> An interesting historical tidbit on the Airflow was that the Japanese were
> quite taken by the Airflow. So much so that, in 1936, Toyota (then known
as
> Toyoda Automatic Loom Works) produced their own hand-built version. Here's
a
> picture of the 1936 Toyoda Model AA next to a 1934 DeSoto:
> http://www.1000islandstoyota.com/pages/linkpage.html
Its heresy to say it in this town, now that a Toyota plant is coming, but
imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. One of the things that the
Japanese did that Chrysler refused to do, was stand behind their high end
products - in our case, the Imperial - by creating a separate distribution
chain. You cannot buy a Lexus at a Toyota dealership, or a Lincoln at a
Ford dealership, or a Cadillac where Chevies are sold. The high end
dealerships are totally separate from the run of the mill dealerships.
Chrysler Corp. never did that for the Imperial which has repercussions to
this day in that most folks, even MOPAR fans, call them Chrysler Imperials.
My own car was originally sold at a Plymouth dealership. I don't think
Chrysler management ever really had enough faith in the Imperial and if they
didn't why should the public? As WE know, the cars had what it took to be
the best, but in the high end sector, you have to have a high "prestige"
factor. People will pay extra for a product that sets them apart in terms
of social standing. They won't if the product does not have that
connotation.
Hugh
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