See how all the new 1963 Chevrolets stack up against the competition from Ford, Chrysler, and American Motors in this original factory film.
Hearing the narrator’s voice in this original 1963 Chevrolet film made us smile. While he was not credited, apparently, he sounds just like Ray Walston, the noted Hollywood actor (1914-2001) who entertained a whole generation of American young people as the star of the the 1963-66 CBS television show, My Favorite Martian. In 1982, he would entertain a whole new generation as Mr. Hand, the memorable history teacher in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Produced by Jam Handy and titled Decision at Daytona, the film takes place in Daytona Beach, Florida, where the entire Chevrolet line of cars and light trucks for 1963 are compared to their competition from Chrysler, Ford, and American Motors, in a series of handling, braking, and acceleration tests. And wouldn’t you know it, in every case the Chevy comes out on top. While an announcer insists at the beginning that the Chevrolets received no special advantages, we remain skeptical that it could happen just that way all by itself. At the very least, the tests may have been selected to favor the bow tie brand. In any event, the comparisons are interesting to watch. Video below.
Wow, the Econoline is terrifying. They would never produce anything like that today.
Granted, the Econoline was an bit of an adrenaline rush when stopping. But the one distinct advantage the Corvan had was it was rear engine. No high tech trickery, just the engine placement.
It’s criminal that Ford would let a vehicle out the door that way. We’ve come a long way on safety.