Solved - NEH 998: Styling proposal for 1958 Studebaker

[Carnut]

Tell me what this is for 1 point:

[araknid]

Plymouth concept vehicle?

[Carnut]

Plymouth concept vehicle?

Not a Plymouth, no.

[f1fan]

Packard?

[Carnut]

Packard?

Closer...

[Carnut]

Experts?

[Aaron65]

I would think this would be a styling exercise for a 1958 Studebaker model.

[whcgt]

Desoto concept?

[Carnut]

I would think this would be a styling exercise for a 1958 Studebaker model.

It is a Studebaker styling proposal, yes.
Not sure if it's 1957 (which is what I have it as, but that may be because that's when it was made) or 58 so I'm giving you the point and calling it solved.

Here's a side view:

[Aaron65]

Yeah, I couldn't find this exact pic, but the 4 headlights make me think it's for a '58, because that's when 4 headlights became legal in the States (from what I read--I wasn't around yet)...

[Carnut]

Yeah, I couldn't find this exact pic, but the 4 headlights make me think it's for a '58, because that's when 4 headlights became legal in the States (from what I read--I wasn't around yet)...

Not sure about that..
There were quite a few 1957 model year cars with twin-headlights, including Lincoln and (I think) Cadillac.
They had of course been around for many years, since the late 1940's, and had figured on many American concept cars in the first half of the 1950's.  Think they were only illegal because they were only 5.75 inches in diameter instead of the regulation 7 inches of the single headlights.

[Aaron65]

Good point...I think 4 was illegal in SOME states, which is why most cars didn't have 4 in '57.  The Lincoln did, and the Eldorado Brougham did, and the Imperial COULD have them as an option...however, Studebakers didn't get 4 until '58, along with many lower priced vehicles.

[Carnut]

Good point...I think 4 was illegal in SOME states, which is why most cars didn't have 4 in '57.  The Lincoln did, and the Eldorado Brougham did, and the Imperial COULD have them as an option...however, Studebakers didn't get 4 until '58, along with many lower priced vehicles.

That's right.  '57MY cars were the first production cars to get twin-headlights, and below is a selection of pictures of those that sported them.  For the '58MY of course virtually every single American-made car on sale had them...

[tonyola]

Just as a point of info - take a closer look at the '57 Lincoln. Those aren't true quad headlights. The upper lights in each pod are regular 7" duals. The lower lights, which are slightly smaller, are "road" lights. The Mercury and the Chrysler cars had the option of dual or quad headlights for '57, the availability depending on the state.

[Aaron65]

And all of the Chryslers shown could be had either way, 2 or 4...

[Carnut]

Thanks for that Tonyola - you're absolutely right and I had never noticed!
The '57 Plymouths had the same too - one 7" light and another one that I never knew what it was under hoods that looked like they should contain twin headlights - and did for 1958!  Or maybe the '57s could have them as options too?

[tonyola]

Thanks for that Tonyola - you're absolutely right and I had never noticed!
The '57 Plymouths had the same too - one 7" light and another one that I never knew what it was under hoods that looked like they should contain twin headlights - and did for 1958!  Or maybe the '57s could have them as options too?

Both Dodge and Plymouth used the parking-light-as-inner-headlight trick for '57. As far as I know, quads weren't even an option for '57, but as you said they became standard for '58.