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Topic starter
14/07/2026 11:34 am
If you thought the '59 Edsel was a terrible design, this one of three Chrysler Scimitars designed by Brooks Stevens, of all people, was presented at the 1959 Geneva Car Show. This folding top 4 door Town Car/ Phaeton was built on the last year of the full size Chrysler chassis. It was powered by the 350 HP 413 cid "Golden Lion V8 with their Torque Flite automatic. The upward sweeping contrasting steel side panels against aluminum fenders were said to mimic the Turkish Scimitar. The body featured a lot of aluminum where there was corrosion potential. The body was crafted by Reutter Carriage Works in Stuttgart, Germany. Its gold toned V-shaped aluminum grill matched wheel covers. It employed a '59 Chrysler dash and '58 Chevy Impala tail lamps.
14/07/2026 11:51 am
Better than his '54 Cadillac Valkyrie though, don't you think? Talk about a face only a mother could love. I believe the woman in the last photo is shouting for help.
This post was modified 3 months ago 2 times by Paul Rouffa
14/07/2026 12:26 pm
If it wasn't for the typical Chrysler windscreen/windshield shape I'd have sworn it was a customized '59 Edsel. (And every bit as lovely, I might add).
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
14/07/2026 12:33 pm
Whew, both of them homely as he!!. But interesting. 😊
14/07/2026 12:43 pm
I have them both in my collection in 1:43-scale.
14/07/2026 12:52 pm
These are what look like Frankencars - cobbled up with pieces from who-knows-where!
14/07/2026 3:07 pm
Reminds me of the Zimmer…
Zeeky Banutski
The People’s Republic of Maryland
14/07/2026 3:57 pm
I was quite intrigued by the Scimitar and went looking for a bit more background. Interesting that rather than just a one-off styling exercise there were three versions. The convertible is the nicest to my eye
The wagon (or "all-purpose sedan" as they curiously named it) is also quite striking and doesn't look half bad (at least in the context of late 50's styling)
It had a sliding roof to accommodate tall loads, a feature which appeared a few years later on the Studebaker Wagonaire
The "Town Car" with which Rich opened this post didn't strike me as very appealing at first glance because the body decor looked a little OTT and the landau roof looks (in photos at least) as if it has cracked and sagged in the middle. I spent a bit of time trying to make it look more "sober" and less overdone but it came out a bit dull really, and on reflection I should have left it alone. (But you know I sometimes just have to try these things.)
I was surprised to see there was a 1:43 version done by Avenue 43. I've just discovered it featured in a forum post about 5 years ago but it obviously din't register at the time. Very nice.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
14/07/2026 4:20 pm
Products of their times. Probably looked better then than now. They did not age well. Interesting though.
Geno and Rich Sufficool reacted
14/07/2026 4:39 pm
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
John Bono
North Jersey
14/07/2026 4:45 pm
Very interesting dream cars from that era. They would be absolutely unmistakable back then or now, either for real or as a replica now days.
14/07/2026 7:33 pm
15/07/2026 1:03 am
I've seen the convertible years ago; it has a retractable hard top similar to the Ford Skyliner.
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