#Virgil Exner

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Bugatti T101C Roadster, 1966, by Ghia. Designed by Virgil Exner as one of his "revival series" and built on the last remaining Type 101 chassis with its supercharged straight 8 DOHC engine. The Roadster was built by Ghia and given to Exner as payment for his work on the Duesenberg revival cars that were also built by Ghia

[frenchcurious]

Duesenberg Model D Rendering Ghia (Virgil Exner) 1966. - source Roland Richter.

[diabolus1exmachina]

Chrysler Special Coupé by Ghia (1 of 19). 

One of the first Chrysler show cars designed by Virgil Exner and built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia, the appropriately named Chrysler Special was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in October 1952. Built on a New Yorker chassis shortened by six inches, it featured unusually high radiused wheel arches that extended almost to the top of the fenders, smooth sides that flowed from bumper to bumper with only a small “kick” in the rear fender curve, rounded headlights, and a broad chromed trapezoidal grille.Its subtle yet muscular lines made the Special the hit of the show, and M. Ladouch, proprietor of the French Chrysler importers France Motors, realized that there was a willing market for a small number of copies, for which he secured the support of Chrysler export manager C.B. Thomas.Ghia’s “production” Chrysler Special was based upon the original show car but built upon a standard-wheelbase, 125.5-inch New Yorker platform and with a modified semi-fastback roofline to accommodate four full-sized adults. The first of these limited-production, hand-built cars was made for C.B. Thomas himself, and was followed by another 18 cars, six for customers of France Motors and another dozen for clients of Ghia. All were originally delivered in Europe. American customers, in many cases—with the exception of the fortunate Mr. Thomas—remained unaware that this truly “special” Chrysler even existed until a few of the cars made their way stateside later in life. Nonetheless, this “dream car for the public” can be seen as the forerunner of similar efforts to follow later in the 1950s, most prominently the Dual Ghia.

[automotiveamerican]

Virgil Exner Design Highlights

Background Virgil Exner was an influential American automotive designer known for his work in the mid-20th century. He played a significant role in shaping the design of cars during the 1950s and 1960s. Exner worked for Chrysler Corporation, where he became the Vice President of Styling. One of his notable contributions was the “Forward Look” design philosophy introduced in the mid-1950s. This…

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Virgil Max "Ex" Exner, Sr

Virgil Max "Ex" Exner, Sr. was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He is known for his "Forward Look" design on the 1955-1963 Chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons.

[seat-safety-switch]

Earthquakes are rough. It's a betrayal of the landlord contract we all signed with the planet when we moved in. On this issue, the language is clear: the ground is not supposed to move, unless we hit it with a shovel, or a really big hammer, or we split some atoms underneath it. Then the ground does move, and a building falls over.

Now, where I live, we don't really get earthquakes. We're too far from a fault line, so it only ever happens when the big oil company folks trebuchet six tons of plastic waste into an aquifer that they think nobody's using. It would be nice if those dinosaur-squeezing greedheads would let us know that they're doing it beforehand, because when my garage started shaking last night, my prized novelty bobblehead of Virgil Exner fell off the shelf, onto the ground, and became mildly scratched.

Sure, you could blame me for not expecting an earthquake in my house which had never before received an earthquake. That's certainly what the city did when I called them to complain, thinking it was something mundane like a big truck driving by, or a sewer explosion. I'm not one to accept blame of any kind, however, and I soon formed a posse with several other like-minded individuals from around the neighbourhood. Rice-A-Roni Stan from down the block was particularly upset, having had an entire NBA Jam arcade cabinet fall on him during the seismic event, requiring himself to be freed by his small, but heroic, wiener dog.

Here's the thing about modern politics: despite all the foofaraw about "decorum" and "tact," if you walk into City Hall carry pitchforks and torches, they'll find someone else to blame. And sometimes, if you're lucky, they'll even pass the blame onto the right person. In our case, we quickly descended upon the oil company offices. Oil company people are savvy, having spent their entire lives bribing reactionary assholes into giving them a wide leeway. So was it with me: the front desk receptionist decided to placate the leader (me) by presenting me with a scale model of one of their service vans. The little doors even opened and closed.

Sure, if you ask the newspaper, the remaining splinter groups left in the absence of my now-defanged leadership committed a mass murder, slaughtering executives like cattle, but I had nothing to do with it. I was too busy playing with the little model van, making realistic (but exaggerated, I must admit) engine noises with my mouth. Vroom, vroom.

[britsyankswheels24]

🇺🇲 Step into the glamour of the 1950s with the iconic Chrysler New Yorker of 1957—a symbol of luxury, style, and innovation in the automotive world!

👉 The year 1957 marked a pinnacle moment for Chrysler as it unveiled the stunning New Yorker model, captivating enthusiasts with its bold design and advanced features. The 1957 model year Chrysler cars were redesigned with Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" at the cost of $300 million when Chrysler took on a loan in 1954 from Prudential Insurance to pay for expansion and updated car designs.

