To varying degrees all of the Big Four's mid-sized cars in the late 60s were bloated versions of their compacts, but Chrysler's mid-sized wagons were the most over the top about it.
Look at how deeply sunken the wheels are from the fenders, and the tailgate window from the bumper. Also note the extremely wide fender "shoulders."
There's a trim Dodge Dart wagon underneath all that fat just crying to get out. Alas, for 1967 Chrysler stopped making compact wagons.
I love this wagon, I grew up riding in the back of cars like this. I'd love to have this car today.
It would be tempting to swap in a 440 and hot rod this beast into something scary, but it's so bone-stock and original, down to the dog dish hubcaps, that that would be a sin. I'd fix the minimal rust and repaint it the same color and otherwise leave it alone and drive it all over the place. Great road trip car.
There is a small ongoing dispute between me and my wife over choice of vehicles, should we find ourselves with anything more than the two kids we're planning on.
I say vintage wagon, she says SUV. Something about safety and airbags and good brakes and all that. I get a little Charlie Brown whenever she talks about an SUV. She wouldn't have a minivan though, so can't complain too much.
@MrHowser: Now on XBL as NoReturnPolicy: What about a 94-96 Caprice or Roadmaster? Sure, they aren't as nice as a '70 Vista Cruiser or this DOTS Coronet, but they've got all the modern safety features and a 260-horse LT1. I'd much rather have one of them than an SUV.
Edited by MrHowser: Now on XBL as NoReturnPolicy at 11/29/09 3:50 PM
MrHowser: Now on XBL as NoReturnPolicy was starred
MrHowser: Now on XBL as NoReturnPolicy was unstarred
@JB_Finesse: I have come to enjoy some of the big GM rigs. Caprice, Park Avenue, Roadmaster, Brougham Caddies... They're all up there, in my book. However, in her book, they're all "old people cars," and as such, she says no thanks. She keeps getting less resistant, so I'll keep working.
@JB_Finesse: Funny you should mention that. My German friend just shipped one back to Germany--I spent about 8 months looking at these babies and they have everything. You can get them for as little as $3,000--or less, depending on the miles. Dump in the Vettte engine and it's got something for everyone. I'm seriously thinking about one, now that I've looked at so many.
@JB_Finesse: And, I just saw a snow white Vista Cruiser, not sure what year exactly, but couldn't get a picture because it was headed the other way in heavy traffic. Rare bird around here.
@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: Saw your post & was curious what you meant... IMDB shows that he was in a movie called "Kind Hearts & Coronets"; could that be it?
Dunno, that's an older movie (1949), so I have no idea if it was popular or iconic enough to warrant some kind of Coronet car tie-in. Was he in a commercial or some kind of print ad campaign for the Coronet?
@HoonThatFerrari: Oh, he did. It was fabulous! Very dramatic, as one would expect. I bought nothing but Coronets for years. You know, he could of course wear a coronet whilst shilling with perfect dignity. Or maybe it was a cormorant.
I found it funny that you put "spoiler alert" for a 35 year old movie. Then I thought "hey wait, I like Scorsese movies and I haven't seen this." So instead of clicking play I'm moving on over to my Netflix queue.
01:04 PM
Look at how deeply sunken the wheels are from the fenders, and the tailgate window from the bumper. Also note the extremely wide fender "shoulders."
There's a trim Dodge Dart wagon underneath all that fat just crying to get out. Alas, for 1967 Chrysler stopped making compact wagons.
12:23 PM
It would be tempting to swap in a 440 and hot rod this beast into something scary, but it's so bone-stock and original, down to the dog dish hubcaps, that that would be a sin. I'd fix the minimal rust and repaint it the same color and otherwise leave it alone and drive it all over the place. Great road trip car.
12:17 PM
I say vintage wagon, she says SUV. Something about safety and airbags and good brakes and all that. I get a little Charlie Brown whenever she talks about an SUV. She wouldn't have a minivan though, so can't complain too much.
12:42 PM
@MrHowser: Now on XBL as NoReturnPolicy: What about a 94-96 Caprice or Roadmaster? Sure, they aren't as nice as a '70 Vista Cruiser or this DOTS Coronet, but they've got all the modern safety features and a 260-horse LT1. I'd much rather have one of them than an SUV.
02:45 PM
Or, y'know, a full-size '90s GM-wagon. Those're great too.
03:47 PM
I, of course, would want to make it a V8olvo. We'll see.
Also, Haha at "MrHoser."
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But I never understood the Alec Guinness tie-in.
11:54 AM
Dunno, that's an older movie (1949), so I have no idea if it was popular or iconic enough to warrant some kind of Coronet car tie-in. Was he in a commercial or some kind of print ad campaign for the Coronet?
12:00 PM
That was actually paper towels, though.
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