balthazar

Well, in that it was a modified '53, as opposed to a fresh build, it's modification for '59 seems logical. Whether 'Mitchell's Reign' (he assumed the job in the beginning of '59) had any part in 'upgrading' one of Earl's concepts, I don't know offhand. I don't believe the '59 version was shown publicly, but I might be wrong on that- I'd have to check. Cadillac had the Cyclone on the circuit for '59. The '59 LeM was more of an update than a fresh idea. Cadillac first had quad lamps on the '57 Brougham. You are quite right on the styling analysis, IMO, it is a swanky lil sports roadster. It 'got it's suit pressed', so to speak. I still love those 'hump' fins & the exhaust ports on the '53 better.

One online article claims the '53 LeMans was 51" tall at the windshield & 196" overall length. A production '55 convertible was 223" overall & a roofed car was in the neighborhood of 62" tall (convert would lose about 2-3"). The LeMans' series (5 built) were sold to private, 'in' owners, not sure why the program didn't continue beyond those, tho. GM Corporate had a fit OK'ing the 2-seat Corvette, and with the low sales '53-55, it's little surprise none of the other 2-seaters didn't get green-lit (Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Cadillac, LaSalle). Hardtop coupe would probably have been in the same vein as the Wildcat I hardtop : or as you imply; a stunner.

^ It was a clean-sheet build, fiberglas body, not modified from a production car. It's a 2-seater, much smaller than a production Caddy. I don't know how tall these people are, but the cowl looks right about hip-high : '53 & '59 versions side-by-side : Still prefer the '53. I love the windshield on the '53; how it wraps down around the cowl. Bottom line: I cannot get past my familiarity of what/when this car is stylistically, and the '59 restyle/proportions are 'wrong' for the '54-esque nose. :shrug: Still a beautiful car... just doesn't eclipse the original for me.

I'm not saying it's not very appealing, but the result to my eye is '50s cues on a '60s-70s body; anachronistic. The rear flank scoops are a bit unfinished, too. The original design looks a lot more 'powerful' IMO. Alloy Sabre Spoke rims are fantstic, too. Front end design of the 'LeMans 2.0' indeed predicted the OEM '54s, tho the scale here is markedly smaller. I just wish GM Styling had built it from scratch rather than cutting into one of the original LeMans'.

^ That's after GM restyled/upgraded it. I think the original look is a far better fit. I prefer the domed hood & such : Cadillac built 5 of 'em, 1 is known to be destroyed. This is one of my all-time favorite car designs, ever.

I prefer 2-drs immensely. In the truck segment, the front doors are usually the same size, so swing room is a non-point. I have a crew cab truck now (tho I miss my RC truck), and it has it's utility, but they NEED to be suicide doors for the ultimate in practicality. Like the extended cabs, but with full doors. The 4-dr fiats pictured on the bottom of page 1 are grotesque, but I agree with Olds- they'll still sell. Why, I have no idea.

the lines don't need 'distinction', the trucks do that themselves. The marketing spit is what requires clarification.

It's different, but they pale vs. the 2-dr hardtops' fluid lines. IMO, the flattop roof works far better on the 4-dr hardtops.

Answer back: the aqua car was sold a few years ago. Pic album also shows a '64 2-dr sedan, that's another heartstring-tugger. I should make a point to see if I can stop in if I go to Hershey next fall. The price on the '62 is very fair, but the workload is very high.

For sh!ts & giggles, I'm going to see if the '64 wagon is on the block....

Don't worry, nothing will. Have 2 people in conversation about buying my '64 GP, and that would kill me to let go but I'm trying to work with my head over my heart.

I see turn about is fair play, eh Camino? Sittting since '76, that '62s got to be completely gone thru. Rare bird, that's for sure. But hang that; going thru the webshots link, he has both a '64 2-dr sedan and a '64 wagon (the blue Cat in the background of the '62), plus the remains of a '64 Bonne wagon. Hmmm, just easy of Hershey... might be worth a phone call. A '64 wagon would be so cool.... A yardfull of Pontiacs, including an ambulance! Now that's a work vehicle! EDIT :: Oh, I know this guy. Haven't dealt with him directly, but have conversed a number of times. IIRC, a bit of a hardballer on pricing.

>>"Ram Commercial is tapping into Fiat Professional, one of the largest producers of commercial vehicles in the entire world, offering more than 110 years of experience."<< Interesting stat, especially when Dodge brings 112+ years of experience to the table.

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/3434135177.html

He's not an "automotive designer", he just glued some sh!t to a production vehicle.

I've never had an issue or wish otherwise RE backing up in my 2500HD CC, but it does have excellently-sized sideviews. I was in a brand new... I think it was a lexus LX470 today, and in reverse the backup camera view came on the center screen. I was a passenger, but I still felt my natural inclination was to look to the mirrors... so I didn't care for it. I like, and have advocated for ocn's idea above- a stripper line of vehicles. The average age of new cars buyers isn't 50 yrs old just because. This is higher than ever historically, and just as those that say the average age of -say- Buick is a "problem", then they would say the same for this stat. A stripper line would also foster an increased emotional attachment to cars for the younger generation if they could get one of their own before they're in their 40s.

Will any of this new, Korean-esque, porcine, willy-nilly styling seep into the severely-dated mainstream models?

Yea- I reject that theory. At the time it was floated circa the bankruptcy, no U.S. Buicks were imported to China, so Buick in the U.S. could easily been shut down with no effect on the Chinese market. And clearly the Chinese models weren't selling on the image of the Lucerne here. There's no logic to it.

I know... That's exactly why I saved it for last.

I vote for keeping it as is.

Agreed. The OEMs push the ideal that every car / every buyer needs big alloy rims & huge integral 'infotainment' systems & backup cameras, and it's just not as unilateral as they want everyone to believe. But the Marketing Mill works 24/7.

^ Ya! It was optional on the LeSabre, but standard on the Invicta/Electra (I have an Invicta). Buick really used 3 emblems on the '59s : on the front (all series wore the hood emblem), and this on the deck: Note the family crest elements still incorporated here.

DDB was Scottish. The crest's elements, as depicted in the '37 emblem (the first year it was so used), were described in text in an 1851 edition of Burke's Heraldry. Harley Earl had instituted a research effort to discover DDB's possible family heraldry. Red shield, NW/SE diagonal silver & azure sash, stag head & cross with hole in it are the elements related to Buick. The '42 version is merely 'gussied up'. I should also take the moment to ensure than the '70s hawk did not replace the tri-shield on cars, but was heavily used in print/TV advertising in addition to the Tri-Shield. It's misleading IMO, because all the others are from the cars themselves. Well; 1960. Whoever compiled the graphic apparently was unaware of a little thing called 'model year'. The Tri-Shield appears no where on any MY 1959 advertising or the cars themselves, I can assure you.