1962 Chrysler New Yorker - Love Shack, baby, Love Shack

Hop in my Chrysler, it's as big as a whale and it's about to set sail
I got me a car, like, it seats about 20
So come on and bring your jukebox money
 

My wife and I happened upon this gigantic beauty one Sunday this past summer in Lakewood on our way to a jaunt in the  Metro Park in Rocky River. It's a 1962 Chrysler New Yorker. According to the video for the B-52's classic, "Love Shack", the Chrysler that sat about 20 was a 1965 "300" convertible. Swap the bodies and this is the same car underneath it all. Right down to the massive 413 V-8 with, be still my beating heart, 10:1 compression.
 

 

1955-1969 Chrysler's were fantastic. The company had a remarkable run of gigantic, fabulously styled offerings like our 1962 New Yorker.   

 

This very much original, '62 "Yorker" was designed in that glorious post war era when cars changed dramatically nearly every year. Starting in 1955, Chrysler design, like 'em or not,  went through a styling renaissance that latest until, in my opinion at least, 1969. The party was over when they rolled out their fuselage design. Yecch. While not all of their designs were successful on the sales front, Chrysler designs  of that era were at least distinctive enough to stand out from General Motors works and to some lesser extent, Ford. A Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial and DeSoto (through 1961 when the division was discontinued) from back then looked like nothing else. 

 

 

And a 1962 Chrysler looked nothing like a 1961 or 1963 Chrysler. What made a '62 a "62" was this far out front end. Form over function.

 



 

Andddd...the classic Chrysler fins that made the car unique in years past no longer existed. Only 4-door models were offered in wagon, sedan, and hardtop models. The fin less car was considered "bizarre" by many critics and sales were slow compared to its entry level sister car, the Newport. The Newport was identical in body style and offered a convertible model. The coupe lover that I am I would've popped open a payment book for a rag top Newport.
 

 

For 1959, Buick had a similar front end with equally wild diagonal headlights. Like this '62, it was a one year only fad. Does the high beam light up objects any better with it being down and away from the regular headlight? For one year only you could see for yourself. You just don't see frivolous styling details like this today. Have to love that grill and the deliciously delicate bumper. The whole car looks like one big, decadent cake. Wish I could have some.

 

 The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together
Love Shack, baby (a-Love Shack, baby)
Love Shack, baby, Love Shack
Love Shack, baby, Love Shack
Love Shack, baby, Love Shack (Love, baby, that's where it's at, yeah)
Love Shack, baby, Love Shack (Love, baby, that's where it's at)