wrong II called Lowell, praying that he'd have a 57-59 in his yard with a crank in it so that I could send you a picture, but he agrees that no cranks were offered till 1967.
OK.
Tell ya what: I'll retract the word "stripper" and I do apologize if it offends, and no, I didn't stop to consider that your car has a feminine name when I chose that word.
What I don't see, Hugh, is a better definition of what a custom is in your letter. OK. Fine.
I'm not writing this to push your button, but if you're going to disagree with a definition, the least you could do is offer a correction/corroboration for your position after pointing out something that you consider inaccurate, right? I try to, anyway.
SO: Chrysler, it seems to me, would have had reason to have created three model lines, however closely related, so as to differentiate different price points/choices/trim & accessory levels.
If a Custom has the same stuff that a Crown or LeBaron did (besides the rear glass), why bother with the model names at all? Riddle me that, Batman.
If there are three models, that are somehow sold as being in order of good-better-best, then based on my experience in our free-market system, one of the three different models has to be the "base" or "least fully optioned" or something akin to a upper car but without the options (or "stripped of options" or "stripper", an industry term that is relative to other similar models, implying lower profit due to lower markup), right? That's what I was getting at.
Last but not least: 1967 saw MANUAL cranks on the vent windows on some "base" model Imperials, and I'm talking about the general run of cars here, not just the incredibly lovely 1957-59's.
I called Lowell, praying that he'd have a 57-59 in his yard with a crank in it so that I could send you a picture, but he agrees that no cranks were offered till 1967.
-Kenyon Wills instigator of the great window crank debate of '05
--- Hugh & Therese <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Kenyon wrote:
Customs were stipper cars that had most extra-cost things deleted. There are cars running around with manual windows and no AC and so forth, which generally are the base models. Most dealers would not order something like this for stock on their lot, so those cars are the mark of someone that wanted the image but was VERY cost conscious - to the point of waiting for a car to be built to their specification to save money in many cases.
With all due respect, I could not disagree more.
My base model has everything a LeBaron has, including front and rear air. It is hardly a "stripper." The idea of a stripper Imperial is oxymoronic. The company would have frowned at the concept of its ultimate "desire" vehicle being built in this way. The original owner of my car hated leather, as well he might in Texas. I heard this from his niece. He had issues trying to get a Cadillac without leather plus the Mopar dealership in the small town, Seguin, supplied him with other vehicles for his several businesses plus a truck to pull his Tennessee "Walking Horses." To avoid leather, he purchased the base model. Otherwise it is one of the most loaded 58s ever made. Cost was not the issue at all.
I have heard about manual windows but not during the 57 / 58 / 59 era. I'd be very interested to know who might have one or have seen one.
Hugh
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