Simon Cars - Plymouth Belvedere 1960

Plymouth Belvedere 1960 - 1964

Unibody construction was given to the 1960 Plymouths and a styling that continued the outlandish themes of Virgil Exner, but the result was ugly and sold slowly. There was, however, a new 'slant-six' to replace the 'Flathead Six', and the new engine proved reliable and gave good performance too. For 1962 the same Unibody platform was restyled to make it look more compact following a rumour that predicted The General was going smaller. Sales suffered, again, so Chrysler made the 1963 and 1964 cars look longer and wider. However, engine choice was restricted to the 3.7-litre slant-six or the 383 (6.3-litre) V8, and the B-body came only in options of 2 and 4-door sedans, a coupe and a station wagon.For 1965 Chrysler re-invented the Belvedere into Belevedere I and II and a new Satellite model; Fury was made into a bigger car above the Belvedere.

aa Plymouth Belvedere 1962 Hardtop badge

Plymouth Belvedere 1962 - badge on door

Plymouth Belvedere 1962 Hardtop front

Plymouth Belvedere 1962 Hardtop. All Chrysler cars had a new body for 1962. The Belvedere was a mid-sized Plymouth that was given a new 3.7-litre slant six in 1960, but there was also an optional 6.3-litre V8

Plymouth Belvedere 1962 Hardtop side

Plymouth Belvedere 1962 Hardtop. 1962 Chryslers were in late stages of design when a rumour was heard that other makers were downsizing. A hasty and not too succesful change of styling took 2-nches off the wheelbase, 7.5-inches off the length, and 5-inches off the width. Joe public hated in a fat was added in again for 1963 and 1964, but Design Chief Virgil Exner took the bullet and Elwood Engel was engaged.

Plymouth Belvedere 1962 hardtop tail

Plymouth Belvedere 1962. Virgil Exner laid down the form of the 1962 Chryslers on his design for a concept called the Dodge Flite Wing. This was achieved, but at the last minutes was changed because rumours were heard about small cars from rivals. The downsizing compromised the designs and the buyers stayed away in droves.

Plymouth Fury 1962 4-door sedan front

Plymouth Fury 1962 4-door sedan. An unpopular car in 1962 after it was dropped down to a Chrysler B-body platform. This one is powered by a 3,690cc slant-six, but engines right up to the 426 were available.

Dodge 330 1963 2-door sedan 426 front

Dodge 330 1963 2-door sedan 426. Chrysler offered its 7-litre 426 Wedge Head V8 as an option, and thus created one of the best Strip cars of the period

Dodge 440 1964 2-door Sedan front

Dodge 440 1964 2-door Sedan. Dodge had introduced the 440 as a better trimmed Dodge Dart in 1962 on the 116-inch wheelbase. For 1964 it was given the larger 119-inch wheelbase of the Polara

Dodge Dart 1962 440 Ramcharger 413 front

Dodge Dart 1962 440 Ramcharger 413. A new Chrysler B-body on a shorter 116-inch wheelbase was given for 1962 with trim levels of 'Dart', 'Dart 330', and this 'Dart 440'.

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