The Good-Handling '50s Mopars

[Fleet 500]

I have these photos stored in my computer because there was a debate going on at another message board regarding the handling of U.S. cars.
I was making the point that the mid-'50s to early '60s Mopars had excellent handling with little body lean. It actually started with Cadillac handling, but I directed the handling subject over to Mopars.

Anyway, since I have them stored, and because they are impressive, here are some of them.

This first one shows a '57 Plymouth Fury taking a curve at 90 mph. Note the very slight body lean even at that high speed. More to follow, including some impressive pics of Chrysler 300s (the original ones, not the new one).

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[Fleet 500]

This next photo shows how much better the Mopars handled compared to Ford (and G.M.).
A '57 Plymouth Belvedere and '57 Ford Fairlane.

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[Fleet 500]

Another one...
This is a '56 Chrysler 300-B. Tested by Science & Mechanics, Aug., 1956.
The magazine was really impressed with the car's handling and lack of nose-dive when braking (nose dive was only 2 and 1/2 when decelerating at a rate of 21 feet/second squared).
Anyway, about the handling, here is a quote:
"As for cornering, the 300-B hangs on like a starved bull-dog with a steak bone, turning in the lowest tilt angle of any car we have yet tested. It was 2 and 3/4 degrees to be exact, and even the serene little Volkswagen, the classic Cord and the torsion-sprung Packard showed more sway on curves than this."

[AprilsPink72Cuda]

wow, that is really neat, thanks for sharing.

[Fleet 500]

Here is a 1960 Chrysler 300-F. Another impressive display of good handling.
I like what Ray Brock, of Hot Rod magazine, in the Apr., 1960 issue, said... "At high speed through twisting mountain passes or over undulating desert dips, the 300-F is head and shoulders above any other car on the road."


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[Fleet 500]

Another good one...
A '56 300-B.

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[Fleet 500]

A '57 Dodge here:

[Fleet 500]

One more... a '57 Chrysler: