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

I like em.
I drive the crap out of one of those

 

Turn Pike Cruiser , I don’t have a clue if one or ten year run , but should of been stopped after maybe 10 cars . Just my 2 cents

 

I would say it is 28 to 1978 was all icon cars with great styling yeah there is a few years and makes that would occasionally miss the mark but overall American cars were sexy, powerful and definitely stylish.
Just like anything it was government regulations that killed the American auto industry glory days. First they attacked power with emission junk then attacked the fuel that actually had some octane, then they went after style with stupid bumper mandates that forced a card that was designed to have good looking bumpers to put "buck teeth" on it. Then the federal government stepped in on the interior making the dashboard pretty ugly removing anything that was shiny that could reflect in your eyeballs then federal government eventually got rid of pop-up headlights (I believe) and pretty much anything else that give a car a unique style or personality.
It's why today you can't tell a midsize Buick SUV from a Toyota or a Ford, they all have the same basic shape the same basic window layout the same basic Hood angles they're just appliances designed in the wind tunnel.

 

In many instances, things aren't always what we see. In different markets around the world, they were often not a OYO car.

The 1955 Ford body style was in use in Australia until 1959, including an interesting Ute version that pre-dated the Ranchero in America by one year. And the 1959 Ford body was used for three model years until 1961 with small trim changes and the grille, usually Canadian Meteor components used for the next model year. Not to mention, the first generation 1960-'63 Ford Falcon lasted until 1966 Down Under as the Falcon XM/XP, and the 1966 & later Falcon lasted until 1972. Chrysler was very well known for recycling body dies in Australia. Our 1966 Plymouth Fury became their 1967 Dodge Phoenix with RHD as an example. There were similar instances in South America where automakers also recycled their old body dies including the 1968-'71 Fairlane/Montego body shells. The list can go on.

Craig

 

'60 Rambler has to be in the running.

 

As already mentioned 37 Ford Truck 1 year only...and 1 of my favs'

 

I’d drive that

 

20s and 30s rides kinda all blend together like new rides.
Mid 50s to early 60s don’t to me.

 

1940 Ford convertible is another one year only body. Nothing in common with a 39 or 41.

 

mom and dad were checking out the new '59 olds, and she asked the salesman if they used the chrome that was left over from '58!

 

From a stylist standpoint there is no doubt 1955 through about 1964ish is the pinnacle of American automotive styling. You can't mistake a 1959 Cadillac for a 1959 Buick which when it comes to GM generally speaking their cars look very similar except in that era. A 59 Lincoln Continental is definitely different than a 59 Ford or even a 59 Mercury or Edsel. Definitely a great time for automotive style.

 

There is not a lot of cars I regret selling but I absolutely miss my 1960 Rambler Classic Super, it got fair milage, drove great, got a ton of positive attention and was probably one of the most reliable cars I've ever driven from the carbureted era. I drove that car all over the western United States other than it consumed a little oil which is pretty typical of a 195 Rambler engine it was a great runner.

 

I agree that 37 pickup is one handsome hauler!

 

Mmmmmmm

1958. What a year

 

1958. A great year for cool rides

 

My WTF year is when Ford restyled the truck in 1938! My favorite one year? The B-O-P and Cadillac line up for 1959!

 

'39 Buick

 

^^^^^ I’d drive that

and this one year beauty

 

Caddy did it in 64. Smallest fins and the 429 engine

 

That one's nice... Don't know about the rest of the '58s...

 

Probably because those were the cars that interested you in your youth and it was a point of honor to know year, make and model along with what features differed among models.

 

I’d rock a 58 Edsel as well.

 

One of the best looking Buicks EVER!!!

 

Mmmmm 64 caddy’s.

 

As I recall....I brought you a big 'OL Caddy that color some years back!!!!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

yes you did Bill.
11 years ago to be exact

 

Can you say Garbage Barge?

 

Call it whatever.
It’s stunning

 

A few people may find this controversial, but I've often thought that both the '57 and '58 chevs were each one year designs. The '58 definitely. Using the 'the '57 & '58 cadillacs for comparison, those two are essentially the same car just two vs four headlight versions. If the change to four-headlights had happened more smoothly, I think the '57 Chev would have been more like the '58's - one can only wonder. The '57 Chev has some features not seen on the '55 & '56, and more in line with the '58. Examples are the '57 dash design; cowl design for the fresh air ducting; and the rectangular hood with parallel sides, as opposed to the somewhat V-shaped hoods of the '55 & '56's. I've seen it insinuated or perhaps even said directly that the '57 design was somewhat hustled together, because (as I remember it), the OK from the government for the adoption of the four-headlight front-ends was delayed. Chevy (and others) in the '50's & 60's had a two year styling cycling and both the '57 & '58 were exceptions to those two-year styling cycles - '53/'54; '55/'56; '59/'60; '61/'62; '63/'64; '65/'66...). While the '57 does share traits with the '55/'56's, it also has some things other than exterior styling cues, that make it unique, and perhaps akin to a '58 - like the broad, heavy mouthed bumper at the front.

Gotta56forme/Scott

 

58 Impala, mmmm as Anthony says, “I’d drive that.” Just like the 63-65 Riviera, factory customs.