In various scales, I have several replicas of both of these Chevrolet vehicles. The horizontal fins are used in a couple of carmakers autos during that time.
I like both but favor the in your face 59 just a bit more. Thanks John for my daily wake up call. Your daily comparison and my cup of coffee are the perfect start to my day.
This has been a long-time point of discussion for the Chevy fan. Like Bob, I favored the outlandish styling of the '59 fins during the era. The '60 looked almost sedate in comparison. But quite honestly, now, and that's what John is so masterful doing, I favor he '60.
The grille, especially, looks to me to be much simpler, purposeful and clean. The sides are also cleaner. And the fins, I now see as wind-swept and tucked back like a fighter jet, rather than a glider plane. Sixty for me John.
Well, since my very first car was a '59 Chevy Impala 2-door HT, white exterior with red interior, I have to go with the '59.
However, even if I hadn't owned the '59, I'd still go with it over the "Plucked and plain" looking '60.
The "cats eyes" rear taillights on the '59 are what really make it. Though the "Bat fins" for the '60 were kept, removing those "cats eyes" for a "control panel" type taillight setting (IMO) ruins the rear of the car.
1960 for me although the family had the 59. We had the 348 V8 which was seemingly too front heavy and crazy to drive in Winter icy conditions especially on the highway. My dad blamed the tail fins while I thought the engine was the problem.
1960 for me although the family had the 59. We had the 348 V8 which was seemingly too front heavy and crazy to drive in Winter icy conditions especially on the highway. My dad blamed the tail fins while I thought the engine was the problem.
David, A co-worker had a '59 with a six...always complained about about the stability issues at highway speeds.
@sizedoesmatter I'm no engineer of course, but considering the aerodynamic effect of the bat wing design I would think that a '59 Chevy would have to be travelling at Nascar speeds to be affected to any degree. I have wondered for years if this "instability" point originated from car guy conversation based simply on the look of the fins vs. reality. The basic look of those Chevy fins would certainly plant that seed of conversation.
1960 for me although the family had the 59. We had the 348 V8 which was seemingly too front heavy and crazy to drive in Winter icy conditions especially on the highway. My dad blamed the tail fins while I thought the engine was the problem.
David, A co-worker had a '59 with a six...always complained about about the stability issues at highway speeds.
Junior Johnson made the 59 work at the 1960 Daytona 500,
I can only repeat what I think I've said more than once before. The '59 is a fabulous one-of-a-kind dramatic statement of the era, as striking and outrageous today as it ever was. But the '60 is a subtler and more balanced and coherent design (and to my eyes its character wasn't nearly as diluted as the other 1960 GM cars).
