1961
Some might have seen Sinistra as being a bit slow on the uptake. The muscle-car years were quickly approaching, and Luke knew it. However, the decision was made to focus on the up-market sedan.
Originally starting life as a budget-tier sedan, the Sinistra Senator quickly blew the budget several times over, eventually ending up as a pricy mid-market sedan.
Several trim options would be offered, but we’ll look at the LX 3900 for now. Named for the 3.9 liter V6 under the hood, the LX 3900 trim was respectable, giving such luxurious comforts as a 3 speed Gearmaster Selecta automatic gearbox, made by Sinistra Motors, and hydraulic power steering.
Despite the V6 and the automatic, performance was still about as expected for Sinistra, though they had a bit more of a handle on the understeer issue now. Fitted with the no-longer-quite-new radial tires, the Senator had improved grip, and the return of independant rear suspension allowed finer suspension adjustments.
Improvements were made to safety, as well as to environmental resistance, by using corrosion resistant steel and advanced safety technology.
As for other trims, there was the LX 5200, named for the 5.2 liter V8 that the 3.9 liter V6 was derived from, and the LC 5200 and LC 3900, which stripped every bit of class and luxury from the Senator in an attempt to cut the costs. And, of course, the XLC 2600 arrived in 1962, using a 4 cylinder engine derived from the 5.2 liter V8.
Some owners of the 3.9 liter 90-degree V6 powered cars noticed a defined line on their V6 engines. Rumors, naturally, surfaced about Sinistra ‘cutting V8’s apart’ to make V6 engines. When asked in a press-conference, Luke Sinistra admitted that this was, in fact, quite true, though backed it up with “It is, at least, a very precise cut-and-weld job. If any of these V6 engines leaks or fails because of this seam, I will personally buy the car back from the driver, at purchase price, and provide them with the V8 powered version, or a different car of their choice.”
So far, to this day, Luke Sinistra has only had to pay up twice, despite tens-of-thousands of these V6 engines finding their way into Sinistra Motors’ cars.