1964:
auto:
show
The
Fabulous '64s
(Continued from page 12)
Chwtltt Care air Riabltr Aakuuter
Far Balaxla Ckavy II
Olfaaaalla F-II Valiaat
x,i . .
StaiHkakar Hawk
Ctmttf Mac Ray
'l "
Daga Dart a Far" Falaaa kUrtary Maalalair a Paatiaa Taaaast
Pontiac has eight interiors available on its
Grand Prix model. The considerably enlarged
and very handsome Tempest grouping (nine
models of three series, a new one having
been added this year) offers two new interi
ors plus the four previously available.
Mercury has widened its coverage, even
though it has dropped the Meteor. At the
top of the line is a new luxury Lark Lane
grouping. For those who want smaller-than-full-sized
cars, Mercury's Comet offers 10
models in three series with a choice of four
engines and other options.
There are 47 models in the Thunderbird-Ford-Fairlane-Falcon
spectrum. On Ford
alone, you'll find two varieties of tinted
glass in addition to plain glass, three tire
size choices (each with white sidewalls if
that's what you desire), and even thrae types
of roof treatment.
Buick spreads its 1964 wares across six
lines of cars and considerably revamps their
relationship to the rest of the industry. The
Special has grown. It's 11.4 inches longer
than last year, provides between three and
four inches more shoulder room inside, and
weighs about 10 percent more. Meanwhile,
the weight of the LeSabre has been reduced
about 330 pounds, making more competitive
pricing possible. And it has a new, more eco
nomical V-8 engine to boot!
BUT perhaps the most noteworthy charac
teristic of the '64s is the fact that they've
grown. Even most of the compacts are larger.
Going through the list, there's the Ram
bler American completely restyled on a 106
inch wheel base (it was 100 inches last year)
and four inches longer over-all. Restyled
Comets are about the same length, but their
width is 2.2 inches greater. The totally new
F-85 has a 115-inch wheel base, up three
inches, and it's 10.8 inches longer. Tempest,
also completely new, is 8.7 inches longer.
Among the larger cars, Pontiac has length
ened an inch; Dodge, 1.7 inches; Studebaker,
six inches ; Lincoln Continental, three inches ;
and Cadillac, a half-inch.
Pontiac's "wide track" idea (increasing
the distance between the two front wheels
or the two back wheels) also is catching on.
Dodge has widened the rear track 2.1 inches
on its standard-sized cars. Comet's rear
track is 1.5 inches wider. Even Pontiac's
own Tempest boasts a widened front track.
A sure attention-getter is Chevrolet's en
tirely new Chevelle grouping, which fits be
tween Chevrolet and Chevy II. It is 16 inches
shorter than the standard Chevrolet and 2.4
inches narrower, but you might not realize
14 TtmU Weekly, Octoter , 1M