Here’s a brief but fascinating historical film starring the famed 1956 Chrysler Plainsman show car. Includes lots of great details—check it out.
Chrysler’s 1956 Plainsman dream car, designed by Plymouth studio stylist Dave Scott and constructed by Ghia, is special from a number of angles:
+ First, it’s a station wagon, a rare body style among concept vehicles. But in mid-’50s America, the suburbs were exploding in growth and wagons were suddenly a hot property. Chrysler was shrewd in exploring the possibilities with an advanced show car.
+ Unlike many concepts and design exercises, the Plainsman was a fully operational, road-worthy automobile.
+ Also unlike many factory show cars, the Plainsman was never crushed or scrapped. It has survived in largely original condition to this very day. In fact, the wonder wagon changed hands just a few weeks ago at the Auctions America Burbank sale.
One more interesting thing about the Plainsman: It’s remarkably polarizing, even among professional designers. People tend to love it or hate it. This tells us that if nothing else, the design broke fresh ground—it truly was bold and original. This little Chrysler film from 1956 is especially nice in showing many of the Plainsman’s clever design details. Enjoy.
Neat clip. Was the Plainsman a Chrysler or a Plymouth? I’ve seen it both ways, mostly Plymouth.
I’ve seen this car before on another site, and it drew a rift of criticism, especially the roof, which appears to be installed backwards. I think it’s really cool looking, but highly impractical. I can only imagine how some of the gadgets would fail after a few years in the rust-belt of our country. I still have memories of rusty malfunctioning 2 way tailgates in my old mans Ford wagons. It is neat that it’s a “functioning ” dream car, and shows the creativity of the designers.
Despite its myriad of obvious and hidden issues, I have always loved the Plainsman. As MCG notes, it is a real survivor. I came up just a bit short at the last auction but, given the car’s history, I have a feeling that I’ll have another shot some day.
Styling aside all those power operated seats, tailgate down etc. Oh the maintenance! And it is all so slow! And actually they are more functional as a manual thing anyway. And I am sure in production they would have been!
The roof looks like a canopy from a different vehicle just dropped on! The front though while very Yank Tank 50s is appealing, even the back is.
I don;’t like it, but then I don’t like most of the Ghia concepts. I’m hard pressed to say why I don’t like it, but there isn’t any sections that I feel more than neutral about. I think the most bothersome feature are the two jet intakes. They’re clunky and are integrated into the body well. They look great on a ’59 Cadillac going the other way. The remainder of the side is thick and lacking grace. I think they needed a character line going from the top of the front fender and sloping down to match the jet intake, and a more defined kick-up for the rear fin.
The front end of the ’56 Chrysler is one of my all-time favorites and I can see it lurking just under the surface here. The raised roof is unusual but I don’t really object to it. I believe the problem is in the way the front windows transition into it. A more steeply sloped windshield would have helped, and a front window curve similar to how the rear window blends into the pillar.
As I said, I don’t like most of the Ghia concepts. But I love the Forward Look of the production cars from 1955 to 1958. From 1959 through 1965 Chrysler Corporation sort of lost their way in the design department. They got really hot again and kept it up until 5 mph bumpers killed it for everyone.
Chrysler did another wagon concept two years later, the non-running 1958 Plymouth Cabana:
http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/large/1958_Plymouth_Cabana_Dream_Car_01.jpg
Not easy to see in this image, the entire cargo area was glass, with a sliding glass roof. The front end is very clean and early-60s Mercury-like. Pitty that Plymouth didn’ t head in this direction for their ’60 and ’61 models.
Chrysler also looked at adapting the Plainsman’s rear cantilever roof for an upscale, Nomad-like 4 door hardtop wagon in, also called the Cabana. Mock-ups were on a ’57 Plymouth body, and this odd Dodge-DeSoto hybrid:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/soiouz/DesotoDesign2.jpg
If you look closely at the second link, you’ll see the far side of the car features a ’57-58 Plymouth fin, and the driver’s side headlights also mimic the ’57 Plymouth faux dual headlight design.
the tailgate emblem appears much like the ford ranchero emblem a few years later
The car is being restored in New Orleans
I own the plainsman, should be finish in 10 months. Unbelievable work that’s been done on the car .