1960 Chrysler vs. Mercury and Thunderbird Dealer Promo Film

What's New From the Ford Family? - 1960 Chrysler vs. Mercury and Ford Thunderbird Dealer Promo Filmstrip.
Mopar is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC. Master Tech series training materials are the property of Chrysler Group LLC and are used with permission.

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

Very enjoyable ad. The 1960 Chrysler was the more beautiful car and had some interesting new year technical advantages. Mercury, of course, had riding comfort and cost per mile advantages. Still, I would prefer to have a 1960 Chrysler in my garage today.

[@johntechwriter]

These 65-year-old sales training vids give us an insight into the mindset of the time, and with it a better understanding of the featured car. In this model year the 1960 Chrysler Windsor hardtop was in a class of its own for exterior design, thanks to the genius of Virgil Exner.

[@hebneh]

Notice how Cynthia is smiling whenever she's in the Chrysler, but looks concerned or annoyed when she's in the Mercury.

[@aidenorcutt1738]

That’s a pretty brilliant advertising strategy

[@pl5624]

Wouldn't you....lol

[@alexmaclean1]

Well it's a Chrysler advertisement so....

[@kirbywaite1586]

Lol

[@LeopoldoNotarianni-rk9vv]

Where's Cynthia now? Pushing up daisies?

[@garycrawford6539]

No wonder Chrysler did not sell as many cars as Mercury, Buick, or Thunderbird; the Chrysler salesmen did not have their mind on their money and their money on their mind.

[@somersetdc]

The Chrysler was a good looking car. The Mercury was kind of a dog.

[@robertdipaola3447]

Too funny!!!-- yet so true!!!

[@robertdipaola3447]

There mind was --" somewhere else""

[@matrox]

I figured they were twin girls involved as soon as I saw them both sitting in the 2 cars at the same time. LOL. They can't fool me!

[@bubbaclinton1105]

I had a 59 Saratoga with Golden Lion 383 4bbl, one hell of a top end on it. Bury the speedometer no problem.

[@66skate]

I had a 59 New Yorker, my first car.

[@cantamar33]

I remember when harass was two words

[@realityhurts8697]

I remember those days as well

[@MisterMikeTexas]

She didn't seem to have one though.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Thanks for uploading this. The guys that wrote this script thought it was so clever and the Chrysler marketing guys must have loved it too. Most of the other salesmen training slide shows I've seen so far are not as silly or sexist as this one, but in 1960 probably less than 1% of car sales persons were female. This slide show is a multi-topic history lesson.

[@jdollinter]

My Grandfather was a Ford man so we always had Fords and Mercury’s starting with the Model T. Brand loyalty. Remember our rattling 57Fordwagon. My folks drove it to Mexico City round trip in ‘64 from Wa State.

[@saxongreen78]

If I had bought something so extravagant and magnificent as one of those Chryslers, I'm afraid I would never be able to part with it...yet, these things were scrapped in the thousands by owners 'trading up' to a newer model. As Wilde wrote - "Nowadays people know the price of everything, and the _value_ of nothing." I hope we all wake up, one day not to far away.

[@realityhurts8697]

I am in midst of restoring a 61 imperial

[@leslieeckhardt504]

The most irritating attempt at injecting comedy into one of these things that I've ever seen.

[@ohger1]

4:30 In today's "enlightened" world, Chrysler would be facing a multi million dollar lawsuit for sexual harassment.

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

Yeah, but us good old boys always knew what was best. This was when music was soft, girls were sweet, and cars were strong. Maybe another golden age will appear, doesn't seem likely but I hope for our kids' sake it happens.

[@classic-kool]

@Liberty Tree - Elect any of the Commie Socialist Democrats, and on a downward spiral to economic doom ..

[@MrDamien1963]

Yeah, just look at a woman today, and they scream sexual harassment. But they develop low self-esteem if you ignore them. You can't win.

[@waterheaterservices]

@Herman Greenfield Always slandering Slavics.

[@jimbeck3230]

Time to get rid of the feminazis. The good ole days were way better than today.

[@kirbywaite1586]

Nevertheless, it's quite a stretch to imagine that a potential Tbird customer would switch to a large Chrysler. I wonder why they weren't comparing the Chrysler to the Olds or Buick.

