Harsh winter weather did not keep Chicagoans away from the 1960 auto show. Visitors had a batch of new imports and compact cars to gaze at in 1960, along with chrome-laden full-size models. As automakers aimed at economy, Chevrolet introduced its rear-engine Corvair, Ford offered the new compact Falcon and Chrysler developed the Valiant. The show also offered the public a glimpse of nearly three- dozen imported makes, including Deutsch-Bonnet, Toyota and Fiat. This was the final viewing of the waning DeSoto line. A few 1961 DeSotos were built, but production halted prior to the 1961 show. On the right, is a rare color image from the " Motorevue of 1960" stage revue featuring the finale number, called Le Chandelier, highlighted by Betty Pasco on the flying trapeze.
Two community queens poke their heads through a large auto show poster for a publicity photo. The man at the right is Chicago Automobile Trade Association treasurer and show chairman Walter A. Gerwig. Mr. Gerwig is holding a scale model of the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair.
In this rare color photograph taken on the last night of the "Motorevue of 1960" stage revue, all 21 community queens pose together. Each young woman is wearing a formal gown and holding a bouquet of red roses.
Close-up view of the stage during the " Motorevue of 1960" that features a Mercury Park Lane two-door hardtop with chauffeur and three community queens. The Andy Frain usher onstage is Jack Gallagher. Several musicians may be seen in the foreground.
A classic scene photographed inside the Cadillac exhibit, captures a young lad having fun collecting armfuls of colorful literature to take home. Behind the boy was a 1960 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, with subdued tailfins and stacked round taillights. The paper crown on the youngster head came from The Sirloin Room restaurant, which was located at the north end of the International Amphitheatre.
Ford premiered its new Falcon station wagon at the 1960 Chicago Auto Show. On a raised platform, a female dressed in a western-style outfit stands alongside the two-door wagon. The compact Falcon was powered by a 144 cubic inch six-cylinder engine, mated to a standard three-speed manual gearbox, or optional two-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission.
In a rare color photo from the 1960 Chicago Auto Show, a large crowd milling through the Ford exhibit is frozen in time. A two-door Ford Ranch Wagon posed in the foreground with the top half of the tailgate open, was the lowest priced full-size Ford wagon that year.
Within the the Valiant exhibit space, a young lady posed behind the wheel of a V100 four-door sedan. On left side of image, a Valiant exterior shell is raised above the exposed chassis. This was the first year for all Chrysler models--except Imperial--to use unibody construction. Marketed by Chrysler-Plymouth dealers, Valiant was considered a separate make in 1960, its debut year, but later became part of the Plymouth fold.
In one of the most glamorous photo taken at any Chicago Auto Show, a 1960 De Soto Adventurer two-door hardtop was accentuated by a lovely model dressed in a formal gown. Adventurer was the top De Soto model, with a standard Ram-induced 383 CID dual four-barrel V-8. This would be the last time that Chrysler Corp. would exhibit the De Soto brand at the Chicago show, as it was discontinued in Nov. 30, 1960.
A large crowd is wandering through the Chevrolet exhibit, with an upside down Bel Air four-door hardtop in the center of the photo. The Bel Air was connected to a rotisserie-type device that slowly rotated the car. Several sections on the Bel Air had clear panels, which exposed the inner-mechanical workings.
A major attraction in the Chevrolet exhibit was the Bel Air four-door hardtop that was connected to a rotisserie-type device that slowly rotated the car. The display car had an all white undercarriage with various components painted in contrasting colors, like the frame, automatic transmission, rear axle, gas tank and mufflers
At the Buick exhibit space, a sales representative, with hand on the rear tailfin of a 1960 Buick Invicta, is in discussion with a man and woman. The Invicta was the sporty mid-priced Buick introduced a year earlier, available in two-door and four-door sedan, hardtop, convertible and station wagon models. Under the curvaceous hood was the 325 horsepower 401 CID V-8 linked to a Twin Turbine automatic transmission.
