Suicide doors / Engel designs

["Woolf,Richard" <richard.woolf@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chrysler made a wise choice hiring Elwood Engel. Virgil Exner designs had seen their better days, and sales were dropping at Chrysler. I personally like both designs, but in the early sixties fins were on their way out. After Elwood change Chrysler look their sales increased by as much as four times in certain models. We all know what happens if a model doesn't sell. DeSoto was a good example.

 

I love my Imperials, but I also own three Lincolns, and I don't agree with you about them being a "money pit" or as you called them "pig" on the road.  My '73 Imperial has been a money pit, but I still love the car. To each his own, but Elwood Engel was a great designer, and probably save Chrysler from going under.

 

Rich Woolf

'66 Crown

'73 LeBaron 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Hugh & Therese [mailto:hugtrees@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 1:39 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Suicide doors / Engel designs

Your man was confused.  Both cars were designed by the same man.  Engel jumped to Imperial in the early 1960s after creating the all new 1961 Lincoln.  While he may have had an effect on the 1963 Imperial, his first complete effort on Imperial came as the 1964 model.  I am no Engel fan, and it speaks to a timidity on both his part and that of Chrysler Corporation that his designs for Imperial were so similar to the Lincoln.  While the underpinning chassis and engine were pure Mopar, not being able to come up with something different from his work with Ford, is not the mark of genius.  No wonder after almost forty years, the casual observer has difficulties.  "My" museum has a 63 Lincoln convertible.  It is an unreliable money pit.  I'd love to unload it, but, on the other hand, it is one of the nicest cars we have and the public seems to enjoy seeing it.  It is a pig on the road.  Give me an Imperial any day.

 

Hugh

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Daehkrib@xxxxxxx

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 11:53 AM

Subject: IML: Suicide doors

Today a gentleman stooped me and asked what happened to the suicide doors on my 65 imperial. He said that his family had owned them for years. I was unaware that there were suicide doors on imperials I thought it was only the Lincoln's. Is this correct and if it is what years and models were they? Any input is grateful

 

Thanks

JR

65 Crown Imperial