[@joeford860]

Love the dash on 60-62 Chrysler.

[@danesderelicts]

I wish I still had my 60 New Yorker!

[@joeford860]

At least the Chrysler didn't use oil like the Mercury.

[@cudaus1]

Very true. My Merc used a lot of oil. It had the 312 V8.

[@horaciovivanco]

Para aquellos años, una comparacion muy creativa ... Lastima que en las ventas no se tradujo

[@Mr1963corvette]

The one guy keeps leering at the lovely Cynthia. The Chrysler always had nice luxury cars but the T Bird is in a league of it's own.

[@matrox]

My father always had Oldsmobiles during that time period, and those cars road beautifully. Not bouncy and spring as the picture would have you believe.

[@herman452]

+matrox On a smooth road at moderate speeds, the Olds probably rode better than the Chrysler. But good ride and good high speed handling are two different things. . . . especially in 1960. Today's cars can manage both quite well.

[@johnazhderian5734]

By today's standard the handling and performance of these cars were rubbish.

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

By yesterday's standards, modern cars are mere cookie cutter appliances.

[@keithdukes5990]

@@johnazhderian5734 I can assure you the modern American car will definitely "not" be admired, desired and sought after like these classics!!! The cars of today are about as exciting as a "Wet Weekend!" To coin a phrase!

[@Chrysler1961]

Did you notice how far back Cynthia is on the seat of the Chrysler and on the edge of the seat in the Mercury when getting out of the car through the back door?

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Your right, hope she can phase through the large cast of metal blocking the way for 3 quarters of the seat in that Mercury. Use your brain, that isn't a scam, you couldn't back up further if you tried to get out whereas the slide style seating in the Chysler transitions to a much larger space to get out.

[@stickpd7885]

That Rolph is a character.

[@wettex4816]

I think Rolph has Hi-T...

[@johnreitz5676]

Interesting chairs...

[@mongrelhalfbreedobern]

Mercury had enough dashboard to design the whole project during lunchbreak

[@crankychris2]

60 era mopars were known as perennial rustbuckets.

[@realityhurts8697]

It's hilarious, right off the bat, in this comparison, Chrysler mentioned unibody, but in a 1950s add they talk bad about it, in an imperial vs Lincoln ad. Lol

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Unibody was a company too, not just a form of support. And of course you end with the very bizarre delinquent phrase "Lol".

[@tomservo56954]

But when the numbers were added up, for 1960 the full-size Mercury (not including Comet) sold twice the units of Chrysler. And the two models (plus a special trim hardtop) of Thunderbird moved 15,000 more cars than the entire 17-model Chrysler line.

[@blueboy7559]

the ford had a good feel when you set in it .i had a t bird loved that car the feel the drive.girls loved it low to the road.better than 61 trans in them no good .my frind had 61 my car was alot better than his all power windows not working rain getting in it not good in cold weather

[@hebneh]

Not surprising. Chrysler Corp. was the smallest of the "Big 3" American manufacturers and was always outsold by GM and Ford.

[@LeopoldoNotarianni-rk9vv]

Interesting statistics.

[@hebneh]

@billmcdevitt1298 AMC and its predecessors never got up to the level of Chrysler in sales, much less Ford or GM.

[@rickrobinson672]

In 1960 the lighter weight Chrysler was a plus. In 1958 the heavier Chrysler was a plus.

[@joemackey1950]

I love these old training film strips. Our cars are wonderful, the others not so much. Our cars are well built and good design, not like our cars last year that are so old-fashion looking this year.

[@llanamejia]

I wonder whether these 3 stooges were making Chrysler a favor... Anyway, it is a very nice film. I was a Buick guy but always admired Chrysler

[@WAQWBrentwood]

I'm also a Buick guy who appreciates Chryslers. Historic note: Walter P. Chrysler was an employee of....Buick!

[@herman452]

+WAQWBrentwood Actually, Walter P was president of Buick. . . .

[@WAQWBrentwood]

+herman452 Correct,

[@clemnewton9995]

Commercials that you watch unlike the junk of commercials we see now

[@Tennesseestorm76]

Rust proofing did not work on these Mopars, they had major floor rust issues.

