to see the writing on the wall....but came to his senses just a bit too late...and while the XNR did have "fuselage" like design details incorporated into the sheet metal, note that ol Virg STILL managed to screw that up with a HUGE useless fin. Not hard to see why Chrylser eventually gave him his walking papers.

 

[70_NPORT]

I haven't read all the way through the Exner history yet, so you may be correct. But I believe most of the credit for the fuselage design came from Elwood Engle, whom Chrysler stole away from Ford. He did the 1961-3 Lincoln Continentals that I thought were awesome designs, and outclassed everything from Chrysler and GM at the time. Very clean and elegant. Even cars Gary could appreciate!

I do admire Elwood E.'s design ques. Compared to good ol Virg..his designs were more deliberative and sober. Insofar as kicking of thw fuselage era; cant say it was totally his doing..as everyone knows the slab cars came before the fuselage cars..and The fuselage design is a total departure from the slabbies. So I am inclined to think the fuselage design was perhaps concieved by more than one single individual...But I wasnt there.

 

[70_NPORT]

This is perfection.View attachment 107159

Not. Wretchedness and visual excess at its full power. Like cats and dogs mating...its just wrong. You could ski down those fins....its wrong.