'62 Plymouth Designs

Good analysis, John. I do think that GM did a better job of downsizing than did Chrysler.

The proposed versions were strange indeed. A longtime fan of the unglamorous '62 Plymouth and Dodge production models. A big factor for me was the 413 ci Ram Induction engine which overwhelmed the sweet and pretty offerings from Chevrolet, Ford and Pontiac. 

I have to say that I have always thought that the '62 Plymouth was a decent enough looking car; particularly the better trimmed out and 3-tail light Sport Fury.  It doesn't compare to the GM or Ford styling of course and its downsizing puts it more in line with Rambler and Studebaker; but I don't consider it an ugly duckling.  A friend had a '62 white/red interior Sport Fury in high school and it had the 318; it performed very well and I liked it.  I would consider the '60 to be an ugly duckling and back in the day. I thought the '61 was rather bizarre but I have come to appreciate it much more in recent years....the '60 not so much.  Many of us have seen pics/presentations regarding the pre-downsize edict styling considerations for the '61-62  Plymouths and Dodges.  They were also very different than anything GM or Ford came out with but I do believe, with a longer wheelbase, they would still have sold fairly well.  Personally, when I compare the '61 and '62 Plymouth styling to that of the Dodge I find the body lines of the Plymouth much more attractive, balanced and symmetrical.  Lastly, I am a bit puzzled as to why, at least to my knowledge, the Valiant of this era didn't receive the bashing the "full size" Plymouth and Dodge received.   It too had the same very odd styling cues and IMO was certainly no match for the more conservative Ford Falcon and '62 Chevy Nova.

@jack-dodds, I think the difference between the full-size Plymouths and Dodes and the Valiant was that the Vailaint was designed to be that size and looked the part. When Chrysler panicked and squeezed their full-size proposals onto a mis-size platform, things came out odd-looking. A design that might have been innovative and trend-setting became the brunt of jokes.

@jkuvakas You are probably right John.  Personally I always thought the early Valiant looked like a shrunken Imperial/Chrysler combo and was amazed when I saw so many of them on the road.  They were rust buckets too, compared to the GM and Ford offerings.

Don't care for Chrysler Corp. designs/styling [other than the '62 Chrysler it self] '61 - '63. Here is the Dodge line up for '62. 

Full-size Custom 880

Mid-size Dart

Compact Lancer

Posted by: @jack-dodds

I have to say that I have always thought that the '62 Plymouth was a decent enough looking car; particularly the better trimmed out and 3-tail light Sport Fury.  It doesn't compare to the GM or Ford styling of course and its downsizing puts it more in line with Rambler and Studebaker; but I don't consider it an ugly duckling.  A friend had a '62 white/red interior Sport Fury in high school and it had the 318; it performed very well and I liked it.  I would consider the '60 to be an ugly duckling and back in the day. I thought the '61 was rather bizarre but I have come to appreciate it much more in recent years....the '60 not so much.  Many of us have seen pics/presentations regarding the pre-downsize edict styling considerations for the '61-62  Plymouths and Dodges.  They were also very different than anything GM or Ford came out with but I do believe, with a longer wheelbase, they would still have sold fairly well.  Personally, when I compare the '61 and '62 Plymouth styling to that of the Dodge I find the body lines of the Plymouth much more attractive, balanced and symmetrical.  Lastly, I am a bit puzzled as to why, at least to my knowledge, the Valiant of this era didn't receive the bashing the "full size" Plymouth and Dodge received.   It too had the same very odd styling cues and IMO was certainly no match for the more conservative Ford Falcon and '62 Chevy Nova.

I always like the Plymouth Valiant and the Dodge Lancer. I thought they were very different looking from everything I've seen from the American designers I still hold them in high regard. 

But then again that's just me and who the heck knows what kind of taste and style I have in cars I certainly don't LOL 

Steve