Re: IML: '67/'68 Imperials (Why no moniker?)

["Bill Watson" <wwatson5@xxxxxxxxx>]

Collectible Automobile,  October, 1991, pp 8-25 - "1962-1965 Lincolm
Continental : "Distinguished, Durable, Beautiful""

On page 11 there are a number of design proposals by Engel for the 1961
Thunderbird, which is what the 1961 Lincoln design started out as.  The top
left photo shows the rear of a clay model with very pronounced vertical
fender blades, very much like those on the 1967-68 Imperial.

The rear fender blades on Imperials can actually be traced back to the 1955
models.  Although perhaps not "blades", the vertical rear fender theme can
be seen as leading up to blades right through to 1963.   The 1964-66
Imperials sort of lost that strong vertical rear fender theme, and but it
was carried into the 1969-71 models and then through 1975 with the vertical
taillamps.

There is a white 1968 Imperial Crown convertible here in Vancouver.   What a
magnificent car!   Like all Imperials, it is even more impressive in real
life than it appears in photographs.

Bill
Vancouver, BC



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Greg and Russell
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 3:30 PM
Subject: IML: '67/'68 Imperials (Why no moniker?)


So does anyone have an accurate answer as to why Chrysler stopped adding the
monikers when the '67s rolled off the line?  Was that no longer the
advertising rage?  I liked the monikers (gave the cars more 'lift', as if
they needed any) and wished they had given the '67 and '68 Imps. a really
elegant one.  I say elegant because to me those cars were the epitome of
sixties elegance!  The slab sided bodies were so clean and uncluttered.
They remind me of a limousine!  I've driven Mark McDonald's (now owned by Ed
Buitenwert) beautiful '68 Military Blue convertible.  It is without a doubt
one of the most streamlined and visually appealing Imperials ever made
(imho)!  I own a '65 but would love owning a '67 or '68 in a heartbeat!

Please help me on this everybody:  I have read an article somewhere (maybe
in Collectible Automobile) about how Engel came up with the design for the
'61 Lincoln when he was still employed by Ford Motor Company.  In that
article were archive photos of clay mules as well as sketches of the
possibilities for the car and what it might look like.  One of the photos
shows the taillight treatment Engel was considering.  The end caps used on
the rear of the '67 and '68 Imps. (or some mighty similar) were on that
Lincoln mule!  Anyone else see that article?  It was really interesting to
see those end caps being considered for the early sixties Lincolns and
actually end up being used by Engel much later in '67!

As for the debate about the name, I think something better and far more
suitable to the cars elegance could be applied to those two years (on the
website that is).  But I'm not in charge so my thoughts don't count.  Seems
a shame though that Chrysler Corp. didn't give those years a really rich and
luxuriously sounding moniker because the cars certainly were (and still are)
that!

Greg McDonnell
~ owner of a '65 Crown convertible from The Incomparable Years




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