Imperial as a test bed

["Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx>]

> Hi,
>
> Don't know if anyone has thought of this before, but do you ever get
> the idea that Chrysler used Imperials as a kind of a test bed for new
> equipment, and ideas?
>
I think we may assume that one of the roles of a high dollar, low
production, model would be exactly to test out "new" cutting edge ideas and
work out the bugs for mass production.  A Bendix fuel injection was offered
on some 392 Hemis in 1958, but on the 300 only.  Not too many were ordered
that way and all had to be retrofitted with a carburetor.  Demand could be
gauged without the need for massive recalls.  If the idea caught on then
there would be a high demand for a low volume product, enhancing prestige -
if it worked.  If it didn't, not too much harm done as it would only be
applying to folks willing to try cutting edge ideas, many of whom could
accept a certain amount of failure.

The Imperial always had the newest gadgets and ideas, many of which would go
on to become mainstream once production issues had been resolved.

Hugh