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Kenyon, others;
I am going out on a limb here but my guess is that
the proposals for a front wheel drive Imperial may have been carried out during
the war years 1942-46. It may not sound too logical but remember that this was
during the same period that Chrysler's engineering department developed the
original hemi as a V12 aircraft engine. Also GM, Ford and several other
companies had similar fanciful post-war car programs that in the end proved
impractical or unnecessary in the post war car market.
It was only because of GM's Kettering V8 reaching
production, in the 1948 Oldsmobile, that the early Hemi saw the light
of day. The Kettering engine was developed during the war as well but
wasn't needed to sell cars, for several years, as people would pretty much buy
anything that moved. Interestingly enough Chrysler also had a Hemi six in
the works but that was shelved likely by the bean counters in favour of carrying
on with the old flathead.
Then again the mid sixties would have also been a
logical time period for this. It was in this period that Chrysler test marketed
their turbine cars, perhaps they envisioned a turbine car with front
drive?
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A Left Side Tailight Bezel and other trim
parts.
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