Can you imagine what these clay models weigh? you can see the jacks under them. Car has kind of a mopar look to the rear...
That B pillar (and "hips") worked so much better on the 63 Corvettes! And the more open production bubble top works better on the 61. I think because of the difference in the length of the cars I don't recall ever seeing this one...thanks
Where the hell did you dig these up? I went down the rabbit hole myself and came up empty—nothing but dead ends and frustration. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a soft spot for the production model without the B-pillars. It’s clean, it’s sharp, it’s pure. But those Bill Mitchell beltlines and hips on the concept? Absolute poetry. And that sharp line on the rear end where the beltlines collide in the middle? Jesus. That’s design so good it feels like a crime it didn’t make it to the factory floor. God damned choice, indeed.
All I did was right click your photo and go to google image search. those pics were on Pinterest. As far as that bubble rear window goes up on the roof I would imagine the people in the back seat would have gotten a hell of a sunburn!! I kinda Like 61 Chevies, I have had this one now more than 40 years...
The B-pillars remind me of the ones on the Lasalle II Sedan. Obviously GM had been toying with them for awhile. I also agree with @Moriarity on the rear styling being similar to Chryslers. Here's a 1961 Plymouth Fury as an example.
To me the back end looks kind of droopy and too light to balance off the front. I also see some Corvair influence along with the precursor to the Corvette. On the left edge of Ryan's picture you can see the backend of the winning design. On Moriarity's picture you can see the winning roofline.
The back half does look a little like a 61 Plymouth, only way better. Also like a Corvair/Corvette, only not as good. I like it but it doesn't really go well with the front. I doubt that it was ever considered for production because there's some 61 Impala taillights in the picture. Probably some GM VP just asked what it would look like with a Corvette back half, but maybe some of it made it through to the 65 Impala.
deja vu https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1961-chevrolet-impala-concept.1209001/ Pretty sure there were several design studies in Collectable Automobile magazine - quick search maybe June 2019 issue.
Jesus... that was only 4 years ago and I don't remember it at all. So many features... So many cars... leaving nothing but fumes and brain mush in their wake.
Mark's replies were basically the same except "owned for 36 years" became "owned for 40 years"! ...mmm mush. I like it with a pinch of salt, butter and maple syrup.
The 61 ended up as it's own masterpiece design. That continuous body line from the V in the deck all the way to the hood. The coffee can headlights in the fenders. The roof, can't say anything good that ain't been said for decades. I know a 62 Belair Spt coupe is the "money car" but fuck money, the 61 is it. This concept? I'm not at all on it. I get it, and it did spurn some individual design ideas thru other models which is what concepts are for. I don't hate it either. Like a girl with 3 instead of 2? Not necessarily desirable but fun to look at.
I think it was a good thing they did not use that concept. The 61 Chevy is a nice car and looks good with the bubble roof (which 57 Plymouths had years before). The rear of the car does not match the front and saying the back looks like a 61 Plymouth is insulting to the 61 Plymouth's rear styling. I think GM picked the right design to build.
Interesting photos. Bill Mitchell was an amazing designer. Moriarity, 40 years! Wow. Ironically I picked this up about a month ago. Photo taken on Route 66 west of St. Louis a couple weeks ago. I've got to say I like the back window design chosen for production vs. the concept.
A few more photos. I’ve been wanting a ‘61 for a long time. I actually have a rebuilt 1961 passenger car 348 up in Canada purchased for a planned bubbletop project when I found one. It’s now for sale if anyone is looking.
One more on this topic. I prefer the 61 Belair. The trim is more austere but still pleasant, especially with the "dirty" shade of white in the middle. I like the odd color stripes in the seats, but I would indeed add the 3rd taillight. While I wouldn't mind the more upscale instrument panel of the Impala it's not a deal breaker for me to be without it. I wish getting old took longer...
I mean… is the ’61 bubble top the pinnacle of Chevrolet design? I’m thinking it just might be. Hell, I can’t conjure a better designed bowtie. As for GM in general? The crown jewel for me is still the ’65 Riviera. A machine so perfect it feels like it was carved from the bones of the gods. But yeah, it tracks that GM really found its stride in the 1960s—storming the market with style, swagger, and the kind of reckless ambition that made the whole operation feel progressive as hell compared to the stale ole tales of Ford and others. That hurt to type. Someone stop me.
I picked one up about six months ago—quiet deal, no fanfare. Little old lady special, only driven on Sundays, all the usual fairy tales. Paid next to nothing for it, and thank God for that, because the thing was a rolling disaster. Bondo packed into every square inch, like a cheap disguise melting under scrutiny. Most of it started cracking and flaking off on the drive home. Sold it to the neighbor the next day for exactly what I had in it. Let him deal with the fallout.
Pumped up to get it, only to the big fall shortly later after finding out - oh man wud I do. What are neighbors for ? Don’t feel bad. Been there - done that a few times in the last 40 years.
We call that the Mrs Lesh deal. Want to laugh your ass off ? Here you go Ryan. Take 5 minutes and watch this. Funny as hell
If only a guy had one in nice shape with some killer wheels like say some exquisite Borrani wires. Oh wait…..
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