By Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher|
Images Courtesy of Stellantis North American Archives, The Coolist.com, and the Robert Tate Collection
Published 2.19.2025
The 1960 Plymouth XNR concept (Stellantis North American Archives)
The Plymouth XNR concept was a two-seater roadster that was created under the direction of Chrysler design chief Virgil Exner (September 24,1909 - December 22, 1973). From the beginning, the design emphasis was to create a model that offered a graceful form with a built-in feeling of automotive motion.
Exner was one of the best automotive designers in the world. He left his mark on so many great selling automobiles for Chrysler during the 1950s and 1960s.
Virgil Exner (left) inside the Chrysler Design Studio in the 1950s (Stellantis North American Archives)
The 1960 Plymouth XNR concept was a perfect example of the great-looking vehicles coming out of Exner’s studio. The XNR’s height was only 42.94 inches to the top of the rear fin, making it a very streamlined design. It was built on a Valiant chassis with a huge rear tail fin and fitted with a 250-horsepower engine. The concept also sported a red Italian paint job.
An Exner design sketch for the Plymouth XNR concept (Stellantis North American Archives)
Some automotive historians have called the Plymouth XNR the New Idea Car. Historians also have said that the concept was designed as a possible competitor for the Chevrolet Corvair and the popular Ford Falcon that was dominating the market in the compact car category.
The 1960 Plymouth XNR (TheCoolest.com)
The concept’s sporty interior was a nice design that impressed attendees at automotive shows across the country. The XNR also offered quad-headlamps that were very popular at the time. Another unique feature was the front-end hood scoop design toward the driver’s side windscreen display.
A rear view of the 1960 Plymouth XNR (TheCoolest.com)
The XNR brochure said, “From the lean low rising slope of the air scoop to the muscular rear fin, the XNR is dominated by an off center ‘Character Line,’ which places the driver in complete demand.” The 1960 Plymouth XNR was very different by design.
Exner and his design team called the XNR functional, beautiful and unprecedented. Exner had commissioned many of the early Chrysler concept models, including the XNR and others, to be built in Italy by Carrozeria Ghia. Automotive historians have reported that the 1960 Plymouth XNR concept was influenced by a Studebaker Indianapolis race car that Exner owned.
The front end of the Plymouth XNR concept (TheCoolest.com)
In May 1960, the Plymouth XNR concept appeared on the cover of Road & Track and Motor Trend magazines, as well as many others over the rest of the year. The XNR made its first public appearance at the 1960 New York Auto Show.
The 1960 Plymouth XNR concept with an open door (TheCoolest.com)
In conclusion, the 1960 Plymouth XNR concept model is still around today. Exner wanted to model to go into manufacturing, however, his bosses at Chrysler said no. The Plymouth XNR was sold to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. It then changed hands numerous times before it was sold to Karim Edde, who purchased the concept in 1980.
Butler, Don. “The Plymouth and DeSoto Story.” Crestline Publishing, 1978.
Florea, Ciplian. “1960 Plymouth XNR Concept.” Top Speed Automotive News, September 9, 2018.
1960 Chrysler Corporation Marketing. “More than a dash of Daring: Plymouth XNR (sales brochure).” Robert Tate Collection.