🚘 As one of the flagship models in Chrysler's lineup, the New Yorker exuded elegance and sophistication, setting new standards for the automotive industry. Boasting a sleek and aerodynamic body, the 1957 New Yorker captivated onlookers with its distinctive grille, chrome accents, and sleek lines that epitomized the spirit of the era's automotive design. Inside, passengers were treated to lavish comfort and opulent amenities, making every journey a luxurious experience.

🛞 Under the hood, the New Yorker showcased Chrysler's commitment to performance and innovation. Equipped with powerful V8 engines and advanced engineering, the 1957 model delivered a smooth and exhilarating driving experience, earning accolades for its exceptional performance on the road.

👑 Beyond its stylish exterior and impressive performance, the 1957 Chrysler New Yorker represented a symbol of status and prestige. As a favorite among discerning drivers and automotive enthusiasts, it left an indelible mark on the automotive landscape, solidifying its place in history as a timeless classic.

[strictlyfavorites]

Plymouth XNR Concept, 1960. Designed by Virgil M. Exner and built by Carrozzeria Ghia 3

[sims4cars-breezemotors]

“Radical Styling”

1960 Plymouth Valiant 🇺🇸

Plymouth introduced the Valiant line in 1960 as a new compact entry-level model. For this year only, Chrysler management brought the Valiant to market as its own brand, but eventually settled on Plymouth even though the car was actually built by Dodge.

When they were launched, the 1960 Valiants were the best a mighty Chrysler Corporation could do. With alternators only recently wrung out of the space program, a hot new engine - Chrysler’s first new six-cylinder since the war - and radical Virgil Exner styling, the Valiant was even one of the first cars to be developed with the help of computers. With the Valiant, Chrysler was ready to re-conquer Europe and other lands, not to mention attack a new segment of the domestic car market.

Available exclusively for “No Limits” and “All Inclusive” tiers.

Model with HQ interior, open/close doors and functional light.

Go and join my Patreon!

[diecastmania]

Chrysler Convertibles: 1954 New Yorker DeLuxe - 1956 Windsor

Both models were issued by GLM. They are 1:43 scale and crafted in resin. 1954 Chrysler New Yorker DeLuxe Convertible & 1956 Chrysler Windsor Convertible.

Pre & Post Virgil Exner influence.

[lilcarlover]

Here's the 1954 Plymouth Belmont Concept.

(See if you can spot the antenna.)

The Belmont was the first plastic-bodied (reinforced fiberglass) Chrysler 'idea car', an experiment in new materials and design.

It had a 150-horsepower, 241-cubic inch, 3.9 liter, V8.

It was made for the 1954 Chicago Auto Show by Briggs Manufacturing and designed in the Advanced Styling Studio, under the supervision of head stylist Virgil Exner.

❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️🚘❤️

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Plymouth XNR Concept, 1960. Designed by Virgil M. Exner and built by Carrozzeria Ghia, the XNR made its first public appearance at the New York Auto Show.  It used the chassis and Slant-6 engine from the Valiant, both of which were new for the 1960 model year.

[savageonwheels]

Car Spot: 1955 Chevy Nomad

When wagons were cool. A 55 Chevy Nomad is this week's spot

Another Harley Earl design ahead of its time When a conversation starts about the great US car designers, names that would pop up would be Virgil Exner Sr for his work at Studebaker and Chrysler, Alexander Tremulis who designed the Tucker and Harley Earl for his work at GM, and specifically this week’s spot a 1955 Chevy Nomad I found this past summer and a car and airplane event I was at in…

[mikeepoos-mechanical-mix]

All the panache of something from the Soviet Union, a grill that'll clear the streets. Funny thing is there was worse to come from Virgil Exner. I still love this shit

Imperial Crown 1959. - source Bring a Trailer.

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1955 Chrysler Falcon Concept

In 1951, Chrysler made a strategic decision to hire Virgil Exner, which ultimately saved the company from financial ruin in the mid-1950s. Exner's innovative designs, known as the 'Forward Look,' not only revolutionized Chrysler's product line but also influenced the entire American automotive industry's shift towards modernity. While General Motors (GM) was successful during this period, Harley Earl, GM's design chief, acknowledged the need to catch up with Chrysler's designs. Ford, on the other hand, made costly mistakes, such as introducing the Edsel and discontinuing the two-seater Thunderbird, which resulted in the company playing catch-up. The other automakers, including Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, and Packard, failed to impress consumers with their designs, leading to their eventual downfall. The only exception was the Avanti, which was a well-designed car but ultimately failed in the market. In conclusion, Chrysler's strategic hiring of Virgil Exner and his innovative designs played a significant role in the company's success during the mid-1950s, while other automakers struggled to keep up with the changing times.