From the 1950's - 70's, why did American car companies completely redesign many of their car body styles every 1-3 years?

[ModerationNow!]

From the 80s til today, when car companies come up with what they perceive to be a winner in auto body design, they usually stick with it for 5-10+ years. They may make minor styling modifications, but the cars still have the same basic shape from 5-10+ years ago. Think of Ford's "fox body" Mustang. That basic design stuck around from 1979-93!

But during the 1950 - 1970s, cars received major redesigns, sometimes as soon as the next model year! Take the 1967-69 gen 1 Camaro. It's arguably one of the top 3-5 body styles in automotive history, but Chevy dumped it for a completely different design in 1970!

The classic Ford Mustang was given a significant redesign in 1969 & 1970, especially the fastback version, but then they ditched that design for a new, ugly-ish body in 1971! The Mercury Comet received a major design change every 1-2 years throughout the 60s!

Its even stranger when you realize that they used to have to draw their designs on paper, then mold and shape them into clay models. Now it's done on cpu's. Why didn't they avoid all that unnecessary effort and stick with winning designs for a few years longer?

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Competition. And companies did not work together in collusion to bring down their cost, while increasing prices.
They were competing.
They no longer really do. That is why cars all look alike today.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

In those days, things like mandated fuel efficiency, safety, and emissions were not a consideration. Body styles could use as much Detroit steel as they wanted. Marketing was all about style and prestige. Look at the new model! Ooh! Aah! I want one of those!

Then came the OPEC oil embargo, it was revealed that close to 40,000 people a year died in car accidents, and we found out leaded gas was literally killing us on our way to work.

Today, cars can't even be sold if they fail to meet ever-more stringent emissions standards, crash test safety standards, and fuel efficiency standards. That is why the emphasis from style and change has happened.

 

[tshade]

From the 80s til today, when car companies come up with what they perceive to be a winner in auto body design, they usually stick with it for 5-10+ years. They may make minor styling modifications, but the cars still have the same basic shape from 5-10+ years ago. Think of Ford's "fox body" Mustang. That basic design stuck around from 1979-93!

But during the 1950 - 1970s, cars received major redesigns, sometimes as soon as the next model year! Take the 1967-69 gen 1 Camaro. It's arguably one of the top 3-5 body styles in automotive history, but Chevy dumped it for a completely different design in 1970!

The classic Ford Mustang was given a significant redesign in 1969 & 1970, especially the fastback version, but then they ditched that design for a new, ugly-ish body in 1971! The Mercury Comet received a major design change every 1-2 years throughout the 60s!

Its even stranger when you realize that they used to have to draw their designs on paper, then mold and shape them into clay models. Now it's done on cpu's. Why didn't they avoid all that unnecessary effort and stick with winning designs for a few years longer?

My family had a car dealership---------there was a certain 'luster' to the business back then when no one knew the new styles until they were displayed.