Simon Cars - Plymouth Savoy 1957-60

Plymouth Savoy 1957-60

Virgil Exner designed completely new bodies for 1957 which were promoted as being three years ahead; 'Suddenly it's 1960'. Plymouth Savoys with the entry level Plymouth Plazas also selling well. 1957 Plymouths were 5 inches lower than 1955 cars, had a 3 inch longer wheelbase, but was just shorter than 1956. The Plaza and Savoy models could be ordered with an inline six or a 301 cu. in V8. Car makers suffered a 31 per cent downturn in sales for 1958 due to a recession, but Plymouth suffered a 44 per cent drop as reaction to reliability problems with the 1957 models; rust and broken torsion bars harmed the Chrysler quality reputation. 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 'Golden Commando' V8 offered 305 bhp, and a short-lived fuel injection version was offered but withdrawn due to reliability.

aa Plymouth Savoy 4-door sedan 1957 badgea

Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan. The first 'Savoy' model was created as version of the 1951 Plymouth Concord, and was a wagon version. For 1952 there was the Plymouth Savoy wagon, but for 1954 the Savoy was also offered in sedan and Club Coupe models. A new hardtop, or 'Savoy Sport Coupe' was added to the Savoy Sedan and 2-door Savoy Club Sedan for 1956. These three models continued for 1957 with the new 'Forward Look' bodies.

ac Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan head

Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan. Plymouth tried to get quad lamps approved in all states, but 8 states disagreed so Plymouth filled one headlamp in with parking lamps instead

Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan front

Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan. Virgil Exner gave the 1957 Plymouth Savoy his 'Forward Look' styling, and beneath the bonnet either inline 6-cylinder engines, or in this case a V8 engine of up to 4.9-litre

Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan rear

Plymouth Savoy 1957 4-door sedan. In 1957 the Plymouth Savoy received Chrysler's 'Forward Look' styling by Virgil Exner, and was offered in 2 coupes and this 4-door six light sedan

Plymouth Savoy 1958 4-door sedan front

Plymouth Savoy 1958 4-door sedan. A modest front restyle was given for 1958, with Chrysler trying to recover from the badly built 1957 models.

Plymouth Savoy 1959 4-door sedan

Plymouth Savoy 1959 4-door sedan. Chrysler cars kept the same body shell for the 1959 ahead of a big restyle for 1960 and new factories. But Virgil Exner managed a makeover with rear wings, new bumpers, grilles and lamps. The Savoy was now the entry level Plymouth, but could be specified with the 5,205cc (318) Fury V-800 engine, as this one

s Plymouth Savoy 1958 4-door sedan side

Plymouth Savoy 1958 4-door sedan. The 4-door sedan was one of 3 bodies for 1958, all sporting the Virgil Exner 'Forward Look' ('Suddenly it's 1960'). There was also Savoy 2-door and 4-ddor hardtops.

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.

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