After
Virgil Exner became head of Chrysler Corporation styling, there soon appeared a stream of what we now call "concept cars" built in Italy by
Corrozzeria Ghia.
One such design that Exner very much hoped to see in production was the 1955
Chrysler Falcon, the subject of this post. The idea was that it would be Chrysler's answer to General Motors' Chevrolet Corvette and Ford's Thunderbird. As it happened, only two or three were ever built.
Its wheelbase was 105 inches (2667 mm), compared to the Corvette's and Thunderbird's 102.0 inches (2591 mm). According to the Wikipedia link above, much of the design has been credited to Exner's assistant Maury Baldwin, for whom I can find no biography on the Internet. Sources say Exner's contribution was the car's front end. He did use a Falcon as a personal vehicle for a while.
Some of the images below were taken by Chrysler or its agents, a few others are from sources I cannot identify.
Gallery
Color photo of one of the Falcons. Note the slant of the A-pillar part of the panoramic windshield frame. It slants backward, in the mode used on production Chrysler Corporation cars in 1955.
On the other hand, the car pictured here has a windshield A-pillar leaning forwards such as was found on 1954 GM B-body Oldsmobiles and Buicks. This strongly suggests that at least two Falcons were built by Ghia.
Rear quarter view revealing rather sketchy protection. Those vertical bars look strong, but I wonder if they were solidly backed.
The side exhaust pipes along the lower body covered by perforated heat-protection plates provide a serious sporting appearance. I assume they're functional here, but doubt that would have been the case had Falcons actually entered production. The louvre on the side of the front fender also seem to be functional.
The grille leans forward, creating an aggressive appearance. But bumper protection is scanty. The general feeling is similar to some other Exner concept cars of that time.
Note the hint of a tail fin atop the rear fender. Exner was planning tail fins for Chrysler's 1956 models.
I think there is a lot of the Falcon in the 2005 Chrysler 300.
ReplyDeleteThis car has some of the design concept developing in the 1950's of the sides of the car being two squarish walls with the streamlined body in between like ultimately the 1961 Lincoln design. Same idea in the 1956 Ramblers plus integrating the greenhouse into it instead of being a very separate shape like with the Lincoln. An idea obviously much associated with Engel, not Exner. As everyone here knows Engel brought it to Chrysler when he replaced Exner.
ReplyDeleteI saw a perfect looking red RR Corniche convertible with the top down (lipstick red with tan leather, not the later Silver Seraph/Arnage based version) improbably parked on the street in my Brooklyn neighborhood recently. Those front fenders are way more wallish than I would have thought.
Bring back The Wall! From a practical standpoint it allows an aerodynamic design to have a sharp formal geometric look from the side.
And a lot of the rear of the Falcon in some later Cadillacs.
ReplyDelete