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Topic starter
01/02/2021 8:25 pm
Going through my files of 1960's American cars, I found these "Production Numbers" for each Brand interesting. Certainly the numbers reveal some interesting observations.
1) CHEVROLET 20,333,083
2) FORD 17,067,193
3) PONTIAC 6,761,759
4) PLYMOUTH 6,302,993
5) OLDSMOBILE 4,980,463
6) BUICK 4,932,153
7) DODGE 4,652,198
8) RAMBLER 3,615,165
9) MERCURY 3,333,790
10) CADILLAC 1,802,826
11) CHRYSLER 1,800,221
12) STUDEBAKER 404,130
13) LINCOLN 397,459
14) IMPERIAL 168,971
15) DESOTO 29,115
16) EDSEL 3,008
I find it interesting that Pontiac, Plymouth and Oldsmobile all in the Top Five for production in the '60s and neither is with us today. And looking at #6 through #10 on the list, Rambler and Mercury have also left us. Finally, not so surprising #11 through #16 shows that only Chrysler and Lincoln are still alive, though neither brand had staggering numbers.
It's also interesting noting that Cadillac's and Chrysler's numbers differed only 2,605 cars. The numbers for DeSoto and Edsel of course only reflect 1960, as each brands production was halted in November 1959 for their 1960 models.
Take note that all the production numbers include all cars within each brand name (i.e. Chevrolet, Corvair, Corvette, Chevy II, Nova, Caprice, etc.).
The American cars of the 1960's gave us some of the most beautiful ever produced.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
01/02/2021 8:56 pm
Interesting info and observations.
John Bono
North Jersey
01/02/2021 8:59 pm
Thanks for this, it is, as you say, fascinating. Clearly, the 'bread and butter brands survive: Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth. As well as the kudos brands that pass a little sparkle down to their poorer cousins: Cadillac, Lincoln, and Chrysler respectively.
After which, apart from the independents; Studebaker, Rambler that hadn't the equation of numbers to survive, the others - your successful Oldsmobile and Pontiac, as well as more salubrious marques, Imperial - are victims of planned thinning-out of brands as cost cutting exercises. Which brings us back to the beginning with the Edsel that you would have liked to be given more of a chance.
01/02/2021 9:23 pm
Very interesting numbers. The biggest shocker for me is that Rambler outsold Mercury!!!
Topic starter
01/02/2021 9:27 pm
Very interesting numbers. The biggest shocker for me is that Rambler outsold Mercury!!!
That surprised me too.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Topic starter
01/02/2021 9:31 pm
sadly though, Plymouth is no longer with us today. I shed a tear when I reflect on the cars from my growing up years that have left us.
Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, DeSoto, Mercury, Imperial, Kaiser, Frazer, Studebaker, Rambler, Nash, and Edsel.
I think there is a lesson here as they've been replaced by brands like Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Ed Glorius and Ed Glorius reacted
01/02/2021 9:35 pm
@georgeschire You are so right, and the German cars at the mid to premium range. But no individual character: What this car says about you. Thanks for your thought-provoking post.
01/02/2021 9:51 pm
Don’t forget Plymouth - #4 on the list & no longer with us...
Zeeky Banutski
The People’s Republic of Maryland