Posted 2017-05-02 11:02 PM (#539337 - in reply to #539327) Subject: Re: 56 Australian Dodge
Elite Veteran
Posts: 977
Location: Sydney, Australia
I wouldn't call it a forward look vehicle. Even though it is a 56, it's body is still based on a 54'ish and earlier. If Exner had nothing to do with the pre 1955 Export Dodge Kingsway, Plymouth Savoy or Desoto Diplomat designs then no he didn't have any input of the design. After a while it was cheaper for Aus to press it's own bodies instead of importing......Chrysler Aust was just a subsidiary to the US owned company and still had to get things approved or design input from it's parent company.
Posted 2017-05-03 8:29 AM (#539358 - in reply to #539337) Subject: Re: 56 Australian Dodge
Location: North Australia
matte - 2017-05-03 1:02 PM
I wouldn't call it a forward look vehicle. Even though it is a 56, it's body is still based on a 54'ish and earlier. If Exner had nothing to do with the pre 1955 Export Dodge Kingsway, Plymouth Savoy or Desoto Diplomat designs then no he didn't have any input of the design. After a while it was cheaper for Aus to press it's own bodies instead of importing......Chrysler Aust was just a subsidiary to the US owned company and still had to get things approved or design input from it's parent company.
I agree.
What a shame V. Exner didn't sanction a 56 D500 ute based on the US car for us Colonials ( and then the 57 ute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...................)
Posted 2017-05-03 4:53 PM (#539399 - in reply to #539302) Subject: Re: 56 Australian Dodge
Location: Under the X in Texas
Its a good question. Exner was hired by Chrysler in 1949. The Chrysler C200 of 1952 and the K-310 concept cars are directly Exner's in collaboration with Luigi Segre at Ghia. He greatly influenced the freshening of designs across the board at Chrysler for the 1953 model year.
But, this group is "Forward Look" and it is Exner's designs for the 1955-61 American production model years sheet metal which defines that.