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08/08/2018 2:12 am
Actually, from 45 to 70 Ford out sold Chevy in 46, 49, 54, 57, 61, 66, 70 in 59,
Ford sold 1,450,953 and was beat by Chevy 1,462,140 or Chevy by 11,187
08/08/2018 2:16 am
Chevy was/is too radically different for my taste, never really cared for the 59 Ford but prefer it.
08/08/2018 2:40 am
Chevy in a walk. Put the tops down--the Chevy is sleek and exciting, whereas the Ford is square and block-like. Plus, I dig that 348 in the Impala!
08/08/2018 2:41 am
Chevy
08/08/2018 4:02 am
Yeah, Chevy.
Retired in Dunedin, Florida.
08/08/2018 4:10 am
When you consider how radically different the bat wing styling of the '59 Chevy was from all other '59 makes and so different from previous years of Chevy, it was quite a gamble made by GM; especially when you look at the huge numbers of cars sold that year. I'm rather surprised by the number of Lounge members who don't like the '59 Ford; I love it myself. The '59 sales numbers provided by Bruce Parsons seem to indicate a customer division of opinion on the styling of the Chevy and Ford. Traditional style lovers turned to Ford; the others bought a Chevy. IMO the styling of the other major makes were somewhere in between Chevy and Ford in '59.
08/08/2018 4:39 am
I agree with you, Jack.
To my eye, the Ford was a refreshing departure from the overwrought styling of the late fifties, even classy in its understated but clean styling. The Chevy has grown on me, though. It is a bit outrageous but not as overly busy as some other designs of the time. I'd be proud to own either.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
Topic starter
08/08/2018 4:44 am
Suspect it was quite an adventure for a kid right out of high school.
John Bono
North Jersey
08/08/2018 5:07 am
Sunliner (but with stock wheelcovers)
08/08/2018 5:18 am
Ford won an international design award for the '59s, and used that extensively in their advertising. I have a lot of original '59 Ford ads and almost all of them displays the medal.
I don't dislike the Ford and I'll admit that the Chevy took some getting used to (some folks haven't gotten used to it yet!), but it looked low and aerodynamic whereas the Ford appeared a little clunky to my eye. At least Ford corrected the disaster of the '58s with the '59 models, when they went back to their trademark round taillights among other things. I never cared for the grille, which was essentially a piece of aluminum stamped with a few hundred stars cut out...very busy, IMO.
As you say, though, John---I'd be pleased to own either one.
08/08/2018 5:40 am
Yes, I would be happy with either one myself. I do recall how shocked I was when I saw my first new '59 Chevy. I was only 7 at the time but already an established car fanatic (really)...Lol. I didn't like it at all initially but the tutone Impala 2drht. quickly won me over when I saw the metallic blue and white combo. The only other new car design that shocked me more as a young fella was the bizarre 1961 Plymouth Fury with its "stuck on" tail lights etc.
08/08/2018 6:04 am
Good description! I thought it was hideous for many years (along with the '62 Dodge) but I have come to appreciate its unique styling era and now like the fact that it is so very different. Such a presence jazzes up a car show IMO.
08/08/2018 6:58 am
Chevy