[@bigblockjalopy]

Better than the 57-59s and ALL cars had rust issues back then. The unibody is rocksolid and had a FEW weak spots, that can be easily taken care of, but even with rear quarters and rockers gone these cars are still rigid and driveable. Wanna see "shit" bodys? Look at European cars of the 60s and 70s. These cars were literally falling appart.

[@randymagnum143]

Lol, and other cars didnt?

[@dwaynesaleski4640]

Chrysler's literally rusted out in 5 years on these cars. Not many left today.

[@goldenltd1970]

@@bigblockjalopy In germany they started salting the winter roads in the early 60's, that was the doom of many a car

[@johnnyhawkins43]

I can dig it!

[@waterheaterservices]

Unibody. Marketing talk for cost cutting frameless car that stressed the body.

[@radioguy1620]

Merc had a cooler windshield , went right up into the roof

[@dave1956]

I probably would have bought an Olds!

[@daboyd63]

They mention rustproofing All of these fell to rust in a few years

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

Me too, rust permeates my bones and has taken its' toll. I was not all that convinced of the Chrysler "rust cure", however, the deep rinse and acid etch prior to paint is now an industry standard. The 1960 Chrysler design didn't win the day however their mfg method (for rust proofing) has become the standard world wide.

[@dwaynesaleski4640]

Truth!

[@realityhurts8697]

@@buddyroeginocchio9105 decades of engineering any process improves it. Some of these people don't get it

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

The fault for the owner, not the automobile as you'd soon to figure out, unless you live right in heart at the north pole.

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

The Chrysler is MUCH better looking than the boring Mercury or the flabby Thunderbird.

[@cudaus1]

My first car as a teen was a 60 Mercury Monterrey. Didn't look as good as the Chrysler and was always having issues of lack of quality.

[@classic-kool]

There weren't any women in the room when this was being shown or the shit would've hit the fan ..

[@hebneh]

Nah, in those days, that was considered to be normal, acceptable behavior.

[@redtra236]

Not in 1960 lol

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

Call this sexist if you want-- but Chrysler is only using the model to make sure guys are paying attention. This film would have been shown to rooms full of men in 1960, so it's an idea that worked well.

[@classic-kool]

True .. the onlt women around were the ones serving the coffee and donuts, and cleaning up after the meeting was over .. You KNOW that's true!

[@keithdukes5990]

@@classic-kool yeah, great days!😌😉😊

[@leaturk11]

I wonder were Cynthia is now?

[@curiosity2314]

Interesting for the time, but who didn't ask for a bail out... Ford is Ford, can't really mess with them to much. Would not be fair. Interesting history on how people and companies seem to find the worst in things. Would it not be nice if people and companies work together for one goal, to move ahead and make things better... It's not on the plate I understand that but if someday it would be, you can be certain that if you have seen progress in the last 50 years it would skyrocket! I hope one day it will happen! Happy New Year 2015... Gerald

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

Kumbaya; isn't that what has brought us to our present level of despair?

[@tropicallover19]

Ralph looks like Jack Lemmon lol.

[@ricardorodrigues7304]

excelente, parabéns.

[@nlpnt]

I suppose the announcer/salesman "banter" was funnier after a three-martini lunch.

[@Pisti846]

They should have shown how easy it was for a football player in and out of the cars!

[@jeninjeans]

This video would have been shorter and better if you take away those stupid salesmen and the announcer yelling at them.

[@petermainwald6413]

Chrysler had way better suspension, better engineering by far.. so why didnt that translate in to sales?

[@inkey2]

PETER MAINWALD Chrysler engineering: Did you know that the for "years" Chrysler had no Park function in their automatic transmission (even though the Plymouth and Dodge did) You put it in neutral, depressed the parking brake and prayed that it didn't roll away on you. I had my 1962 roll away so many times I would use steel wheel wedges under two tires when I parked it.

[@WAQWBrentwood]

+inkey2 Not to be an a$$, but isn't that the same method used with a manual tranny, I never relied on that thumb sized parking pawl in ANY automatic tranny and set the parking brake as routine.

[@inkey2]

+WAQWBrentwood but in a manual tranny you can park it in gear and use the parking brake as well. Couldn't do that with a chrysler automatic.

[@5610winston]

Chrysler's parking brake was a drum on the drive shaft. Not particularly effective.

[@joeford860]

@@2packs4sure bullet proof drivetrain.

