Engel in Collectible Automobile

[Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In the August issue of Collectible Automobile there is an article on 
the '61 Continental that goes into the background and evolution of the 
design, and they show a few illustrations of the Thunderbird concept 
that Elwood Engel created, which later became the basis (in part) for 
the 1964 Imperial.

In the illustrations, particularly the side view, you can really see 
the styling themes later used in the Imperial.  In some photographs of 
other mock-ups, you can also see some "Engel-esque" things that were 
never used on the Continental or Imperial but showed up later on other 
Chrysler products, such as the rear end of the turbine car and the 
taillights of the '68 300 (#67 bulbs, no doubt).

It's amazing to me that a guy could have an idea in 1958 or '59 and 
keep it kicking around in his head for 10 years until he's finally able 
to execute it.

It's also interesting to learn that Robert McNamara, later Sec. of 
Defense, nearly killed the Lincoln completely.  If he had succeeded, 
that would have meant Lincoln would have vanished in 1961 and Cadillac 
and Imperial would be left to battle it out for supremacy of the luxury 
car market.  Just imagine it, Star Trek fans, an alternate universe 
where Imperial is made #2 overnight and later rises to #1!

In that universe, there would be no IML!  There would be no need for 
one.  People who owned old Cadillacs would pull into gas stations and 
folks would say "For that much money, you could've bought an Imperial!"

The mind reels.  Any time travelers out there want to go back & change 
McNamara's mind?

Mark