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Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion | Message format |
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | Why did the 57-59 wagons have fins that were styled differently from the non-wagons? Not that the wagon fins look bad, it's just disappointing that the only wagons we got to see the big fins Mopar was known for was on the modified third party hearse/flower/ambulance cars. | ||
imopar380 |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7207 Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | The 57-59 wagons used one body from the cowl back for Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler, so the fins were styled all the same. In 1960 the fins matched the makes for each wagon. | ||
56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9911 Location: Lower Mainland BC | imopar380 - 2017-06-21 11:25 AM The 57-59 wagons used one body from the cowl back for Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler, so the fins were styled all the same. In 1960 the fins matched the makes for each wagon. Really? The fins sure look *the same* to me. 57 Plymouth: 57 Dodge: 58 Desoto: 57 Chrysler: Edited by 56D500boy 2017-06-21 2:58 PM | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9681 Location: So. Cal | imopar380 - 2017-06-21 8:25 AM The 57-59 wagons used one body from the cowl back for Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler, so the fins were styled all the same. In 1960 the fins matched the makes for each wagon. Yes, that's right....*except* for the '59 Plymouth. The '59 Plymouth actually used it's own fins. That must be why I like them better than the earlier years and other makes. | ||
imopar380 |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7207 Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Powerflite is right, the 59 Plymouth wagons had their own fins. The others used their specific side trim and tail lights for each car. | ||
56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9911 Location: Lower Mainland BC | 56D500boy - 2017-06-21 11:48 AM imopar380 - 2017-06-21 11:25 AM The 57-59 wagons used one body from the cowl back for Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler, so the fins were styled all the same. In 1960 the fins matched the makes for each wagon. Really? The fins sure look *the same* to me. I meant to say "the same" so I've edited my post to say that. | ||
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | imopar380 - 2017-06-21 10:25 AM
The 57-59 wagons used one body from the cowl back for Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler, so the fins were styled all the same. In 1960 the fins matched the makes for each wagon.
Yes, but why? Why didn't they just use the same fins as non-wagons like aftermarket modified hearses/ambulances did?
Edited by drosera88 2017-06-21 5:39 PM | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9681 Location: So. Cal | To save money most likely. One body for all makes provides quite a cost savings. But I agree that I really wish they hadn't. | ||
59 explorer |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 384 Location: Hershey PA | Conversion cars started out as 4 door sedans not as wagons | ||
FINS! |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 943 | Don't 1957 and 58 Dodge 2dr wagons have their own specific fins? | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9681 Location: So. Cal | No, they don't. It's all in the trim. They do a really good job trying to make you think they do though. ('57 Dodge Wagon.jpg) (1957 desoto wagon.jpg) Attachments ---------------- '57 Dodge Wagon.jpg (72KB - 81 downloads) 1957 desoto wagon.jpg (55KB - 92 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Been asking myself that question for 40+ years. The extended sedans-turned-wagons with full fins are stunning. The lopped-off stock wagon fins are LAME ! | ||
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | 59 explorer - 2017-06-21 7:28 PM Conversion cars started out as 4 door sedans not as wagons I know, I was just using them as an example to show that there's really no obvious reason to lop the fins off on the factory wagons. Someone brought up cost as a reason, but that seems kind of lazy on Chrysler's part, especially when every other manufacturer used brand specific sheet metal for their wagons. Heck, Chrysler even recycled the wagon fins for the Dodge Sweptline Pickup instead of using unique metal like the Chevy Cameo (though the Sweptline still wins in the looks department).