[@gentillydanny]

William seems to need hormones.

[@tylerlawson4353]

the thunder bird is the best.

[@realityhurts8697]

Two big after 1958

[@goodmusl]

I always referred to the Thunderbirds at that time as having "jukebox" styling.

[@matrox]

All 3 automakers went through 2 or 3 year bad styling period as they were figuring out new styles with the new lower bodies in the early 60s. The only 2 manufacturers that continue without skipping a beat in the very early 60s was chevy and Cadillac. The others seem to take a few more years to integrate the new styling into the new platforms. Chysler products took the longest. In fact I think Chrysler first big styling hit came with the 65 Chry. Crown Imperial which was beautiful. Plymouth and styling didn't catch up until the late 60s as in the 67 Ply Barracuda or 68 Dodge Charger.

[@tahoepoet]

The '60s and '61s were Virgil Exner's last good styling years at Chrysler. Except for Dodge (what were they thinking?)

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

Right on! 1960 Chrysler was absolutely beautiful. Dodge, I don't know it was just weird. Plymouth, what were they thinking, the forward look takes a backward slant? Desoto, just a toned down Chrysler. In 1961 they suicided the Desoto just like Ford suicided the Edsel in 1960.

[@hebneh]

The marvelous lines established for Chrysler Corp. cars in 1957 were out of style by 1960-'61, but the company stuck with them for several more years, unfortunately. By then they looked peculiar and unattractive.

[@jamesziegler2763]

I'm worried about Leroy...🤔

[@bluemoonpanther6337]

This is a commercial that is supposed to make me as a viewer end up preferring Chrysler over its competition ... Actually I loved the design of the competition much more

[@thomashooks5571]

The audience were the sales staff. You would not show this to the end customer.

[@zappatx]

Ahhh.. I'll stick with the Thunderbird!

[@MsGus57]

Chrysler had rotten starting systems. When it was wet outside ,that old 383 V8 struggled to turn over. One needed to remove the air filter, and hold open the carburetor. A little spray can of quick start was always handy to have. Plus, transmission seals would always leak after 50,000 miles.

[@petergreen9277]

Sue Barker, ask any Chrysler 300 5.2 l semi-hemi owner, "They still leak."

[@MsGus57]

Agreed. Correct me if I am wrong, but Fiat now owns Chrysler, don't they? I must admit styling on their products is real kick ASZ!

[@MsGus57]

I can't understand why they still have that problem. The 300 is their top of the line too. Also, many of Chrysler's interior trim pieces are some what lacking for a car of that status.

[@petergreen9277]

Those problematic points are not flaws, they're futures. Put in place to increase aftermarket sales, to help augment what they feel is the true value of their product, and to keep the initial pricepoint down.

[@somersetdc]

Sue Barker. Boy do I remember that. The humidity on a rainy day was a nightmare event for my 1969 Plymouth VIP. It was an upscale Plymouth III and it was near impossible to start and then would dangerously stall on rainy days until the engine was very warm.

[@miffedmax]

If Chrysler had more attentive sales people like William they might have outsold Mercury.

[@kennethsouthard6042]

I'm guessing that "lifetime rust proofing" and "triple life chrome" did not come with a warranty.

[@kirbywaite1586]

They lasted as long as the life of the car.

[@geoben1810]

You gotta admit, Chrysler had a lot goin' on. Ford was kinda blah! 👍🏻😉

[@petermata5488]

chrysler mopar all the way!

[@makjac46]

were we that childish back then? Golly.

[@hebneh]

Yes, we were, unfortunately.

[@thoof2001]

Yes, yes they were.

[@joserafaelgrangefuenmayor7744]

Me gustan los tres

[@crazybobdj]

2021 Chrysler : plastic grill. 2021 Ford: cardboard grill.

[@arachnonixon]

remind anyone else of tom goes to the mayor?

[@tahoepoet]

more like David Seville and the Chipmunks

[@pwrfl2357]

Please flip the record

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Ah, those midwest family values we keep hearing about so much.

[@tahoepoet]

Where's the Edsel?

[@buddyroeginocchio9105]

The Edsel was suicided by Ford in 1960. (Desoto) The sister product to the Chrysler was suicided in 1961. If you doubt me look at the 1960 Edsel and 1961 Desoto respectively. Here are two examples of anti-design used to kill a product line.

