1959: US Car Companies Go Radical

I don’t know if the automotive designers in 1959 were nibbling on magic mushrooms or just tired of conventional designs because that year, they seemed determined to outdo each other in terms of visual effects. My point is easily observed by examining samples from the Top Three American car companies of the day: Plymouth, Chevrolet, and Ford.

Plymouth was the least radical, at least in comparison to their previous year’s model, and looked very similar to the following year as well. They boasted the “Forward Look” in their ads, and fins were perhaps at their tallest in 1959.

(Click on photos to enlarge them; All photo found on the internet unless otherwise noted.)

The large, tall, vertical fins created a “blind spot” in the rear.

Chevy made a radical change from the 1958 model, which was also a major deviation from their 1957 cars, by offering the widest fins in the industry for 1959. The changes to the front were not so drastic but everyone knew a ‘59 Chevy from the rear - that’s for sure!

My 1958 Chevy, my photo from 1964.

Rear of 1959 Chevy with radical fins.

Front of ‘59 Chevy; not an extreme statement.

1960 Chevy; rear fins tamed down considerably.

1958 Ford; not too different from 1957 model year.

Ford made major changes from their 1958 model, the most notable being these huge round tail lights set so low that the bumper had been cut away to accommodate them. They also boasted the *fattest* fins in the industry, made more obvious by putting the back-up lights in them and mounting them outward of the quarter panels - adding to the wide appearance of the rear end. Having the trunk lid extend slightly further than the metalwork beneath it created an even more bloated look. As you might have surmised from my comments, I think this is one of the most hideous rear end treatments ever created on any factory-made automobile!

1959 Ford with fat fins and bulbous rear end.

Front end of the ‘59 Ford was nearly as blunt as the rear end. 

Someone must have liked those 1959 Fords because they seemed to have sold well but, thankfully, they discarded that design in favor of a more streamlined appearance the following year

1960 model year saw a more sleek design.

Of course, the 1950’s were a great decade for US car sales, partly because gas prices were relatively cheap and no one seemed to care if the cars got terrible mileage and rusted out before their time. As soon as the Japanese car companies started showing us what they could do in terms of quality, fuel economy, and - eventually - smart styling, the American companies had to rethink their strategies and began trying to make cars as well as Honda, Toyota, and - these days - even Hyundai!