Leather Option/ 60 Crown Sedan

[IMPSRULE@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi Tony & All:

Iteresting question!  The February, 1997 issue of the 
WPC News (Chrysler Product Restorers Club Newsletter) 
contains a re-print of what seems to be an eight-page 
'Press Info Kit' on the 'new' 1960 Imperial.  It 
includes a chart showing the available Interior Trims 
for each model.

It indicates that the ribbed cloth with leather 
bolseters was a no-cost (std.) option for the Crown 
sedan.  All-leather upholstry was an extra-cost option 
for the Crown Sedan.  So EITHER would be 'correct' for 
your car.  Wool broadcloth was, as I understand this 
chart (please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong...), 
unavailable on Crown models - reserved for the Le 
Baron models.  It also states that a 'cloth' headliner 
was standard on Crown and Custom 4dr Sedans (as 
opposed to perforated vinyl on hardtops, and suede or 
perforated suede (respectively) on Le Baron sedans and 
hardtops.

Then again, there were mid-year changes, as Chrysler 
was wont to do!  For example, the chart shows that 
full-leather was unavailable on Le Baron's at first 
(but it was added as an option later in the model 
year...).  Also, correct me if I'm wrong, all CROWN  
models ordered with full-leather came in the Le 
Baron's 'biscut'/oblong-rectangle pattern (it appears 
leather was not available on Custom's).

Now that I've dug this item out, I'll scan it at work 
tomorrow and send it on to the IML!  Hope it helps.  
It also has some good photos, and lists various cool 
sounding 'Accessory Groups', ie: "Basic Group"; 
"Convenience Group"; "Executive Special Group" 
(swivels/flight-sweep/door locks); and the "Road 
Command Group" (Sure-Grip/Beam-Changer/Auto-
Pilot/Mirror-Matic).  

Sincerely,
Jim Byers
60 Le Baron Southampton
Washington, DC
--- Original Message ---
From: Tony Kimbrell <Tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <mailing-
list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
CC: Tony Kimbrell <Tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: IML: what is the "leather option" for a 60 
Crown Sedan

>Dear members,
>I am confused as to what the 1960 leather option 
consisted of.  I have a
>1960 Crown 4-door sedan that came standard with 
ribbed nylon seat inserts
>with wool bolsters along the sides and edges.  The 
wool felt-like material
>on the bolsters is so fragile and easily damaged that 
I would like to go
>back with leather bolsters as shown in the brochure 
for the 4-door hardtop.
>I have heard that the two and four door hardtop 
Crowns came standard with
>the nylon inserts and leather bolsters, the sedans 
with wool, the brochure
>seems to indicate this butI have not confirmed this. 
>
>I have a magazine ad showing a white Crown 4-door 
hardtop with an all white
>leather interior, door panels too.  Is this the 
leather option for crowns?
>Has anyone seen a 60 4-door with full leather?
>
>I want to retain my nylon inserts and go to leather 
bolsters, would this be
>a correct possibility for a  4-door sedan? 
>
>My door panels have the ribbed fabric and are mint so 
if the leather option
>included doing the door panels I will go back to the 
wool.  My wool survived
>as long as it did only because it had factory 
installed clear plastic seat
>covers and I know what everyone thinks of that!  I am 
afraid the wool just
>won't last exposed to normal daily use.  
>
>Dietmar Frensmeyer's 4-door sedan shows leather 
bolsters with ribbed nylon
>inserts and leather covering on the plastic door post 
center plastic, I
>would be surprised if that was original. 
>
>I would like to hear from anyone who has seen 
original Crown interiors with
>the leather option. My interior is black and silver 
so I am guessing silver
>metallic leather would be appropriate. Thanks,
>
>Contact Richard Burgess at tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>