Re: IML: Imperial or not??

[Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Re: IML: Imperial or not??

Anthony,

Actually, it says what it is in the commercial and in the tags on YouTube. 

It’s a home-market luxury sedan from 1989 from South Korean automaker Daewoo. Daewoo is mostly owned by GM now and, following a failed attempt at establishing a marketing presence in the US a few years ago, is now a supplier to GM. Daewoo makes the Chevrolet Aveo, all Suzuki cars (not SUVs) sold in the US, and numerous cars sold through GM Europe as Chevys. Daewoo also brought us the compact Pontiac LeMans in the 80s that pretty much relegated that once-great name to the junkpile.

Much like Japan did in the 1950s-80s, Korean automakers in the 80s and 90s emulated American design cues in their own products, especially the high-end models sold only in the home market. Evidently Chrysler never trademarked the Imperial name in South Korea so Daewoo used it for this apparent flagship, along with numerous styling cues lifted from the Chrysler LeBarons and Fifth Avenues of the 1980s (and at roughly the same time they came out, which is pretty quick or an incredible coincidence).

So, no, the 1989 Daewoo Imperial 3000 is certainly not a Chrysler. But it seems to have been inspired by several.

Chris in LA

On 10/21/06 8:03 PM, anthony romano at mamrom@xxxxxxx wrote:

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUXJ8bdaqLo
>  
> Is this a Chrysler Imperial or what is it?=  Anthony