The ultra luxury Cadillac Eldorado Brougham four-door hardtop is posed on a raised turntable platform. Standing next to the glamorous vehicle are male and female presenters dressed in formal wedding attire. Only 101 Eldorado Broughams were built, priced at $13,075.
A close-up view in the Rambler exhibit shows a smiling woman behind the steering wheel of a Rambler American two-door sedan. Notice the small hubcaps, blackwall tires, trophies, and the sign that states "Rambler--Economy King."
At the Studebaker exhibit, a Lark convertible is posed in the middle of a circular display that is surrounded by water, leafy plants and a fountain. Debuting in 1959, the Lark was little changed for 1960. Engine choices included the 90 horsepower, 169.6-cubic-inch flathead six-cylinder, a 259 cu.in. V-8 with 180 horses and top-tier 289 cu.in. V-8 with 210 hp,
Imported into the United States through the mid-1960s, the French-built Panhard featured modern, light alloyed rounded bodies, with 42 and 50 horsepower two-cylinder, aircooled, four-cycle engines. Transmission was a column mounted four-speed manual. Estimated acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour time was about 22 seconds. Posed on the far left side of the photo is a two-tone Panhard PL 17 four-door sedan. A rear view of the Panhard DB Sports Coupe is posed in the center of the image, and the tail section of a black Panhard is on the far right. The front of the Panhard Dyna convertible is visible above the black car.
Three "community queens" wave at the camera while seated in the topless Mercedes-Benz 190SL on display in the German automaker's exhibit.
Two British luxury sedans are on display in the Rolls-Royce and Bentley exhibit. The front car is a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud four-door sedan. Behind the Rolls sits a Bentley S2 sedan. A white Sunbeam Rapier convertible, also built in England, is seen in the adjoining booth.
Four vehicles are on display at the small exhibit space for Swedish-built Saab. All are 93F 2-door sedans. An example of the Saab three-cylinder engine is in a glass showcase.
A French-built Simca Aronde Oceane convertible is displayed on a raised platform. Sitting behind the steering wheel of the four-cylinder car, a female model waves toward the camera.
Inquisitive people are gathered around a Toyota Toyopet Crown Custom four-door sedan. A sales representative for the Japanese auto manufacturer is at the driver's-side door. The rear wheel drive Toyopet was propelled by an inline, overhead-valve four-cylinder engine linked to a three-speed manual.
Pictured at the exhibit for the Chicago Street Traffic Commission, a male tollbooth attendant stands alongside an automatic 25-cent tollbooth machine from the Chicago Skyway
A focal point of the Willys Jeep exhibit was the new CJ-6 based Jeep Surrey - with the fringe on top. An inline, F-head, four-cylinder engine supplied 72 horsepower, and was connected to a either a standard three-speed or optional four-speed manual transmission.
General Motors Cadillac Cyclone concept car first appeared in 1959 at the opening of Daytona International Speedway, and then went on the auto show circuit, including 1960 Chicago Auto Show. A plastic canopy covered the two-seat cockpit, providing the occupants with a unobstructed 360-degree view. The top was specially coated with "vaporized silver" to deflect ultra violet rays, and when the top opened, it activated the siding doors. Dark “Dagmar” front nose cones housed radar to warn of obstacles ahead, and the partially-hidden quad headlights nearly filled the grille opening. Under the air scoop on the front-hinged hood sat a high-performance, 325 horsepower Cadillac V-8.
At the Cadillac exhibit during the 1960 Chicago Auto Show, a small crowd stands behind the railed-off display for the experimental two-passenger Cadillac Cyclone. A male presenter points to the 325 horsepower V-8 engine under the raised hood, and the black projectile extensions on the front fenders contained radar systems. While GM never used the Cyclone nameplate on production models, the Mercury division of Ford Motor Co. did, first on the high-performance Mercury Comet compact cars for 1964.