the 55-57 Chevies, first with modern V8s The key word was "modern". Ford and Chrysler may have come out with their v-8's earlier, but Chevy really nailed it off the bat. They kept the same basic design from '55 to '99 when the others were continually changing. That says something... I'm with the other guys and the 'cookie cutter' rule. I love tri-five Chevy's and I'd love to have one someday if I could ever afford it, but it's very cool to see different, unique rides out there. I'm a fan of that no matter what the make is. -JC
There was never a day in the history of the Earth that every car on the road was a Renault Alliance, or a Chevette, or a Chrysler LeBaron Convertible, or a Pinto/Bobcat/Mustang II(MII always comes last because they were based on Pinto/Bobcat, not the other way around). There may, however, have been 1 day or an early afternoon, that every car on the road was a Ford TAURUS, maybe. Popular for survival purposes means retaining an audience year to year, decade after decade. Not one of these cars fits that description except the Pinto/Bobcat/MII which survived only as parts cars for Street Rod suspensions.
5X is exactly correct. Ford's have ruled the hotrod and early custom scene, yet Chevrolet outsold ford from 32-56. the venerable flathead V8 that is so popular was not the first choice when buying new. More options, better styling, more modern made the chevies popular with the buying public. simplicity and VAST parts interchangability made them the hotrodders choice.
The Jalopy Journal
