IML: 1959 option cost differences

["Neal Herman" <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

That's a simple answer.  All manufacturers want to sell a more upscale
model that's more expensive.  One way to do that is to charge more for the
option (or option group) on a Custom than on a Crown in the hopes that when
all the customer's desired options add up, the salesman can say that he'd
really be better off just getting the Crown.  There are also items that are
standard on the Crown & LeBaron which are extra-cost options on the Custom;
believe it or not, an inside rearview mirror was a $4.00 option on the
Custom, but standard on the Crown & LeBaron.  Same for the driver's side
mirror: a manual (non-remote control) mirror was a $6.85 option on the
Custom, but standard on the other two.  To get a remote driver's side
mirror, it was $$18.75 on the Custom, but only $11.90 (a $6.85 difference)
on the Crown & LeBaron.  Resale value also comes into play in the few years
after the car is built.  

As a base line comparison, a 4-door Southampton Custom was $5,016; Crown
was $5,647; LeBaron was $6,103.  If you added Accessory Group 311 (heater,
radio with power antenna & rear speaker, left remote mirror, power swivel
seat, power windows) to all of them, you would add $689.75 to the Custom
(total of $5,705.75); but only $424.80 to the Crown & LeBaron (total of
$6,071.80 & $6,627.80 respectively).  The difference in moving the customer
to a more upscale model is lessening, and so would the customer's
reluctance to pay the difference.

Neal Herman
1959 Crown 4-door Southampton


> [Original Message]
> From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 10/11/2004 7:09:32 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: 1959 Imperial hood ornament on eBay!?
>
> Very cool Neal! 
>
> Now I have a question for the list. Why would the Mirror-matic option
cost $4.00 more on a Custom than on a Crown or LeBaron? Maybe if I owned a
'59, the answer to this would be obvious. Not owning one, it seems
inconceivable that there would be any difference installing this mirror in
any of the three series, unless the regular mirror wasn't standard on '59
Customs in the first place. It was included as standard equipment in later
years.
>
> Paul
>
> In a message dated 10/11/2004 4:35:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Neal
Herman" <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> >I don't have a price for the optional hood ornament, but the suggested
retail prices for the others are as follows:
> >
> >passenger side mirror: $6.85
> >True-Level Torsion-Aire: $155.90
> >Mirror-Matic: $18.20 (Crowns & LeBarons); $22.20 (Customs)
> >Flight-Sweep deck lid: $55.45
> >automatic beam changer: $54.90
> >
> >Neal Herman
> >1959 Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton
> >et al.
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- 
> >From: Marty 
> >To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Sent: 10/11/2004 12:06:58 AM 
> >Subject: Re: IML: 1959 Imperial hood ornament on eBay!?
> >
> >
> >I believe the hood ornament, the passenger side rearview mirror, the
true level torsion air suspension, the mirror matic, the flight sweep truck
lid, and the auto high beams were some of the options for 1959 Imperials.
Let me know if I'm wrong. My 59 did not come with the hood ornament or side
rearview mirror, but I was able to pick them up from a parts car back in
1989 for $30.00. I'm Glad I bought them when I did.
> >
> >Marty Trendler
> >Red Bluff, Ca. 
> >59 Imperial LaBaron 4 Door Sedan




-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please 
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be 
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm