The “downsize” command issued by William Newberg, head of Chrysler, on a spring day in 1960 reverberated into the 1962 future, producing some of automotive history’s quirkiest cars. Many elements conspired to shift us from the finned “Forward Look” to what Chrysler sold as “Forward Flair”. Newberg had to panic when he overheard a GM executive musing about its downsized product for ’62. Virgil Exner had to be recovering from a massive heart attack, and thus unable to steer the styling department. Chrysler had to be short of funds. And the Valiant had to be available to provide the downsized platform. The confluence of all these events left Exner’s stylists no time to adjust: the previously-planned aero-effect styling would have to be imposed onto less sheet metal. Exner hated the result, calling the cars “plucked chickens”, deriding their pinched proportions. Today, these unconventional cars have gathered fans simply for being different. This Plymouth Savoy wagon is listed here on Hemmings, with bidding at $15,025; since it’s been restored to the nines, the new owner can confidently steer it home from Olympia, Washington. Thanks to Curvette for sending along the tip!
Plymouth’s suite of ’62s ran from the top-shelf Fury to the Belvedere, then the Savoy. That a stylistically orphaned car, from the bottom-most trim level, powered by a slant six, was fully restored is a testament to the unreasonable passion that grips car guys. I restored an MG Midget, so I get it – some of us are nuts. The 225 cu. in. slant six is vintage 1968, equipped with electronic ignition and good for about 145 hp. A three-speed, column-shift manual handles gear changes.
The interior is a reminder of the Savoy’s bottom-rung position in the model stack. No radio in a plain metal dash, no air conditioning, bench seat, and those vents look like something you might find on the ceiling of an industrial building. But tidy! Not a blemish anywhere, let alone a speck of dust.
The Luminous Brown paint is a classic ’60s color. This view shows off just one of the compromises Chrysler had to employ to push these cars out the door in time: the rear glass is curved and flush with the body line – a new feature Exner wanted to use everywhere. But the company’s accountants wouldn’t allow the door glass to be made the same way on base model cars – it was too expensive. The 14″ steel wheels with poverty hubcaps look too small for the wagon’s body; I’m not a fan of alterations from factory specs, but I might be tempted to switch to 15″ rims. What about you – would you drive this wagon as-is, or alter it to suit your style?
Six + people, going nowhere fast in the summer without AC.
Ah, youth and memories of the early 60’s…only ours was a white Biscayne. Never looked this good, though.
Love it!!! Ours was a 65 Fury II with a 318 pulling an Aristocrat travel trailer. No AC, struggled up the grades in the Sierras….good times!!!
It was not too bad looking compared to the WTF Dart and Valiant ..I quite like the front end design on the Savoy.
Just dripping with nostalgia. When families with three or more children were the rule, not the exception. This was for the dad that hoped for a Chrysler wagon, but thought of family first and got a brand new mid sized wagon. With the straight six because he wasn’t going to be pulling a trailer and wanted to get every mile out of a gallon of regular gas. A manual transmission, because that is what he learned how to drive with. Same with the wife. Plus, it was standard equipment. Wonder what happened to the original engine. What a find!
Very close to the first car I remember our family having when I was a child. Ours had the 318, was a different shade of brown, had the automatic push button transmission, and was a Belvedere trim. I remember leaving the back door open when it was in the garage and my dad didn’t notice and back out of the garage…. almost ripping the door off. Boy did I get in trouble for that.
No dual master brake system; drums all around still? Engine rebuilt? Rust underneath?
That plucked chicken description is hysterical!!!!!
Even better than the Edsel’s toilet seat!!!
“Behold! A car!” —some Greek guy with a lantern
In Luminous Brown is looks like a “Hairless Cat!”
Ha ha…
good one, hairless cat for sure.
I have always liked the quirkiness of the early 60’s Valiants and Darts. The odder the better imo. A station wagon isn’t for me, but it is nicely done. I’m glad to see someone restored and took care of this car.
This Savoy is such a seldom seen car especially in the station wagon body is really quite the find. This will go to some lucky new owner. Happy bidding.
I don’t see the plucked chicken reference. It’s as ugly as any Chrysler product of that era, but okay.
hemming did a story on this car that was really good. cool wagon for sure. you will not see another one like this except maybe at Hershey.
Real clutch burner .
Very cool wagon. Love the three on the tree slant six. Extreme ‘kiss’ principle.
I would definitely upgrade wheels to 15” steelies. Preferably mid 80’s chrysler slotted police pieces.
Painted a light color to help them fill the wheelarches visually. A creamy off-white would harmonize well with the brown.
Not sure its fair to call these Exner’s Swan Song. The 62 prototypes, were heavily modified while Exner was on a health leave, having suffered a heart attack. Upon return, he objected to the changes and swore off any responsibilities for these designs. The last cars that Exner worked on were the 63s. Elwood Engle had little impact on the 63 Designs. When Chrysler Chairman Lynn Townsend hired Elwood Engel from Ford in November 1961 to replace Exner, the automotive industry’s standard 18-to-24-month production lead times meant the 1963 vehicle lineup was already finalized for manufacturing.
Totally agree on the bigger wheels, Michelle.
Having an ex Michigan Highway Patrol 1962 Plymouth in the family for years. It brings back several memories. Like Dad doing a valve job to find out the car didn’t have a 361, but a 383. Which Dad thought was great. (It was pretty quick) Od when Uncle Jim was driving the car out in the boonies and a kid’s ball came shooting out of the road side bushes and Uncle Jim instantly locking up all four tires knowing that a kid wouldn’t be too far behind. And he was right! By the time the car had almost stopped, here came the kid without looking. I remember the burned rubber smoke filling the car and the thump, thump, thump of the flat spotted tires. And the Mom that came running out to grab the kid in the middle of the highway to instantly start beating on the kid. (Not nessisarily in that order) It was about 1964 when we got that car. And I drove it a minimum of twice a week. ( I was 11 at that time) As I used the trunk to carry the trash cans out to the highway where we lived. The dash looks strange to me for it not to have the transmission push buttons and park lever down the left side of the instrument panel. I remember the car as being very solid and had no rust showing. Which was rare for the rust belt (Northern Illinois) where we lived. Since I always pay attention to ’62 Plymouths. This is the first wagon that I’ve seen. Kind of cool (to this “old Plymouth kid)
No sale, asking $23,100.
Nice looking wagon at reasonable cost . I would have to put some 15″ rims with some wide meats under the back .
The styling to the 1962 and 63 Plymouths was much cleaner than the radical Dodge cousins of those years. This looks like Sid Caesar’s ride in It’s a mad mad mad mad world.
This was when a car was an appliance to some. Room for the fam, the groceries and the weekend trip to the grandparents. Nothing more, nothing less.
Had a ex-USPS wagon like this with the slant 6 and 3onthe tree that came from our neighborhood after the wner passed……it was in Fry’s wrecking yard when we closed it…..not sure where it went.
Not knowing too much about Plymouths or MoPars in general, I believe those industrial-looking “vents” on the dash is really just the speaker grille for the radio’s front speaker if the original owner had chosen that option. Since this great looking station wagon looks to be a real “stripper” with a real lack of options, it seems that a simple AM radio with a single front speaker was just too expensive. And you expected air conditioning???
Yes, a speaker!
Ended at $15,300, Reserve Not Met.
It is now listed at an asking price of 20K.
Asking price is now reduced to $17,500.