[@5610winston]

Edsel was never a success, market-positioned to compete with Mid-range Fords to low-line Lincolns from the start of the marque, and the recession of '58 didn't he;p. DeSoto was successful from the start, but Chrysler initiated the DeSoto brand when they were unsuccessful at buying established independent brand Dodge in 1929. When Chrysler finally acquired Dodge after introducing the DeSoto, WPC's corporate structure positioned Dodge firmly between the upper-mid-priced DeSoto and the low-priced four-cylinder Plymouth, just at the start of the Great Depression. Through the late fifties, Chrysler added a low-priced Firesweep model based on the Dodge body to the DeSoto line and pushed the mid-priced Windsor down-market to compete with the upper end of the Dodge range, effectively squeezing DeSoto out. Edsel and DeSoto were killed off by corporate cannibalism.

[@canuckrcp]

Poor William, he's the only attentive, eager hardworking one of the group. And oh yes, he's the token homosexual in a room full of hetero colleagues, LOL! And I say this because I have been there and done that, sigh...

[@dlwatib]

Ralph and Herman have heard all this BS before. William is the new guy trying to suck up to the boss.

[@hankaustin7091]

"suck" being the operative word here

[@hebneh]

Yeah, I was thinking that might be the case. The charms of Cynthia and her twin were lost on William.

[@daijimin]

Is this a Twilight zone episode where Rolf’s becoming aware he’s in an advertisement? He keeps asking the faceless voice how Cynthia could be in two places at once.

[@dinomartini5977]

I forgot that I was watching a Chrysler film. Because of these 2 guys asking shit

[@rnorton785]

I will stick with my 98 Deville... :^ )

[@keithdukes5990]

Yeah, you do that!!! Bland & boring like every other car built in the last 20yrs!!!

[@thomasdollard7971]

HR at work would be cringing with this training.

[@johnazhderian5734]

The personnel (HR) department was run by men.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Did they even have "human resources" departments in 1960?

[@waterheaterservices]

This is not Party Approved Correct Thinking and Speech.

[@keithdukes5990]

Yet another woke millenial!!!

[@thomasdollard7971]

@@keithdukes5990 Me?!

[@goldenltd1970]

I'll take the Merc. Chrysler design was already a little dated in 1960

[@thewiseowl3672]

I agree that Chrysler didn’t sell many cars for 1960 because the salesman were all pretty stupid.

[@ConsciousRobot]

Rolph clearly ain't right in the head

[@llanamejia]

I really miss the "Detroit era" of American cars. I really miss it... But what the heck. Now that the USA is just another Hispanic country who cares?

[@jeffreycruz4236]

Can't believe 5 people up it's this haha.

[@jeffreycruz4236]

+Jeffrey Cruz up voted.

[@oscaris1ru12]

dear albert fish

[@bluefinster6209]

Chrysler dodge cars and trucks are made of base grade steel. They are rusted out within a 5 year period.

[@bobtis]

Chrysler was always a beautiful car. That 1960 Mercury was ugly.

[@edmondocerza4292]

Man this was so korny, never put down your competitor, surely a different time

[@tracy4good]

ALRIGHT NOW CYNTHIA, let's show the fellas the benefits of Chrysler's spacious and thick padded backseat. Oooh, yeah. You couldn't do that in the back of a Mercury.

[@bobh5087]

Notice that in this rather embarrassing, cringe-worthy show, the "models" are always SLIGHTLY WHITER in all the Chrysler car photos. hmm.... 🤔

[@kirbywaite1586]

I didn't know the 1960 Chrysler was unit body. The 1960 Mercury was a rather ugly car.

[@dutchmankamstra96]

Chrysler salesmen must have been extremely childish if something as annoying and adolescent as this video was produced to capture their attention.

[@darkko1969]

Back in a time when people could LAUGH, and not have to be politically correct.

[@randyreeder3417]

chrysler same junk as usual for the last 62 years...

[@markmurto]

Cynthia is no beauty.

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

4:30 Weinstein / Moonves and another Democrat.

[@florichi]

OMG this is unfunny.

[@topfuel6824]

I know there is a lot of stupid people but I don’t know how ford is still hanging on crap 💩 on wheels