History One-year only body styles, or "WTF were they thinking?

The One that mainly sticks in my mind as an example is the 1956 Ford Fairlane 4 door hardtop. Didn't build one in '55; the '57 began a whole new platform.... I'm sure there's more than just that one. Not sure of the production numbers for that model, but it had to lose money (not that Ford was counting it too closely in '56; the recession was two years off) and can't be easy to source sheetmetal for today, much less glass, etc.

 

The 1932 Ford is another example of a one year only body style. HRP

 

The 1958 Chevrolet is another.

 

60,61,62 Ford….

 

1959 Ford
1960 Ford

 

58 Buick and Olds both fit the bill…..

 

58-59-60 Edsel.

 

Those Fords had essentially the same chassis, inner structure, power trains, and glass. In fact, so did the 63 and 64. Even the earlier 57 58, and 59 shared a lot. That makes an eight year run for the platform and a lot of the power train. 65 was the next major change, one that required new assembly lines to accommodate the new chassis.

The 56 four door hardtop was a damage control model, to counter the 56 Chevy and other GM four door hardtops. Don’t recall if Chrysler was in the four door hardtop game yet.

Sometimes changes are implemented simply to maintain market share ant to remain competitive in the consumer eyes.

 

1939 Ford convertible sedan

 

'59, '60 Pontiacs & Chevys!

 

The 32 ford cabriolet is also an orphan. The main body is out on its own , no roadster panels interchange.

 

1958 Impala hardtop was unique within the '58 lineup.

 

Growing up with so many of those later ‘50s and early ‘60s cars that seemed to change so much every year, it was surprising how little the sheet metal changed from model year to model year beginning in the mid ‘80s.

 

I've always thought Ford was clever in 57 and 58 by moving the back door window frame in line with the C pillar; thereby eliminating use of a quarter window.

 

Most any American car in 1958 missed the mark...

 

56 Ford F100

 

The '58 Impala nailed it!!! GM, in general, really. Not as good as 1965... But pretty damn good!

 

1958 was a great year. Lots of cool 1 year only rides.

 

OT but my 68 442 is a one year pony. I have been looking for a good hood for 25 years. Why?

 

1932 ford is the one that blows my mind. Complete chassis, body and powerplant swap, only to-be completely re done the following year again. Seems like a great way to lose a lot of money on tooling.

 

Definately didn't make sense, compared to Henry's normal line of thinking.

 

...especially when the last thing on most people's minds was buying a new car.

 

The '58 Impala is a bit of an oddball since Chev also had a Bel Air which was available as a two door hardtop.

 

1929 Buick, every model is a 1 year specific made for their silver anniversary of 25 years. After they switched to the straight 8.

 

The 1936 Chevy Low Cab is 1/2 year only. The body itself is specific to mid /late 36 only, eventhough it appears the same as 37-38. This may be trivial but its all I got!!. Mitch

 

They sure did, and all of their bodies were completely changed the next year as well. GM was the only carmaker to get a second year out of their '56 4 door hardtop design.

 

1958 Was a wonderful year for GM,I would be proud to own any of them!

 

Well, I guess being so Ford-centered, I missed a bunch of OYO models. I know that in the sixties, almost nothing in the big three stayed the same from one year to the next as far as outward appearance. They might have run the parent platforms for decades, but they were crazy about changing the sheet metal.

 

40 Chevrolet car frame …… 1 year only.

 

Remembering that in the 50's and 60's the "new model display date" was a huge thing. The cars were tucked away in the shop, warehouse or back lot where they weren't visible without a lot of effort and the evening before they went on display the windows were covered with paper or ? and the cars moved into the showroom with the window covers pulled down just before the dealer opened for the day the morning they went on display. Usually posted in adds and elsewhere days before.
I remember that an older friend in town had special ordered an Impala in the early 60's after seeing the preview photos in a magazine and had to wait until that day to pick it up. The car had been delivered to the dealership days before and had gone though the detail shop and was ready to go but he couldn't pick it up until that morning and then the dealer wanted to have it on display that day.

At the same time cars had to be enough different from the previous year model to get people to trade in their last years car on this years model.