Monday, May 24, 2021

Chrysler Corporation's 1969 "Fuselage" Style

Chrysler Corporation redesigned the bodies of its largest cars for the 1969 model year.  The previous bodies for that class were rather boxy, but the new design was sleeker, softer looking.  A term used to describe that style was "fuselage," implying the look of an aircraft.  So far as I can tell, that term was not officially used by Chrysler.

Below is a set of images showing how the basic design was interpreted by the various Chrysler Corporation divisions.  Examples are two-door hardtop coupes, four-door hardtop sedans, and a non-hardtop four-door sedan.  Not shown are convertibles.  The images are mostly of cars listed for sale.  One image is indeterminate, and the others are via Chrysler.

Gallery

1969 Imperial
The Imperial was Chrysler's luxury brand, and this is the four-door hardtop sedan model that lacks a full-height B-pillar.

1969 Imperial
Passenger compartment greenhouses featured tumblehome (upwardly-curved sides), and this enhanced the fuselage effect.

1969 Chrysler New Yorker
Now for comparative side views of hardtop sedans.  The Chrysler's wheelbase was 124 inches (3150 mm).

1969 Dodge Monaco
Dodge wheelbases were 122 inches (3099 mm), and the difference can be seen at the aft edge of the rear door which is shaped differently from the Chrysler's.  Also, the rear side window's profile is rounded, not angular.

1969 Plymouth Fury
The wheelbase for Plymouths was 120 inches (3048 mm).  The rear door shape is the same as the Dodge's, but the gap between it and the rear wheel opening is about two inches (50 mm) less.

1969 Chrysler New Yorker
Front quarter views of hardtop coupes.  The main differences are in the grille-bumper ensembles.

1969 Dodge Polara
A more plain-looking grille than Chrysler's.

1969 Plymouth Fury
Plymouths lacked the large chrome grille surround and the chrome element at the fender fronts.  The grille itself is rather plain.  However, the overall effect is pleasant aside from the two tacked-on bumper guards.

1969 Chrysler New Yorker
Rear quarter view showing Chrysler's wide taillight assembly that's surrounded by chrome  echoing the front end design.

1969 Dodge Polara
Dodges got more self-contained taillight assemblies.

1969 Plymouth Fury
Plymouth rear ends were more Spartan with simple bumpers.

1969 Chrysler 300
The original 1955 300s were sporty hardtop coupes.  But model-creep set in and here we find a tame hardtop sedan marketed as a 300.

1969 Chrysler 300
The 300's grille is a "gunsight" theme later used by Dodge for many years until recently.

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