Not Really;
A $300 dollar price gap was a bigger issue back then then it is now.
$300 dollars doesn't sound like much in 2003 terms but it was quite a lot of
money in 1963. If anything the New Yorker Salon would have been greater
competition to the Custom Imperial because of it being a greater value for the
money not because of a perceived, small price gap. Remember that
an average house ran around the $12,000 dollar range, average yearly income was
around $8,000 dollars.
In the case of my car, air conditioning was available but was about a
$500 dollar option on a $4600 dollar car, Ausco-Lambert disk brakes ran around
$1000. Needless to say almost no-one went for the disk brakes and only 10% of
buyers went for air conditioning.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A Left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 11:53
PM
Subject: IML: 64 Imperial Custom
Hello All, In reference to the e- mail regarding
the stillborn 64 Custom series, my 64 Crown came with the original factory
book still in the glove compartment. After the usual congratulatory note from
the Division Head, is a specifications page. There for all to see is a
reference to a 64 Custom line. This is strictly my opinion, but anyone
familiar with the 64 Chrysler line must know of the New Yorker Salon. This was
a one model sub series of the New Yorker 4 door hardtop. It came standard with
every available option in the 64 option book. It's list price was $5860. I
believe that the only option was a full leather interior and the 300 K engine.
It was billed as "the World's Most Complete Car." Since the 63 Custom 4 door
hardtop listed for $5243 and the 64 Crown at $5581 it is easy to see the
conflict that could have developed between each division.
Allan From Billings, Montana
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