Poll: Which '65? (2/10/2023)

Dodge, Olds and Mercury.

Olds,  Merc, Dodge  although that Merc could easily have been first.  Some big old convertible land yachts.  Great comparison.  

Another easy one for me.  OLDSMOBILE!  Followed by the Dodge and then the Mercury.  The Oldsmobile has so much compared to the "boxy" looking Mercury.  

Dodge, Oldsmobile then Mercury this time John. This is not my favourite Americana era.

The new Mercury styling really appealed to me this year, Olds then Dodge.

I'm with JD on this comparison. When I was in h.s. '67-'71 my Dad had a '66 Parklane. That Merc was fast !  I'd screech those tires from a stoplight and would always smile while doing it. Wish I had that Mercury today.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

Dodge, Olds and Mercury.

Me too.

Dodge, Mercury, Oldsmobile.  

The Mercury was a kind of cheaper, "tinnier" version of Lincoln styling but at least it had a bit of presence. The other two (in these photos at least) were just functional tin boxes with no real identity. The Big Three had abandoned the wild excesses of the late 50s and early 60s but hadn't really come up with anything very imaginative to replace them. I agree with David Green that it wasn't a great era for styling.

Of course, I'm basing that on photos. Maybe the Dodge and Olds had some visual appeal "in the metal" that escapes me.

@graeme-ogg As you may know, in 1965 Fomoco and Chryco both changed their styling to a rather squared off general design up until '67-'68.  Personally I loved this look but I do understand from comments on this Forum and otherwise that it did polarize opinion somewhat.  GM didn't follow suit and in fact, compared with some of their '63-'64 designs, you might say they went the other direction as evidenced by the gorgeous sweeping lines of the Impala and Catalina (Parisienne) of '65 and onward.  Although I was very much a fan of the earlier 60s Fords and Mercurys, I thought the squared off look for '65 was refreshing to see; especially the stacked headlight Galaxie and LTD. The 60s was a great era for automotive styling IMHO and the bold styling changes seen then added excitement to my yearly late September pilgrimages to the various automobile showrooms.

I vividly remember those days, as well. There was magic in the air! I recall sneaking around the back lots of the local dealership, trying to get a peak at what was coming. My first glimpse of the new '65 Bonneville was through a grimy back window of the service department of our Pontiac dealer. I couldn't see much. But what I did manage to pick out blew my mind! I rode my bike home as fast as I could to tell the guys! By the time we returned, the dealer had papered over the windows!!

LOL.  We used to sneak around the same way!  It was VERY exciting!

In my opinion, 1965 was the absolute peak for full size American automotive styling.

As for peeking to see the new cars (my father and I went every fall to see all the new cars), I remember in the fall of 1963, 8 year old me was terribly disappointed that the 1964 Imperial wasn't in the showroom. I was an Imperial boy since the 1961, and was very excited about the 1964.

The salesman was kind and took us in the back. And there it was! Dark green four door, dusty and with paper over parts of it. Of course I'll never forget that day!

Which is like my first Ferrari, a 330 GTC, that I saw at 12. That's another story...

@jack-dodds 

My Dad & I did too. And I remember seeing the car carriers all of the new cars were covered up so you couldn't see them on the transporter's either.