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Thread: Chevrolet Brookwood (2nd Gen) 1959-1960

  1. #1
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    Chevrolet Brookwood (2nd Gen) 1959-1960

    Brookwood was a name used by Chevrolet on certain models in its station wagon offerings from 1958 to 1961, and again from 1969 to 1972.

    Second generation (1959-1960)

    For the second time in as many years, Chevrolet again came up with a totally new car. From the front or rear the 1959 Chevrolets resembled nothing else on the road. From the headlights, placed as low as the law would allow, to the cats-eye tail lights, the 1959 Chevrolet was a brand new car with all new sheet metal. The most visual new change was the flat, wing shaped tailfins. The car was built on a 119 in (3,000 mm) wheelbase and was 211 inches (5,400 mm) long-which was 11 in (280 mm) longer than the 1957 model. This made Chevrolet the longest car in the low-priced range, whereas two years before it had been the shortest. In addition, the car was 3 in (76 mm) wider outside and had 5 in (130 mm) more width inside than it did in 1958, through the reduction of door thickness. The frame GM X frame had no side rails.

    Wagons were still classed by themselves, but had model numbers matching the car series. Chevrolet eliminated its entry-level Delray based Yeoman models and the Biscayne based Brookwood became Chevrolet's least expensive wagon models. Brookwoods were now available in two-door or four-door body styles, both in six-passenger configuration only. The new Parkwood 6-passenger and new Kingswood 9-passenger wagons had Bel Air's model number, and as such were the middle range wagons. A variety of speed options, such as fuel injection, special cams and lowered compression, gave horsepower ratings up to 315. The Nomad was still the top Chevy wagon. A parking brake warning light was optional. Under the hood, little change took place for '59 Chevys.

    Few alterations were made for 1960. The new models were refinements of the 1959 style with a much more restrained front end, the return of the double cone tail lights of 1958 rather than the startling "cat's eyes" of 1959. Under the hood, things remained constant. Fuel injection was no longer available, but with the 348 cubic inch engine, a horsepower rating of 335 at 5800 rpm was now achieved. This involved the use of three double-barrel carburettors, a special cam and an 11.25:1 compression ratio, all sold as a package.

    2 door wagons

    Like the 1958 Yeoman 2-door. The 1959 & '60 Brookside 2-doors, are preferred by hotrodders and collectors over their 4-door counterparts. The two-door variant would become the basis for the new-for-1959 El Camino. Unlike the Brookwood, the El Camino could be ordered in trim levels corresponding to the entire full-sized car line including the Impala. 1960 marked the end of Chevy's full size 2-door wagons, and the end of 2-door Chevy wagons all together until the 1964 Chevelle 300 2-door wagon.

    Safety

    Chevrolet's 1959 & '60 Brookwood (as well as the rest of Chevy's full size line up) still featured Chevrolet's "Safety-Girder" cruciform frame introduced in '58. Similar in layout to the frame adopted for the 1957 Cadillac, it featured box-section side rails and a boxed front cross member that bowed under the engine, these "x-frames" were used on other 1958 to 1964 Chevys, as well as Cadillac. The rear was tied together by a channel-section cross member. This design was later criticized as providing less protection in the event of a side impact collision, but would persevere until 1965.

    Source: wikipedia.org
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    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  2. #2
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    So, when are you going to do an actual tour of the Rust Belt? You would be like a kid in candy store: "Wow! Look at all this crappy American metal! OMG! An AMC!!!!!one11111eleven"

    Have you ever made it to the New World?

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    I've been twice there, once in each coast. I was too little to actually grasp the magnificence of cars, but I did ride in variety of rented vehicles, including a Pontiac Grand Prix (or some other nondescript large 90's American saloon car) and an absolutely massive Ford van thing.

    One of my dreams is driving the 66 in a old American convertible (although most probably it will be in a Sebring Convertible rental...).

    On a slightly related note, I've been watching the Fast 'n' Loud show on the telly, and although I'm not a fan of their style, the ease and low prices and variety of interesting, odd and obscure metal is certainly tempting.
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  4. #4
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    Speaking of reality TV car shows, there is a show on Discovery here called Restoration Garage that features The Guild, a shop in Brantford, Ontario (home of Wayner, and close to Chatham, home of RM) that specializes in super-high end restos, like the Aerolithe body fabbed out of Magnesium. My old man had it on the other day; it was pretty neat. There's also apparently at least one other renowned Canadian shop, out west near Van City.

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