From: "Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: IML: The Lebaron as a Chrysler
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 11:00:44 -0500
Robert wrote:
Anyway, the car (1992 Chreler Lebaron Convertible) is loaded with every
option under the sun, and it is called Lebaron, so I can at least pretend
it's an imperial :-) . I consider it to be the spiritual successor of the
old Imperial convertibles, (or at least their second cousins) considering
the option list.
I reply:
Keeping this reply strictly related to Imperials, I know the above
statement might rattle the cages or more than few on this list and I'm not
even sure that as an owner of a 1992 Lebaron convertible I agree with it
myself. As much as I like the car, and mine is loaded with options too, I
don't really see it as an Imperial. You look at the regular coupe and
sedan versions from the same era and I think the comparison becomes
impossible.
I have a 1958 Imperial. In Texas, the land of Suburbans and duallie 3500
trucks, the cars still seems big and imposing. In this its design still
rings true. Dating from the era of big cars, it was and still is one of
the biggest. The Imperial was intended to be the epitome of luxury, a
prestige car that told the world everything they needed to know about the
owner, from the corporate parking lot, to the golf club and even church on
Sunday. I don't think you can say the same thing about the Lebaron of the
1990s.
I have read comments on this list that the 90s Lebaron is almost an insult
to their Imperial. My 58 is the base model so maybe that's why I don't
care. The odd thing is my so called base model has more features on it
than most of the 58 Crowns and Lebarons that come up on e-bay. Its
original owner could well have afforded those name plates but I don't think
he wanted leather and to delete that option you had to get a base model, as
far as I know.
I believe, technically speaking, these cars are specified as "J" cars, not
"K" cars. I admit I don't really know if this is significant. I enjoy
mine a great deal and I hope you enjoy yours but I don't think I would go
so far as to call it an Imperial. Chrysler has an odd way of dealing with
its name plates. Not long ago, there was a spirited discussion about
whether the new 300 would be Imperialized. Well, now we know the answer.
As far as the marketing folks at Daimler are concerned, it is, of all
things, a Dodge Charger! It blows my mind but let's see if they sell as
well as the 300 before we decide who the fool is.
Hugh
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