Pretty Pictures, Pretty Cars

Not since 1957, when they scored a smashing success with the high-finned Forward Look, have Chrysler Corp. designers shown any great insight into the U.S. public's taste in auto design. But last week, as Chrysler released photographs of most of its 1963 models, it was clear that someone up there had got the picture.

Like Chrysler Corp. itself, the new Chrysler cars are in transition. Only a year ago, flamboyant C.C. ("Tex") Colbert was replaced as czar of Chrysler by a duumvirate: Chairman George Love, 62, and aggressive President Lynn Townsend, 43. Townsend, as operating chief, immediately set out to improve the appearance of Chrysler cars, but because at least two years' lead time is required for any major body changes, he had to settle for relatively limited changes designed to enhance his cars' basic body lines. Townsend's hope is that the '63s will reverse Chrysler's decline--its share of the U.S. auto market has fallen from 18% in 1957 to a scant 9% at present--and tide the company over until it can bring out its '64s, which will more clearly show the influence of Stylist Elwood Engel, the former Ford designer who was chiefly responsible for the elegant 1961 Lincoln Continental and who skipped off to Chrysler last year.

Gone Gun Sights. Its '63s should indeed tide Chrysler over. The new IMPERIAL has been improved by a bolder grille and the elimination of its protruding "gunsight" taillights. The NEW YORKER has a clean and handsome new rear end, will offer luxury lovers optional bucket seats. Replacing the Dodge Lancer (which has been dropped) as the smallest Dodge is a new, intermediate-sized DART that has perky styling and peppy performance. The PLYMOUTH, which in 1962 shrank to an intermediate, has begun to grow again (to an overall length of 205 in.) and has acquired a more substantial look.

Sibling Rivalries. Along with Chrysler, both the other members of the Big Three were handing out pretty pictures last week. Ford's offering was the British-made CONSUL CORTINA, which is another version of the Cardinal, the compact compact that Ford spent two years developing. Unlike the German version, which has front-wheel drive and was shown fort night ago, the Cortina has conventional rear-wheel drive and will be sold in the U.S. for about $1,800.

From General Motors came pictorial evidence of how the sibling rivalries within the nation's biggest manufacturing company can spur its individual divisions. Two years ago, when Buick was given $50 million by G.M. to build the Riviera hardtop as G.M.'s official answer to Ford's Thunderbird, Pontiac and Chevrolet bosses went off and sulked, then decided to build T-Bird competitors of their own.

Pontiac's entry is its classy GRAND PRIX, which comes in a special iridescent blue-black, is outfitted with bucket seats and will undersell the Riviera and T-Bird by several hundred dollars. Chevrolet's answer is its Corvette STING RAY fastback hardtop. Breaking sharply with its past, the new Corvette has plush carpets, power steering and optional air conditioning --all features that will alienate true sports-car buffs, but are likely to attract many more buyers.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.