[Redman]

Back in early 2003, Lincoln introduced its "new" Town Car. Complete with 4 doors (suicide of course), rear-wheel drive, and novel styling (pushing the wheels out to the four corners) - we all hoped and prayed (in vain) that FoMoCo would produce this design. Sadly, it was not to be.
Who here thinks Ralph Gilles (the 300C designer) and his gang quietly picked up the pieces and turned the sedan segment of the market on its collective ear?

 

[AndyK]

It reminds me of the Ford 427 Concept in '03:
http://www.fast-autos.net/ford/ford427.html

IMHO, it'd be almost impossible to go from inspiration at an auto show to production vehicle a year later.
I think DC the first to actually pull off the new retro-RWD sedan.

 

[II kings 9:20]

Only the wheels look similar

 

[BMWhat?]

Actually the profile of the front end is also similar. It has a sharp drop off. Also the front 1/3 part of the front fender has a similar design.

The interior of the Ford is all business.. like that.

 

[IndySilverC]

My family has always had a genetic aversion to Ford. I have never understood this aversion, but I stopped questioning it after Jaguars started coming out with Taurus butts.

 

[mileshoover]

Not in my opinion.

I had said earlier in a post which appears to have scolled off that this 300 body, particularly the "C", is very reminiscent of the two "80's Benz's I owned. They both had the W126 S class body. I find the similarities between that '80's body and the present E class sufficient to be ancestors of this 300.

There isn't much doubt about the tranny and suspension while you could easily remove the present "C" grille and substitute a Benz one, put a 3 pointed star on it and lo and behold. I still believe Benz pretty much brought over last years E class and gussied it up. They surely transported the steering, tranny, suspension sytem, wiring system, and more. There's an awful lot of Benz in there.

Remember Ford's Grenada in the '70's? The advertising scheme at one time (on intro) was to compare it to the Benz smaller bodies at the time, even to having both cars pictured in the ad!!

Maybe Ford copied Benz?

I see NO Ford in the 300's past or future. :^))

 

[Redman]

Maybe the Granada ESS.
And yes, she's all E-class underneath, for which all of us are pretty glad.
Still can't imagine how the Chrysler guys managed to convince their German masters to accept the HEMI powerplant - but remain eternally grateful for the fine multi-link RWD setup.
Still, think that the over-all body shape (especially the almost complete lack of overhangs front and rear) are pretty close. Will have to get out the ruled grid paper and check the specs.

 

[crispiegee]

So what would checking the specs prove, though?

Chrysler started designing the 300M/LHS replacement cars five years ago. In fact, significant progress was underway to develop rear-drive cars when the merger took place, according to Allpar.com, when Daimler said, "Vee vill use Mercedes parts in zee car." Allpar asserts that this car took at least two years longer to develop than it should have, thanks to the Germans' edicts. (Not that I'm not happy to have Mercedes designed parts in my car... I think it's great, actually.)

The point being, I HIGHLY doubt they took anything about the Lincoln into consideration, as Chrysler has plenty of fresh ideas AND cars in the past to which they can tip their hats. They took FWD and cab-forward as far as that could go, and that differentiated them from anything on the market in the 90's. Now they needed something very dramatic to stand apart from the crowd once again.

I love the 60's era Lincolns, and that concept is really neat. Knowing Ford, though, they'll put a 3.0 liter V6 in it and say, don't worry, we'll have more power later.

 

[Redman]

MIght just prove that great minds think alike.
And yes, Chrysler has had plenty of great original ideas.
Comparing the silhouettes and finding the "same" shape may just prove that the time had come for the 300C and "new" Lincoln Continental.
But like you said, FoMoCo will probably "forget" to include the Hurricane and make us wait another 3-4 years: Thank God The Hemi-Is-HERE !

 

[E55 KEV]

Ralph Gilles designed the Chrysler 300 off the Dodge Magnum design - it came first. The Dodge Magnum SRT-8 concept officially hit in December 2002 at the LA Auto Show.

 

[Dutch]

Hey, someone mentioned the Granada above - that was my first car! And a great car it was.

Anyway, I seriously doubt Chrysler stole Lincoln's idea. As it turns out, it looks like Lincoln has stolen Chrysler's idea from the '80s, and dropping all rear-wheel drive cars. The LS and Town Car are to be replaced in '07 and '08 with FWD/AWD cars based on long- and short-wheelbase versions of the same platform. The platform? The current Volvo. Yes, the new Lincolns will be late '90s Volvo technology. In '08. Amazing.

At least Chrysler's headed in the right direction!

 

[Redman]

Not the ESS was it?
Ours was a baby blue '75 as pictured (with a 250 straight 6!), minus one proud Italian (Iaccoca).
See more here:
http://transgender.coolfreepages.com/granada/pictures.htm
(Despite the url, pretty good site, I think).

 

[Dutch]

Cool link, thanks! No ESS, mine was Ghia all the way, baby! '77 with a 302 California (Variable Venturi carburetor), white with tan leather buckets and a maroon half-vinyl top. I drove it a couple years, then my dad drove it for several because he really loved the car, then we sold it to a friend when I was in law school. It met its end when it was totalled in 1998 with about 225k miles on it. Tranny rebuilt twice, engine never. The clock even worked right up to the bitter end.

 

[Rambit]

Who here thinks Ralph Gilles (the 300C designer) and his gang quietly picked up the pieces and turned the sedan segment of the market on its collective ear?

Huh, I'd say he did.

Bernie

 

[ResumeSpeed]

Only the wheels look similar

I agree.

 

[Rambit]

RS, this thread is 3 years old!!!

Bernie

 

[Stockholm 300C]

I believe the 300's design language evolved from the "slightly" over-the-top Super 8 concept.

 

[catch]

the 300 looks like a chopped top version of that almost

 

[OoTLink]

The 300's current design goes back to around 2001

 

[JeDiHemi]

no theft here... no way mang...