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ttotired |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 8444 Location: Perth Australia | Just a side note, the fins or actually the whole rear quarter on the 60 Plymouth wagon is different to the cars, the fender skirts for the cars wont fit because the wheel arch is a different shape and the wagon tail lights are taller for the wagons (ply wagon9.JPG) (BB0213-146936_11.jpg) Attachments ---------------- ply wagon9.JPG (393KB - 74 downloads) BB0213-146936_11.jpg (179KB - 80 downloads) | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9681 Location: So. Cal | Yeah, that's the annoying thing about what they did. Many of the later wagon parts look the same as the car version, but are different. My '61 Lancer wagon tail lights & reverse lights look identical to the car versions but are actually different and won't interchange. It was like that for most, if not all the cars through the '60's. | ||
56D500boy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9911 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Powerflite - 2017-06-22 12:20 AM No, they don't. It's all in the trim. They do a really good job trying to make you think they do though. Thanks for those two photos. *NOW* I can see that they did some tricky stuff with the trim to hide the fact that the fins are the same. Do really confirm it in my head, I sought out the PNs for the 57-58 Rear quarter panels and yup, the same, Plymouth, Dodge, Desoto, and Chrysler. IF you hit me in the head with a hammer enough times, eventually I will get the point. (57-58SuburbanRearQuarterPanelPNs.jpg) (57-58SuburbanRearQuarterPanelPNs_2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 57-58SuburbanRearQuarterPanelPNs.jpg (221KB - 78 downloads) 57-58SuburbanRearQuarterPanelPNs_2.jpg (242KB - 76 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I will not live long enough to ever get to this project, but having a wagon fetish and being a FL guy, I have toyed with the idea of doing one. Trouble is, they botched the factory designs and limitations. Here's my build: 1957 Chrysler/DeSoto FULL SIZE wagon frame 1958 DeSoto nose clip and interior 1957 DeSoto side trim 1957-9 2 door wagon body 1957 DeSoto rear fins and trim End product, a LWB 57-ish DeSoto 2-door wagon with full fin action ! You get the proper DeSoto nose clip. You get the long roof wagon without those cumbersome roof pillar things. You get the fins that God intended, AND you get the super sexy 57 DeSoto side trim ! Best of all worlds ! Maybe even build it as a sedan delivery and set it on blackwalls and dog dishies ? | ||
pennerdodge |
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Regular Posts: 82 Location: Eastern Manitoba | I have a 57 saratoga 2dr hard top body with a broken rear window. In ten years i have not found a replacement. I keep looking at that and thinking it would make a beautiful "nomad-style" wagon, but i am not smart enough or talented enough to do something like that. Someone should. A short/low quarter window roof, similar to the magnum station wagons would look really mean with those fins. Thats my fantasy forward look. | ||
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | Doctor DeSoto - 2017-06-22 10:02 AM I will not live long enough to ever get to this project, but having a wagon fetish and being a FL guy, I have toyed with the idea of doing one. Trouble is, they botched the factory designs and limitations. [...] End product, a LWB 57-ish DeSoto 2-door wagon with full fin action ! You get the proper DeSoto nose clip. You get the long roof wagon without those cumbersome roof pillar things. You get the fins that God intended, AND you get the super sexy 57 DeSoto side trim ! Best of all worlds ! Gotta agree. I've always wanted a 2D hardtop 57-58 Chrysler or Desoto wagon. Thankfully, Chrysler deleted the pillars 1960, and went on to build the best looking wagon of all time in my opinion, the 61 New Yorker. The closest we can get right now to a 2D HT wagon is this unfortunately: Edited by drosera88 2017-06-22 5:58 PM | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9681 Location: So. Cal | It would be a tough sell to cut up a 2dr hardtop for that. But what about a 4dr hardtop converted into a wagon? That would be pretty neat too. | ||
Viper Guy |
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Expert Posts: 2003 Location: Branson, MO | There were 4 door hardtop wagons - not only by Chrysler Corp. but others too. I believe starting with the 1960 models. | ||
Chrycoman |
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Expert Posts: 1819 Location: Vancouver, BC | Yep, Chrysler Corp built 4 door hardtop wagons - 1960-1961 Dodge Polara 1962-1964 Dodge Custom 880 1960-1964 Chrysler Town & Country (Windsor, Newport, New Yorker) American Motors - Rambler was the first in 1956 with a hardtop wagon and built their last 108" wheelbase hardtop wagon in 1959. Rambler Ambassador hardtop wagons were built 1958 to 1960. General Motors - 1957-1958 Buick (Special Riviera & Century Caballero) 1957-1958 Oldsmobile (88 Fiesta & Super 88 Fiesta) Ford Motor - 1957-1959 Mercury 2 door hardtop wagon 1957-1960 Mercury 4 door hardtop wagon | ||
mstrug |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 6502 Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | drosera88 - 2017-06-22 5:48 AM 59 explorer - 2017-06-21 7:28 PM Conversion cars started out as 4 door sedans not as wagons I know, I was just using them as an example to show that there's really no obvious reason to lop the fins off on the factory wagons. Someone brought up cost as a reason, but that seems kind of lazy on Chrysler's part, especially when every other manufacturer used brand specific sheet metal for their wagons. Heck, Chrysler even recycled the wagon fins for the Dodge Sweptline Pickup instead of using unique metal like the Chevy Cameo (though the Sweptline still wins in the looks department).
Cameos have unique fiberglass fenders that bolted to a special stepside bed. Ask the man who owns one....Marc. | ||
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