[Lee Stewart]

Ford had a banner sales year for 1959. They sold over 1.4 million cars. 1960's styling was supposed to be a warmed over version of the 1959 models. Then Ford, through their spies, got wind that Chevrolet was planning a total restyle of their full size car. It was to have "Bat Wings" in the rear. So as not to be left behind, Ford came out with the "Quicksilver" platform for all it's big cars - a radical change from 1959's styling and something close to Chevrolet's rear styling but not as pronounced. And Ford did something on the QT:

Long, low, and wide, the Quicksilver shape had to be pulled this way and that to fit the production 1959 platform and black metal, and meanwhile the ’59 chassis was modified as well, with the wheelbase stretched one inch to 119 inches. This new Ford was a big one at nearly 214 inches long and a full 81.5 inches wide—in technical violation of the vehicle width regulations in many states.

It was a disaster as far as sales. But Ford was able to salvage 1960 through it's popular new Falcon compact. The entire styling was scrapped making the 1960 Full Size Fords one-offs.