Thursday, August 18, 2022

1965 Six-Window Chrysler and Dodge Sedans

American sedans with six side-windows (one window being abaft of the C-pillar) have faded in and out of fashion.  Mostly out, though they have reappeared in recent years.  That feature was common from the 1920s through the 1940s.  But by the mid-1950s they had become rare.  A few new designs appeared in the very early 1960s (Plymouth Valiant, some '61 Cadillac and Buick models, and General Motors' 1961 first-generation "compact" Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile F-85, and Buick Special).

Aside from a few limousine Imperials and Cadillac 75s, that was the end for 1960s six-window types.  With one notable exception: this post's subject.

That exception was the body for Chrysler Corporation's 1965 Chrysler Newport Town Sedan, New Yorker Town Sedan, and Dodge Custom 880 Six-Window Four-Door Sedan.  However, those models also offered four-window sedans, and the six-window option soon faded.  Chrysler seems to have had six-window sedans for the 1966 model year, but Dodge did not.  After that, the style was dropped.

Below are some examples found on the Internet along with comparable four-window models.  Unless noted otherwise, images are of cars listed for sale.

Gallery

1965 Dodge Custom 880 six-window sedan - factory publicity
A fairly early example of Chrysler Corporation styling under the Elwood Engel regime.  (He became styling head late 1961, and it took three or so product development years for his true impact to be felt).  The result is a clean-looking "three-box" design.

1965 Dodge Custom 880 six-window sedan

1965 Chrysler Newport Town Sedan
The Chrysler version receive different side sculpting.  Newport Town Sedans were entry-level.

1965 Chrysler Newport four-window sedan
This is the four-window version.  The difference is that there is a fashionably wide C-pillar where the aft side window was on the six-window car.

1965 Chrysler Newport Town Sedan
Front quarter view.

1965 Chrysler Newport Town Sedan
Rear quarter view.

1965 Chrysler New Yorker Town Sedan - Mecum Auction images
Line-topping Town Sedans were New Yorker models.  The grille has an added egg-crate motif.

A chrome strip was added to the lower side sculpting.

More chrome on the rear part of the trunk lid.

1 comment:

dberger223 said...

Did not Buick and Oldsmobile senior cars also have the same six window design?
Having lived through the "hard top" era, it is my opinion that those cars with frameless windows deteriorated much faster than solid door sedans.