Yesterday's obsession with headlights yielded some great answers, but we're tired of Titman Road. What are the best-looking tail lights?
Chrysler's first post-WWII cars were boring, to say the least. Compared to the swoopy, Rocket Age cars from Cadillac, the Mopar products looked like the vehicle of choice for undertakers. This is where designer Virgil Exner comes in. He decided to push the limits of jet-inspired design with his "forward look" Chryslers of the late 1950s. Rather than subtly introducing fins and gunsights into the designs he pushed the company rapidly forward. The peak of this design can be seen in the tail lights of the 1960 Dodge Polara. Rather than hiding functional elements of the car he sought to highlight them.
The actual rear light and reverse lights are located in two gigantic "jet pods" on either side of the Polara, with another set of pods worked into the large chrome bumper. The fins are subtle by comparison to some of the era, but the use of tail light lenses to highlight them gives the vehicle three separate light assemblies on three levels. This car represents the height of 1950s decadence, and a time when American automakers were rightfully audacious.
(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)
Photo Credit: Plan59