1961 Plymouth Suburban

I don't think this car is ugly. Just not my favorite front end. I think these cars are certainly unique, but not ugly.

I do however think that the new lexus cars/SUVs with the hour glass front end are ugly.

I'd take a 61 Plymouth any day, especially over a lexus.

 

Who in their right mind wouldn't?

 

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. I have always liked the early 60's Chrysler Corp cars. The interiors especially.

 

The front end styling of these models was used by a friend of mine that teaches industrial design as the perfect example of what can go wrong from the designers sketch to actual production sheet metal!
He has a presentation showing the original design drawings, they are actually very good looking drawings, then he had pictures of the 1/4 clay scale model, the design lost some of its appeal in 3D but still was attractive, then the full scale Clay model, it also lost more of its good looks, but it was the arguably best of the 4 designs proposals that made it that far. So it was approved for production.
And here is where the design is compromised, not just from a cost standpoint, but more from a structural and production standpoint. But cost considerations did not help it either. To actually transform the design into metal that could meet the structural requirements, production costs, and assembly line process, not to mention production line time limitations it was transformed into what went into production. No one was happy about the final product, but it was to late to make major changes.

I wish I could find the design drawings online to compare them.

 

That is very interesting Jeff. It all makes sense. I would be interested in seeing the design drawings.

 

This one could not have disappointed anyone, once it went into production

 

The 64 always reminded me of rambler's also.

 

That's when they re-discovered the straight edge and compass