Let’s take a look at this image from Hyperpack, uploaded at the Cohort. A 1960 Plymouth Belvedere, looking very space-age-like, as if coming from another planet. Though in this snow setting, this 1960s spaceship looks rather serene. Is it just waiting for spring to take off again?
I’m always surprised when a particular model hasn’t appeared much at CC. And the 1960 Plymouths seem to be one of them. However, a couple of wagons did appear a while back and those posts elaborate on the brand’s 1960 updates (links below).
But if you want the short version, unibody construction was adopted across the Plymouth line for 1960. In other news, the old flathead-six got the heave-ho and the new slant-six appeared with a displacement of 225CID on the full-sizers. Elsewhere in the powertrain menu, the 318CID and 361 CID V-8s remained available. “V-8 or Economy 6” in the words of Plymouth’s brochure.
The Belvedere remained the middle child of Plymouth’s full-sizers, slotted between the Savoys and Furys. Belvederes came as club sedans, hardtop coupes, or 4-door versions. Today’s Cohort Pic(k) seems to be a hardtop coupe, of which there were 14K units built.
As can be seen in this period commercial, Plymouth made a big deal about the new unibodies’ solid quality in their advertising. Like a lot of Chrysler products of the period, reviewers commended their handling and prowess, but their styling proved an acquired taste.
I’ll refrain from providing an in-depth look now, as we only have one rear shot from today’s find. A few more would be needed to make true justice to this design, from an era when Exner was starting to show a flourish for rather Ex-centric detailing. I’ll admit, it takes some getting used to. Years ago, when I first came across a 1960 Plymouth I was taken aback by its ‘mask-like’ fascia. A feature that was particularly notorious in two-tones.
Needless to say, Exner’s fascination with jet-age styling was quickly falling out of favor when these came to the market. With NASA being established in 1958 and the Mercury program starting, folks were interested in real rockets, not earth-grounded pretenders.
But like all things 50-plus years later, in recent times I’ve warmed to these early ’60s Plymouths and find them rather distinctive. And if I was a kid and you told me I could fly to Alpha Centauri in one of these, I would probably believe you.
Further reading:
CC Capsule: 1960 Plymouth Deluxe 2-Door Wagon – Deluxe Accommodations
Cohort Pic(k) Of The Day: 1960 Plymouth DeLuxe Suburban Wagon – Good Bones, Big Fins And Wild Dash
Here is a 60 Coupe in rough shape I found and posted on the cohort many years ago, it was in a shop lot by the side of the road in northern PA. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cohort-sighting-1960-plymouth-fury-dashing/
That’s one of my all-time favorite finds.
That’s my Neighbor, They are MoPar nuts like I am.
I will try to get some more documentation of this awesome vehicle and better shots when is it out and about on the town.
👍👍
Great photo. The angle, and the all-white car in the snow, make the ’60 look good for the first time ever!
And that’s not an easy task, either. 1960-62 has to be one of the lower three year periods for Chrysler in their rocky, up-and-down history. To say the company was in disarray would be an understatement, and the last-gasp for the tailfin era 1960 Plymouth exemplifies that.
It only got worse until Lynn Townsend and Elwood Engel’s conservative, do whatever GM had done impact could be felt, beginning in earnest with the new for 1965, full-size C-body.
What a stunning photo. It looks like the neighbours have visitors from another planet!
I’ve often felt the major flaw in this design is the way the headlight ‘brow’ angles down to become a sort of wheelarch flare. Without that, it would be quite pleasant.
I can see why Exner might have done that – it introduces that reverse angularity into the trailing edge of front wheelarch, reprised in the rear one. This saved the car from looking bland, giving the eye something unusual to focus on besides those fins, transferring your attention to the front of the car, but it’s a bit tooo way out. Especially at a time when the Other Two were getting simpler and more rational in their design; compare this to a Ford for example and it’s hard to imagine them being the same year.
It would have looked so much smoother if the brow had gone straight back and faded out, in line with the fender-top chrome strip, rather like Ex did on his ’59 Chrysler. I considered doing that with this wagon, but concluded my skills weren’t up to it.
They “photograph” well. In reality though, the many I recall just did not age well. They looked so dowdy , by the ” mid 60’s”.
One “exception” though. There was a blue wagon, obviously had a garage, in my hometown. I have to admit , even in “1968-9ish”, it still looked quite good.
Remember seeing it around the “Hill U/P” church a good deal a the time.
H’mm. Have not thought of it in years.
You know, this car looks darn good in a solid color like white! I’m diggin’ it!
Seems a shame to me that this 64 year old artifact is outside in the elements. Too bad, a shame.
Looks fine to me and the linked dashboard pic is truly The Jetsons .
Yes, these were and remain way far out but interesting to look at .
The uni-body construction was a serious thing, the Forward Look Mopars tended to serious rattles, squeaks and leaks .
-Nate
Last summer I came very close to buying this ’60 Plymouth Fury. But I didn’t pull the trigger because I already have a ’60 Dodge Dart Phoenix in the same body style. It seemed like having two copies of the same car, but with different “looks”. I hoping the blue/green Fury went to a good home . . .
My Dad had one the same color as this one, wish I could of had it when he junked it in 1975 because of a cracked block. I was 15 years old then.
I remember a similar scene. In the winter of 1978-80 I had my 59 Plymouth Fury sedan with me at college. In the same dorm parking lot there was a girl who had a baby blue 1960 Belvedere sedan. Why/how I never met her is one of the great mysteries of my life. But I loved occasionally seeing that car out in its natural habitat.
Ah yes the “I have money for classic cars but nowhere to store them” deal. A few of my neighbors do this. Vehicles that were rust prone from day 1 sitting outside because the 2 car garage is full of junk and garbage.
Seriously, all I heard growing up was how bad old cars rot and rust. Oh well. “It’s his car.” Maybe he was driving it that day? Then again… Why would you drive something this old in the snow.
When you bring things like this up, the malice comes on strong. Leno says we don’t own these cars, we take care of them for the next guy..
I am surprised no one brought this up. In fact I found the link on this forum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIo7NGCFC-Q&list=PL3naAFlKUN6ch8jaT92XqbsNxUNW5RqNH
Hope you have a lot of time to watch, many videos on this Fury. This is one of the most intense restorations I have ever seen.
I turned 16 in late 1960s and used Plymouths from 1955 to early 1960s were plentiful, reliable and affordable cars. My best friend had the better looking 1959… and I drove a 1955. Yes they tended to rust in the rust belt. My 55 has mini fins and made big profits for Chrysler in 1955.
I bought and drive a 55 plymouth today to car shows.