One of the bad decisions of the early '60s was apparently a result of a conversation heard on a golf-course of all things. Chrysler people heard that GM and Ford were down-sizing for the '62 model year, and so reduced the larger Plymouths and Dodges to about compact Fairlane size. The styling was controversial to say the least. Dodge dealers were so angry they demanded a larger car to match Chevrolet and Ford, so Chrysler hauled out the old Chrysler body shell, trimmed the fins off it, inserted a 1961 look-alike Dodge grille and the 880 managed to keep the punters happy. Plymouth, who used to enjoy number 3 spot, slid down to 7th place in the sales race and it took some time for both marques to recover. Of all the 1960s Dodge Phoenixes, I've always liked the '62 with its big Valiant looks, and prefer it over the rest of them.
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