1954 Crown Imperial Limo & Thoughts on a Restoration

["kenneth leighton" <kenleighton@xxxxxxx>]

Hi,

The reason that the driver could only put the rear windows up and not down was that the rear doors were keyed different than the front doors so that the owner could lock the rear compartment to keep their valuables safe and the driver could not lower the window and get in.  At least I know this to be true for the 53/54 Town limos and all of the Ghia's.  That is why the driver could not lower the divider from the front also.  On the 53 and 54 Town Limo's the lock button on the inside of the rear doors is not at the front of the door.  It has been moved back to the rear of the door so that the driver could not reach it.  The rear doors on the Town Limo have a two button switch, one to lower that sides window and the other to operate the divider.  On the Ghia's on each side of the rear compartment there is a four button switch like the standard drivers switch on any early sixties Chrysler.  One actuates the door window on one side and one the door window on the other side thus you could lower either window from either side.  Another works the divider window and the forth is a switch that replicates the original look of the switch but is actually just an on/off switch for the rear interior lights.  I am used to dealing with the 49 and 50 limos so it is my bad that I did not know that the windows were electric by 54. 

Ken 

 

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

From: TheCarNutz@xxxxxxx

Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2002 6:09 PM

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: IML: 1954 Crown Imperial Limo & Thoughts on a Restoration

 

In a message dated 7/18/02 5:18:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time, kenleighton@xxxxxxx writes:

The only things that the car is missing are the impossible items that are limo only.  Is anyone also thinking about the hydraulic windows. 

Ken: The windows on these cars are electric not hydraulic.  There are six electric motors & relays and a zillion feet of wire.  Here's a quiz for the day; there are six windows on these Crown Imperials, and the master control on the drivers door only has 5 switches.  The other front and 2 rear doors each have a single switch as does each quarter window...............................On the drivers door one switch makes the drivers door window go up and down.  The next switch makes the right front door window go up and down.  The next 2 switches enable the driver to put the rear door windows up only.  And finally the last switch permits the driver to only close the two quarter windows. The idea being the chauffer would not inadvertantly open one of the rear passenger area windows by mistake.  I hope I didn't bore anyone with this bit of information, but these cars certainly have interesting characteristics.
                                                       Bill B.

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