The asymmetrical concept should have reached production because we want one.
The Petersen Automotive Museum has an epic roster of iconic and classic cars, but it never fails to surprise us. Its latest video showcases an interesting gem that not a lot of people might remember or even know existed: an impressively accurate replica of the iconic 1960 Plymouth XNR concept car.
Released in 1960, the XNR is a behemoth of a classic that spans 16 feet in length and harkens back to Plymouth's golden age. It was also called the Assymetrica due to its asymmetric roadster body style.
Designed by the renowned Virgil Exner and created in collaboration with the renowned design house, Carrozeria Ghia, its design drew inspiration from multiple sources. These include a Studebaker Indianapolis race car owned by Exner, the asymmetrical Watson Indy Roadster, and the iconic Jaguar D-Type.
The asymmetric design with a separate pod for the driver made it quite an intriguing concept even for the 1950s and 60s. Sadly, this styling has been lost in almost all modern cars. The closest thing we can get to an asymmetric design is probably the Hyundai Veloster with 2 doors on one side and 1 on the other.
Under the hood lies a fuel-injected 2.8-liter inline-six engine derived from the Plymouth Fury, delivering an impressive 250 horsepower. Originally built as a design concept to demonstrate Plymouth's capabilities, only one XNR was ever constructed and the rest are hand-crafted replicas such as the one featured by the Petersen Automotive Museum. The original was actually quite a barn-find before it went under the gavel more than a decade ago.
Custom shop, Gothic Garage painstakingly built this work of art out of fiberglass for the show Car Masters: Rust to Riches on Netflix. It was then donated to the Petersen Automotive Museum for everyone to appreciate.
The hand-built custom frame and meticulously hand-rolled aluminum fenders contribute to the stunning aesthetics that closely resemble the original design. The interior of the replica has been meticulously recreated, mirroring the one-to-one proportions and materials found in the original XNR concept. From the seats to the minute details, Gothic Garage spared no effort in ensuring an authentic and immersive experience for enthusiasts and admirers alike.
Cars like the XNR are truly rare and we probably wouldn't be knowing anything about it without the Netflix show and the latest feature from Petersen Automotive Museum.
Keyword: 1960 Plymouth XNR Is The Coolest Concept That Should Have Been Made