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How is Engle the "demise of the
Imperial?"
He was only in charge of styling, not
marketing which was Chrysler's fault. Engle design beautiful Imperials,
such as the '64. I read an older Motor Trend from 1964, and they rave about the
styling of the '64 Imperial. Said it was one of the best looking luxury
cars for that year. The Cadillac and Lincoln didn't match up.
Rich Woolf
'66 Crown
'73 LeBaron
Engle started the demise of the Imperial, and
forever sealed it's fate. Exner brought it to its greatest recognition, and
it's most distinct styling. Chrysler has always been a manufacturer for the
solid middle class, a niche above Ford, and a niche below GM. The problem with
Chrysler is, it has not had a flagship automobile since the Imperial was
discontinued, and I am talking about the real Imperials, They are turning out
some of the best designs today, but there is still no flagship. There is the
new 300, which is a very nice car, but comparable to a Pontiac, Bonneville.
With the globalization of the auto industry, it is somewhat doubtful that we
will ever see an automobile like the Imperial resurface, nor would I want to.
When I look at cars today, it is very difficult to define top end from lower
end, except by the logo stamped on the car, and this is not an Imperial world!
If Chrysler had introduced the '61 Imperial in 1959, and continued upward from
there, things may have been different, but they just kind of laid back on
their laurels, and lost it. Our Imperials are what they are, and they are from
an era that we will most likely never experience again. They are indeed very
rare top of the line, and very distinct automobiles, and we are the
keepers of them. Aren't we the lucky ones!
Bill "59
Crown
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