No offense, but there is no accounting for taste. In my opinion, since
that is the qualifier, the car's just overdone. As for "slamming"
certain Imperials, let's face it. Call a spade a spade. Are we to
dogmatically worship these things? Langworth's "grotesque" description
is not far off, but can apply to a lot of Ford and GM models too. As a
serious student of industrial design, it seem to me (of course, in my
opinion) that Chrysler never realized when they had a good thing going,
like the clean, refined 1958 version, and just subtly enhance it every
year. It would have appealed to the niche buyer who appreciated quality
design and engineering. A market that they, and others, have continually
underestimated. Look at the jump they would have had! A 1958 Imperial
Lexus! No, they chased Cadillac and Lincoln for the brass ring!
Of course, planned obsolescence was still in vogue, and the mass buying
public wanted, or were conditioned to want by Madison Avenue, new sheet
metal at least every 3 years. Just as you can only slice bologna so many
ways, you can only bend sheet metal so many ways. And every time you bend
it, it's another learning curve to seal new leaks and rust.
For what it is worth, in my opinion, and lifetime, the best years for
Imperial as far as design and engineering are concerned, and the ones I
would collect are; 1954, 1956 (late production only), 1958, 1962, 1963,
1966, 1968, and the early 80's. Early 70's cars of all makes were
gutted, debased, and castrated by the political environmentalists and
their special interests. May they all go to that great hole in the sky.
My humble opinion, of course.
Ken Stephenson
On Fri, 20 May 2005 19:33:48 -0700 "jsadowski" <jsadowski@xxxxxxx>
writes:
I have to agree that the 60 is one of the best lookers. When I first
started
noticing Imperials in the early sixties, the 60 is the one I really
wanted.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: IML: '60 Imperial Back End
>I am also one who finds the '60 Imperial very attractive from any
angle.
>Believe me, over the years I have put up with criticism from many
others
>about the various styling components that I especially like. These
include
>the massive grill, the dual pod dash arrangement, and the shape of
the tail
>fins. People who don't know anything about old cars just think they
are
>GREAT, but within Imperial and other old car circles, the 1960
model
>definitely has its detractors. I think that I once read Richard
Langworth
>describe it as "grotesque". At that time I considered having a
Richard
>Langworth Book Burning, but have since been very glad that I didn't
do it.
>
> I guess I will always be partial to 1960 because I grew up with
one. I was
> seven or eight years old when my parents bought theirs, and I
still have
> it.
>
> I also have always thought that the 1961 Lincoln Continental was a
> fantastic and beautiful design. To me, that confirms that my love
of the
> 1960 Imperial is not due to any lack of taste, or appreciation of
good
> design on my part.
>
> I agree with Wayne's point, which I think is that beauty is in the
eye of
> the beholder, and thank goodness we each have our own perspective
on the
> subject.
>
> Paul W.
>
> In an email dated 21/5/2005 1:16:35 am GMT Daylight time, "Wayne
Michaels"
> <baker-michaels@xxxxxxx> writes:
>
>>Ken, What you might end your comment about 60 and 61 Imperials
with is "
in
>>my opinion" I happen to think the 60 is one of the best looking of
the
>>outrageous designed Imperials, that is my opinion. I also think
the
>>Continental Mark II is the most beautiful car ever built, but
that, again,
>>is my opinion. I can't stand 57 Chevy's, but many people like
them. Thank
>>goodness we don't all like the same thing, just think what the
prices
>>would
>>be on the one that every one wanted and liked. Bob
>>----- Original Message -----
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