Plymouth gained a new 'Forward Look' body by Virgil Exner for 1955. Virgil Exner also over the completely new bodies for 1957 which were promoted as being three years ahead; 'The car you might have expected in 1960 is at your dealers today!' The 4-door sedan and 2-door club wagon were the biggest sellers of the mid range Plymouth Savoys, with the higher priced Belvedere series popular. 1957 Plymouths were 5 inches lower than 1955 cars, had an 118-inch wheelbase. The Plaza and Savoy models could be ordered only with an inline six or a 301 cu. in V8. For 1958 styling changes were modest, and under the bonnet the standard 318 V8 was uprated to 225 bhp, and a new 350 cu. in. 'Golden Commando' V8 offered 305 bhp, and a short-lived fuel injection version was offered but withdrawn due to reliability. Plymouth downgraded the Belvedere range for 1958 and developed the Fury into a full model range.
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Plymouth Belvedere 1958 4-door sedan - badge on front wing.
aa Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan badge
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan - badge on rear fin. The Belvedere had been a pricey Plymouth, but for 1959 it dropped a rung on the Chrysler ladder, as the special 'Fury' model was turned into a full range sitting above the Belvedere, and the 'Sport Fury' taking over as a special model at the top.
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Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959 - badge on bootlid
ac Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan head
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan. 1959 was the final year of body on frame bodies, and also the final year for the 'Belvedere' name plate. Under the hood a choice of inline six or V8 engine, but the six would also be moved from the car line to the truck line.
ac Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959 head
Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959. Coronados were usually given V8 engines and strengthened suspension
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 4-door sedan front
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 4-door sedan. The Belvedere was the top trim Plymouth for 1958. The V8 Belvedere was given a 5,205cc (318) engine, but hotter engines were available
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 Sport Coupe front
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 Sport Coupe. A Fury V-800 5,205cc engine was an option for the Belvedere, with a 5,736cc available in the more expensive Fury Hardtop.
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 Sport Coupe rear
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 Sport Coupe. The Belvedere was the top line Plymouth for 1958, with the Plaza and Savoy below. It was offered as 2-door and 4-door hardtops (Sport Coupe, Sport Sedan), 2-door Club Sedan and 4-door Sedan and a convertible.
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan front
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan. For 1959 Plymouth continued with the Virgil Exner bodies, with changes to the lighting front and rear, and a new 'egg crate' grille
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan rear
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan. For 1959 Plymouth continued with the Virgil Exner bodies. However, at the rear, the fins were now closed with a small chrome band and new smaller lamps moved to a horizontal location underneath the fins.
Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959 front
Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959. Chrysler contracted Societe Anonyme Chrysler in Antwerp to build 8-passenger versions of the Plymouth Belvedere, which were essentially 'cut and shut' creations.
Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959 rear
Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959. Chrysler contracted Societe Anonyme Chrysler in Antwerp to build 8-passenger versions of the Plymouth Belvedere, often on a 143-inch wheelbase. It is believed that this car iwas made in Ireland.
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Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan - front lamps. Quad headlamps, seemingly floating in space, were now standard wear. Side lamps now wrapped around the corner of the grille.
q Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan lamps
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan - rear lamps. Smaller horizontal units for 1959, no longer filling the fin cavity.
t Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan tail
Plymouth Belvedere 1959 4-door sedan. For 1959 the fins were altered, starting earlier and having a smoother profile. But they lost the rear lamp clusters on the Plymouth and these dropped to below the boot lid
t Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959 tail
Plymouth Belvedere Coronado 1959. Coronados were essentially 'cut and shut' creations. It is believed that this car was possibly made in Ireland.
Chrysler Windsor 1957 Hardtop front
Chrysler Windsor 1957 Hardtop. Chrysler Forward Look. The design recipe brought in by Virgil Exner to replace the boring designs by Keller.
Dodge Coronet 1959 2-door Club Sedan front
Dodge Coronet 1959 2-door Club Sedan.. This was one of the cheapest Chrysler Cars for 1959, but you could still have a 5,317cc 255bhp V8 under the hood (and even a 6277cc 320bhp).
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 4-door sedan rear
Plymouth Belvedere 1958 4-door sedan. Chrysler Forward Look. The design recipe brought in by Virgil Exner to replace the boring designs by Keller.