I just got a look at someone's web page list of production figures.
Pontiac built 72,650 plain jane Catalina 4-dr sedans in 1960; Chrysler built
a total over all models and body styles 77,285 cars if this list is correct.
Which is about 1/4 of the total for Pontiac.
I found three of them in one spot - all rough; one maybe savable. The
2-door hardtop is so bad, I got the trunk lid open and when I went to close
it one of the hinges tore out of the lid. I figured it's no big deal they
probably built a lot of them that year... I sit here with my mouth open
looking at these production figures. Over all series it's one of 12,000
cars.
To top it off, another car here is a '58 Chrysler Saratoga 2-dr hardtop.
I'm not sure yet if it's the big window or not. It needs a lot of help -
pans, rockers, headlight eyebrows - but is pretty well all there except some
engine parts. One of 4456 cars either way. Someone has to want to save
this thing - it's bad but could be lots worse, and what a good looking car
restored.
Were people just not buying the Chryslers these years? I'm amazed when
there are so many stupid Corvairs, Ramblers and Falcons I could walk into a
junkyard and pick up a rock and throw it with my eyes closed and hit one of
them.
Good luck finding one - I saw one on eBay that went for $8000 or so for a
4-door, a nice driver, so they are out there - it just may take some time.
----- Original Message -----
From: "bill parker" <hemirr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] 1960 Chrysler unibody
> We're wanting to acquire a driver '60 Chrysler ourselves, NOT a show car,
if
> anyone is thinking of divesting of one.
>
>
>
> Bill & Kathi Parker, South Central Indiana
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: "C. B. Kidder" <60Saratoga@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Reply-To: 60Saratoga@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: Re: [FWDLK] 1960 Chrysler unibody
> >Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 21:19:40 -0700
> >
> >Bill, I drive a 60 Saratoga every day and it has rusty floors and trunk
and
> >who knows what else under the paint. My "frame" looks good and my doors
> >open
> >and close so I'm happy, but I've had the same questions as you do
regarding
> >where the limit with these cars is. My advice is for you to contact Aloha
> >Automotive Services in Wisconsin (www.alohadreamcars.com). From what I
> >gather they can take your unibody down to metal and return you with a car
> >worthy of sitting on a new car showroom floor. I wish I had the cash to
> >send
> >them my Saratoga (I may anyway). Even if you can't afford a total resto
> >now,
> >they may have some good alternatives.
> >
> >So definitely go for it on the wagon--it sounds like an awesome cruiser.
I
> >wish I had a 60 wagon.
> >
> >Brion
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Bill K." <pontiac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 5:15 PM
> >Subject: [FWDLK] 1960 Chrysler unibody
> >
> >
> > > Is there anyone out there who's had, has, or is familiar from dealing
> > > with/looking over 1960-61 Chryslers specifically, and to some degree
> >also
> > > the other Mopars these years, to have some idea as far as what
> >constitutes
> > > being too badly rusted out to save? By that I mean where the car's
> > > structure will be compromised should you try to move it.
> > >
> > > The only reference I've ever had to how these cars were built is the
old
> > > JoHan DeSoto model kit, and because of how you build those there is
> >little
> > > detail to the rocker panel area to show me just what there is to a
> >"frame"
> > > through the middle of the car (front and rear sections are obvious
> >though).
> > > I presume the rockers must be extra-heavy to provide a structure
through
> >the
> > > middle of the vehicle, and if they're rusted badly it could lead to
the
> >car
> > > folding in half.
> > >
> > > So I thought maybe someone out there's dealt with these issues before,
> >even
> > > if they were watching on as someone crushed out, to have an idea what
I
> > > should look for in a car that's sat for 30 years rusting to determine
if
> >it
> > > can be moved in one piece, or will need to be cut in half to remove it
> > > without causing major damage. I found a '60 New Yorker wagon that
> > > externally looks pretty solid; underhood looks okay; interior is not
bad
> >but
> > > the floorpans have holes along the edges. That doesn't bother me so
> >much,
> > > if I know what to look for when I jack it up I am entertaining ideas
of
> > > stashing it someplace for a project provided it can be patched up.
> >Here
> >in
> > > New York the two wagons (this, and a beat Newport) I found may be the
> >only
> > > two at least anywhere within a couple hours drive. But the third '60,
a
> > > 2-door hardtop, is so rusty that when I pulled up on the trunk lid, I
> >got
> > > most of the lower panel coming up with it, and when I closed said lid
> >one
> > > hinge tore out of it. The second wagon's had no glass for a long
time,
> >it's
> > > rough.
> > >
> > > I am totally new to these cars from any more than a standpoint of
being
> >able
> > > to tell them apart and have some idea of the motor combinations for
> >these
> > > years. Because this car has no motor, I thought it easiest to just
> >throw
> >a
> > > later motor and trans at it. With the Pontiacs I am familiar with,
this
> > > model year motor mounts will bolt to most later PMD V8 blocks, for
> >example.
> > > So I am also wondering what block family might be able to be put into
a
> >'60
> > > with a minimal hassle? It's not hard to find pickups in particular
> >that
> > > are rusted bad but run decent yet, and some of the '70's full size
cars
> >as
> > > well.
> > >
> > >
> > > I also want to look over a '61 Plymouth post coupe which does not look
> >bad
> > > from the side, but also sits on the ground and I have not tried to
look
> >in
> > > or under it. Most of the other cars in this location (Dodge
> >56-59-60-61,
> > > Plymouth 59-60-61, Desoto 59, Chrysler 58-60) are sedans and probably
> >not
> > > worth the bother except to haul out as parts cars. One car, the '64
> >Pontiac
> > > near said Plymouth, the trunk is open, I look in, the floorpan's gone,
> >the
> > > frame rails are gone, the gas tank is gone - all you see is the dirt
on
> >the
> > > ground. From what I've heard stories, the '57-8-9 Chrysler products
> >were
> > > prone to rust issues, don't know if they learned anything for the
> >'60-'62
> > > cars or not. There is a '58 Chrysler Windsor 2-dr hardtop which isn't
> >too
> > > bad, but the interior floorpans are gone, and the gas tank has a huge
> >hole
> > > in it. (anyone looking for a parts car? it's pretty well complete
> >outside
> >of
> > > intake/carb/radiator/generator).
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks -
> > >
> > > Bill K.
> > >
> > > deep in the Rust Belt of NYS -
> > >
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