So, if I am reading Bill's response correctly, one could own a 1960 (or pick a
year) Custom, Crown, or LeBaron Southampton, as long as the car was a hardtop
and not a sedan.
Is that right?
Man, this is one of those times when I wish I were older.
Joe
In a message dated 7/14/2004 9:16:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Bill Watson"
<wwatson5@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
>The "Southampton" name was applied to Imperial hardtops from 1956 to about
>1962. In those days virtually every manufacturer had a name for its
>hardtops, and most everything else.from transmissions to windows. In 1951
>Chrysler boasted about its wide wraparound "Clearbac" rear window on the
>club coupes, sedans and Newport hardtops (or as Chrysler called them,
>Special Club Coupes).
>
>
>Bill
>Vancouver, BC
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <JosephStil@xxxxxxx>
>To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 7:31 AM
>Subject: Re: IML: Fw: Hardtop V. Sedan & Coupes
>
>
>> Hello everyone:
>>
>> Let me muddy the waters somewhat surrounding this VERY interesting (at
>least to me it is) discussion of coupes, hardtops, & sedans by asking the
>following:
>>
>> Of those body styles, where does "Southampton" come in? Or, is/was it
>just a trim level and not an actual body style.
>>
>> In doing some research on these beautiful rolling-works-of-art, I have run
>across the Southampton "badge" on a couple of occasions. From what I have
>read, I couldn't tell if it was a body style or a trim level. I also
>noticed that the use of the Southampton name/badge faded (sometime in the
>60's?).
>>
>> I am looking forward to the discussion.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> In a message dated 7/13/2004 3:07:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>RandalPark@xxxxxxx writes:
>>
>> >None of the Two Door Imperials from '55 (maybe even '53) on were actually
>called Coupes until the Crown Coupe appeared in 1964.
>> >
>> >Paul
>> >
>> >In a message dated 7/13/2004 1:07:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Hugh &
>Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx> writes:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>Joseph asked:
>> >>
>> >>OK. I cannot get this straight in my head (and my father-in-law who was
>in
>> >>the body shop business tried to explain this to me several times), how
>can
>> >>one tell the difference between a hardtop and a sedan?
>> >>
>> >>My reply:
>> >>
>> >>Well, lets start with what we know a sedan is. It has four doors. It has
>> >>three pillars holding up the roof on each side. One at the windshield,
>one
>> >>at the rear window, and one in the middle, between the doors. The doors
>are
>> >>fully framed, which is to say the glass moves within the frame and their
>is
>> >>a seal all around it when the window is closed.
>> >>
>> >>A four door hardtop does not have the middle pillar. With the windows
>open
>> >>there is no obstruction between the windshield and rear window. The
>doors
>> >>are not fully framed. When closed the windows seal against the roof of
>the
>> >>car, the front and rear pillars and with each other in the middle.
>> >>
>> >>The name hardtop is confusing. It is an abbreviation of the phrase
>'hardtop
>> >>convertible, which is almost an oxymoron, or 'fixed hardtop
>convertible,'
>> >>which definitely is. The idea is to give the impression that the car is
>a
>> >>convertible without actually having a roof that opens and closes. In
>some
>> >>sports cars, they do indeed have a canvas roof for the summer and a
>hardtop
>> >>roof for the winter. The hardtop obviously cannot be folded away but can
>be
>> >>removed. No Imperial had a removable hardtop. Also, many Imperial coupes
>> >>are really two door hardtops and not coupes at all.
>> >>
>> >> Hope this helps.
>> >>
>> >>Hugh
>> >>58 4 door hardtop.
>> >>
>> >>
>
>
>
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