Thread: Ultimate fin car???

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I'm in the middle of doing a turquoise '57 Bel Air coupe. I have recognized for a while that the '57 Chevy is rarely chopped, restyled, or even dechromed. Like the 49-51 Mercs, they have been popular from the first day they were made, and still command a premium price.

Here is my question:

What is the ultimate fin car? Lots of them had little fins, but I am talking about the ones that have big fins as a major styling point. Are any more popular than the '57 Chevy?

If you could get any fin car for free... what would be YOUR choice?

I'm thinking these are candidates....

'57 Chevy
'59 Caddy
'60 Ford
'58 Plymouth
'57 T-bird
Studebaker Golden Hawk
'59 Chevy
'59-'60 Buiks
late '50s early '60s Imperials
some of the late '50s to '61 Chryslers or DeSotos
'60 Chevy
Others?

What are your thoughts? If we narrow it down to 3-4, maybe we can put together a poll.

Jay, I think I read somewhere that the 60 Plymouth had the largest fins in that era (even outdoing the 59 Caddy).

I guess I already have my favorite, although I sometimes think I should have held on to the 57 Dodge along with my Plymouth.

AND WHY DOES THIS NEW FORUM SEEM TO SCRAMBLE THE ORDER YOU UPLOAD PICTURES?

Mike... I must be psychic. I had a "vision" of what you might like! Spooky! :-)~

I would credit "Christine" for some of the popularity of that model. Wasn't there a ProMod called Christine?

...and on a related note... Did you see what that stock '56 Dodge ragtop sold for at the auctions? ...$104,500!!! :-o

".....Wasn't there a ProMod called Christine?...."

Yep sure was, and then there was the AL Scheib (480?) Hemi powered 57 Fury.

But I think my favorite 57/8 Plymouth would have to be the "Suddenly" Hot Rod Magazine Special that competed at Dayton and Bonneville. I think there is a replica of it at the Peterson Museum as the original disappeared long ago.

57 Desoto I had one and realy loved it great riding car Next would be 60 Chevy

Mopar's could possibly "Rule" but a few of the
Caddy's were top "Finners" in there day also.


I'm a bowtie dude but I never cared for the '57 fins.

I may be biased, BUT, I'd go for the Caddy!!

Oooops! I need to add the 59-60 buick, and those Imperials with the floating tail lights and head lights!

Yeah Jay, glad you added the Imperial--don't remember what year it was but if I ever find one that is both affordable and buildable good possiblity everything else would get put on hold till the Chrysler was built!. When I was a kid I worked at a gas station, a Doctor in town had one of the Imperials, it was almost a privilege to just service the car when he came in...When he stopped for gas, he always got a bit of extra service, too! What a classic!!!!

Dave, I have a friend in the Hill Country of Texas that has several old cars and one of them is a very Looooooooooooooooooooooooong Imperial. If you would like, I could drop him an email and see if he is tired of it sitting around gathering wasp nests.

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Dave, I have a friend in the Hill Country of Texas that has several old cars and one of them is a very Looooooooooooooooooooooooong Imperial. If you would like, I could drop him an email and see if he is tired of it sitting around gathering wasp nests.

If it's one of the one's I'm thinking of (wish I could remember what year they were) I definitely be interested in at least seeing some pics of the car!

I've got an email off to him and I think it is an early to mid 60's but not real sure.
If he gets back and wants to part with it, I'll try and get all the info and some pics.

Here's a great link that show Imperials by the year.
http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/index.htm

Thanks! I'm finally moving down to Texas this fall so it wouldn't be real tough to go get a look at it....

Originally Posted by Mike P

".....Wasn't there a ProMod called Christine?...."

Yep sure was, and then there was the AL Scheib (480?) Hemi powered 57 Fury.

But I think my favorite 57/8 Plymouth would have to be the "Suddenly" Hot Rod Magazine Special that competed at Dayton and Bonneville. I think there is a replica of it at the Peterson Museum as the original disappeared long ago.

Mike, I remember this one!!! I started buying magazines in '58, and remember reading about it in Hot Rod.

59 ford---I had 2 door business coupe that had been Illinois Dept of Ag car----only option on it was v8---292 3 speed----of course I took it a little bit further---first, dual quads on the 292, then E475 410 cu in Edsel, 361 fe edsel, 406 dual quad nascar fe---changed to a Ford 4 speed right after they came out in 61 or 62? I even put a radio in it!!!!!yes sir push button AM with a rear speaker!!!!

The 59 ford skyliner(retractable hardtop) won an award for styling at the Brussel's World Fair---