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Ford also has a zippier (300 h.p. or more), completely restyled, four-seater Thunderbird aimed more at the family than the sports-car market. But the car Ford worked hardest on is the Lincoln, frankly aimed at knocking Cadillac from leadership of the luxury market. Longest car on the road (229 in.), the Lincoln looks like a popular version of the Continental, which now becomes the top-priced Lincoln series, has horsepower boosted to 375 h.p., and new weight distribution that makes it handle like a sports car. Says Stylist Walker: "If that Lincoln doesn't beat Caddy, I don't know which end is up."
Lazy S & Struts. But General Motors does not intend to celebrate its golden anniversary year by losing any more of the market; it spent $730 million (and will boost prices 3% to 5%) to redesign every car with the exception of the Cadillac. To win back its cherished lead, 1958's Chevrolet is all new from latticework grille to gently curving, lazy-S rear-fender lines; all cars are 9 in. longer, 4 in. wider, 2 in. lower, have optional air-suspension ride and a slight horsepower increase to 290 h.p. Two new models: a sporty Impala hardtop and a convertible, both with 280 h.p. to compete with Ford's Thunderbird. Pontiac is just as new, with revamped, rocket-ornamented body, double-barreled taillight and a bigger, 300-h.p. engine.
Even more striking changes appear in Buick and Oldsmobile, which took the worst beatings this year. Olds slipped by 62,000 cars (17.7%); Buick dropped 111,000 (25.5%) and fell into fourth place behind Plymouth. Gone are the thick rear-window struts, which G.M. stylists admitted were a flub; gone, too, is Buick's famed "porthole" trademark. The new Buick has clean fenders, a waffle-iron grille with 160 square nubs, an improved "flight-pitch" Dynaflow transmission, new air-cooled aluminum brakes and a new, high-priced ($4,663 top) Limited series. Olds got the same extensive body change, plus an improved Hydra-Matic transmission and air-suspension ride. One surprising change: for those who complain about the horsepower race, Olds has reduced its standard V-8 from 277 h.p. to 265 h.p. But just in case all the holler dies down, Olds also has engines up to 312 h.p.
The only automaker sitting tight with the winning hand it dealt itself last year is Chrysler, which is only spending a relatively modest $150 million, gambling that last year's slogan—"Suddenly it's 1960" still holds for 1958. But all Chrysler cars have modified grilles, trim and taillights, a new bubble windshield that increases visibility, and new engines with higher horsepower: up to 315 h.p. for Plymouth, 333 h.p. for Dodge, 355 h.p. for De Soto, 390 h.p. for Chrysler and Imperial.