Or just mebbe a Swinger 340 Six-Pack?
Posted on 01/23/2015 7:21:39 PM PST by smokingfrog
George Gibson Jr., a former chief engineer for Dodge, died Wednesday in Rochester, Minn. He was 92.
As chief engineer, Gibson’s biggest pride of his work was the Dodge Dart.
According to his daughter, Lisa Gibson, the Dart was the most hands-on work he did at the company.
He admired the functionality of the compact car and was even featured in Dart ads.
Given his 6-foot, 190-pound frame, critics couldn’t believe that a man of his size could fit in the car. He proved them wrong with the ad showing him getting in and out of the car. It read, “Over six feet tall? So is our chief engineer.”
He also had influence in naming the models. His daughter mentioned that the Dodge Lancer was named after the family’s yellow parakeet, “Lancer.”
Born and raised on the east side of Detroit, Gibson graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
He also went to the Chrysler Institute of Engineering in Highland Park, Mich. where he got his foot in the door at Dodge.
Gibson also served in the U.S. Army as an atomic engineer on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
But Dodge is where he spent the bulk of his career.
(Excerpt) Read more at autonews.com ...
Easy to work on too. I could swap out a starter in 5 minutes and a water pump in 15 with minimal tools.
lol - how true!
Or just mebbe a Swinger 340 Six-Pack?
“Given his 6-foot, 190-pound frame”
“That’s not that big.”
I was just discussing this with Mrs. RQSR. I’m 6-3 and was at the time 185, and had no problems in, and out of my ‘68. Loved that car. Slant six with a three speed column shift, and that little car hauled a..
Pamela Austin?
“That is until the later 70’s when they all started to go downhill.”
My dad bought 78 Econoline new, I bought an 80 Bronco new. Both vehicles 302 V8’s went out at less than 40,000. Tear down revealed the cylinders were overbored which caused pistons to break.
Like the time I made a left turn and the leaf spring weld let go and the wheels were going one direction and the body was going another. That was a real OMG moment.
But like I said, the engine and transmission were totally first class. And the radio was OK too. ;~))
I think the chevy 235 was the best engine ever!
That name sounds familiar. I am going to look it up.
Whoever it was, she was really pretty.
Yes, it was Pamela Austin.
As far as plain reliability, I vote for the Oldsmobile 425 Rocket V8.
I had a Plymouth Duster with a 225 slant 6 in it that I installed myself (Well, me, a buddy, and copious amounts of Miller High Life.). Bought it for $50 and a spare engine for $75. Ran great until the transfer plate sheared off the torque converter and ground everything from the radiator to the front U-joint into shavings. I think I got back in salvage what I paid into it, but the summer of ‘82 was a blast. LOLOL
And the parts were cheap and widely available.
so 6ft 190 pound man was big in the 60’s?
Yup. And the Dodge sheriff: “You in a heap a trouble, boy.”
my first car was a 65 then i bought another. dropped an old scrap plymouth 225 into it in my dads back yard. leaked like sieve in the front.
I said the the slant six was one of the bests. 283,289,318, ford’s 300 C.I. strait 6,flat head V8..........etc.
In the sixties it was.
The Dodge Rebellion girl.
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