The appearance of this 1960 Chrysler sedan, paired with a vintage Aljo camper, gives us an opportunity to consider the waning days of Virgil Exner’s influence. While he didn’t leave the company until 1964, his emphasis on baroque fins and overbearing chrome accents was already out of fashion in favor of cleaner, boxy lines. But before he exited, he dished up a few more years of wild style, including these reverse curve tail lamps, the graceful bubbletop, and a tapered tail. The restored camp trailer is cool in its own right, with a classic “canned ham” profile. Find this pair here on facebook Marketplace, listed at an asking price of $15,000. Retrieve the set from Pueblo, Colorado. We owe thanks to T.J. for the tip!
The seller identifies his car both as a Windsor – Chrysler’s entry-level luxury car on a 122″ wheelbase – and as a New Yorker, which would have sat on a 126″ wheelbase. The engine here is Chrysler’s big 413 cu. in. raised block V8 – the standard offering to New Yorker buyers, but a special order in the Windsor. This engine was plenty powerful, with 340 hp on tap in single-carb trim, ranging up to 380 hp when equipped with dual four-barrels. Chrysler’s three-speed TorqueFlite automatic handles gear changes, this one with pushbutton actuation – said to work perfectly.
The car’s interior is original, thus a couple of tears in the upholstery here and there. Exner did not neglect interiors, instilling his cars with several stylish elements, from the chrome-drenched steering wheel to swanky fabrics and the instrument panel’s brightwork.
But we have two interiors to inspect here – the Aljo has received attention that the car hasn’t. Its checkerboard floors are new, it has a new memory-foam mattress, the benches have been reupholstered. Wrench-shaped handles decorate the cabinets. The seller notes that the kitchen equipment works off propane or electricity, and the trailer is furnished with a window air conditioner. In 1958, Aljos came in sizes ranging from 15′ to 24′ and even today, this make has a reputation for better-than-average quality.
Remnants of the “Forward Look” on this survivor from Exner’s era are still evident – the forward-slanted grill, arrowed side trim, back-sweep of the rear glass, and, of course, those fins. I’m not a fan of wide white walls except for very particular applications, but I think they look good here. The paint is a bit tired, but overall, every element matches every other in a gently-aged way. What do you think of this vintage pair?
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