John_S_in_Penna Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 I'm looking for a magazine article I saw a year or two ago, which I can't find. The subject is asymmetrical car designs by Virgil Exner of Chrysler Corporation. Boy, did the design-studio photographs in that article show some bizarre and unattractive cars! Some cars had 3 headlights on one side of the grille, and one headlight on the other! It's an interesting part of history. I'm pretty sure the article was in either Collectible Automobile or Hemmings Classic Car. I looked through my back issues but didn't come across it. Since time can fly, maybe it was over two years ago. Does anyone remember this article? Can you tell me what magazine, and what issue? It's just for my own knowledge and enjoyment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 I remember the article - like you, I'm fairly sure it appeared in HCC. I hurriedly looked through a stack that is easily accessible, but I might have missed it. I'll go back through it again later today when I have more time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 I guess I was mistaken about the publication, unless I have misidentified the article completely. In the October 2018 issue of Collectible Automobile on Page 78, there is this article: One-Sided Conversation: Asymmetry and the 1962 Plymouth There are several photographs matching the description in your original post. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 That's it! Thank you, Dosmo. Everyone should take a look at those proposed cars-- the most horrid things anyone could imagine. Did they have to go all the way to full-size clay models to determine that they weren't good looking?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Post up a few pics then, I don't have any old mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) Don't know what a Exner built car looked like but Dean Jeffries turned out the flawless Mantaray. Bob http://spicercollectorcars.com/2019/02/04/dean-jeffries-mantaray-the-ultimate-hot-rod/ Edited September 20, 2019 by 1937hd45 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 Here are a couple pictures of the proposed asymmetrical cars. How far would production fall if these were actually offered in the showrooms? Would anyone buy them, or would sales fall to near zero? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 I wonder if they were really intended to be asymmetrical as a finished car or were they different variations on a theme using just one clay model to save money? That is, each mock-up represented two or three headlight options rather than just one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 The article says that designer Virgil Exner was experimenting with asymmetry. You're right that sometimes the designers would prepare only one side of a model, or make the other side of a different design and place them in a mirror. But that's not the case here. There would be no reason that a SYMMETRICAL car would have, for instance, 3 headlights on a side. And a few years earlier, Mr. Exner had come up with some absolutely beautiful designs for production! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 I believe that after Exner's "Forward Look" for Chrysler Corp. his best work was behind him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 (edited) I love the Forward Look cars but have also referred to the 1960-1961 period as the "Exner on Drugs" period. All beautiful designs. Edited September 21, 2019 by 61polara (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 (edited) Could the fans please post photos of the cars you like? Might allow us to understand what has caused this thread to be started. Edited September 21, 2019 by 1937hd45 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pancho's ride Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 In 1941, Exner patented Bob Bourke’s 1940 design when he was fired from the Studebaker account. Makes me wonder how many of his designs were actually his. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 1 hour ago, 1937hd45 said: Could the fans please post photos of the cars you like? Might allow us to understand what has caused this thread to be started. Here are a few pictures of Exner-designed cars when they were actually beautiful. Here is a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 Here is a 1955 Imperial, when he was still designing beautiful cars: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 And here's a 1958 Chrysler Saratoga. I don't see how anyone with a sense of beauty and grace--as exemplified by these cars--could just a few years later even CONSIDER the bizarre creations he came up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 Like Michelangelo, Exner was in his Mannerist Crisis period when developing his later Mopar work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 On 9/20/2019 at 7:13 PM, 61polara said: I love the Forward Look cars but have also referred to the 1960-1961 period as the "Exner on Drugs" period. All beautiful designs. He really got into drugs with the Pontiac-based Stutz: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/stove-huggers-the-non-studebaker-forum/55299-orphan-of-the-day-08-24-1966-duesenberg-1980-stutz-iv-porte Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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