Photos from the CC Cohort by Atomic-ken.
I don’t think anyone asked for this; late 1950s flamboyance squeezed through a 1990s filter? Ever wonder what that would look like? Well, here may be your answer. Attractive? Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, as they say. Or not. Eyegrabbing? Undoubtedly! It’s a creation that almost gives retro Mitsuokas a run for their money.
Love it or leave it, this 1990s Chrysler Sebring droptop (I think that’s what’s underneath), speaks to the automotive exuberant spirit of the Space Age. And well, wasn’t the late ’90s and early ’00s the new age of retro?
Incidentally, Chrysler had their plethora of retro-inspired concepts in the 1990s. From the always-reinvented phaetons, to the hotrod influenced Prowler. That said, I sort of wish this creation had stuck to one corporate spirit. I mean, did it really need a Nissan Murano styling transfusion? And those 1959 Cadillac fins? Why not keep it all within the Pentastar?
After all, somewhere in automotive heaven, the soul of Exner is looking at this and wondering: Why not reach for the skies and stick on some true wings on this Sebring? Like the ones from his 1957 Chrysler 300 proposal?
But, look, I get it. Easier to glue on available leftovers from a Caddy. Plus, at least on this setup, these fins sit lower. After all, in their original arrangement they gave the driver a feeling of being constantly followed. At least in the words of Chuck Jordan.
So, for practical purposes, I’ll ultimately forgive these Caddy wings. Now, what this truly needs is to ditch the rocket-shaped taillights and get itself some proper Imperial gunsight ones. That would truly complete this package.
I am watching someone on a Mopar forum grafting the rear clip of a 1958 Dodge Coronet plus the front clip of a 61/62 Chrysler, the two meeting in the middle, onto the frame and interior of a 1998 Corvette.
Oooh! Please share a link!
I have a weird and possibly unhealthy facination for these Duck-billed Platypi of the automnotive world…
Here and it is a 59 Coronet not a 58.
https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/threads/bastardized-1959-coronet-build.77012/
For a very brief moment, I was reminded of the Monkees Pontiac.
This is an example of creative vision in need of corrective lenses
That thing is awful.
I believe these are Robin’s wheels arriving at the Bat Cave.
Speaking of Exner’s proposed 300 alias project 613, there’s an article about it who also mention one guy who menaged to did a recreation of project 613.
https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/king-of-the-tailfin-virgil-exners-project-613/
The fins and continental kit are pretty bad, but I like the spirit. The Nissan Murano front end – that is a serious crime against humanity.
A whiskey tango fox trot moment.Nothing more, nothing less
NSFAL – Not Safe For After Lunch. Henceforth, please warn me. May this “creative person” be laughed out of each and every town where he darest to enter during daylight hours!
That’s so far over the top I can’t believe it .
Overall ot looks stubby to me but why not as long as one person thinks it’s good ? .
Thanx for the Chrysler 300 link too .
-Nate
Uh, those are ’59 Cadillac fins and tail lights. The ’60’s have the lamp integrated into the lower curve of the fin. Still this is a wild and what looks like a well crafted creation. Not good looking, or tasteful, just wild.
True, their lowered stance made me think of 1960 but they’re ’59. I’ll update the text. Thanks.
The slope of the trunk lid and the toilet seat spare are evocative of the original Valiant. A toilet seat and a Continental kit. Wow!
I came across this monstrosity on Halloween 2004 actually, very fitting! The front says “Ronco” and at the time I recall being able to track it down to a small run of customs, but can’t find anything on it now. And that’s fine, it’s best left forgotten!
Ah, why bother buying and maintaining an actual 1959 Cadillac when you can just graft its most iconic feature on a (relatively) modern car? I don’t get the Nissan Murano front though.
An Art Car. I cannot in good conscience criticise contemporary cars for all looking so similar and then criticise somebody for creating something as distinctive as this.
“Because I can” is the answer to this question that nobody asked. But as we all know, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
I was just wondering the other day where all of those Sebring convertibles went. For a time they were fairly thick on the ground in my area. Now they are all gone. I think the answer to that question is the 2.7 V6.
………….sombody pass me the waste basket, I think I’m gonna be sick!
The Nissan Murano bits swapped in better than I could have imagined but wow it certainly grabs eyeballs I would imagine.
Just how old are these photos? Unless this car caused some sort of timewarp, I’d say judging by the vehicles in the background of the shots it’s very early 2010’s at the latest.
Subtle, elegant, refined.