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.
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 and was a different shade of brown 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.