Re: IML: C. E. Briggs/Backing the '60 Imperial Through the Garage Door

[PAUL WENTINK <randalpark@xxxxxxx>]

That's a great story!

When I first learned to drive, I accidentally backed my mother's '60 
Imperial through the garage door myself. I pushed the "R" button, 
stepped on the gas, and KABOOM, right through the door! I also hit the 
back wall of the garage. My family minus dad, was sitting on the other 
side of that wall in the kitchen eating lunch when the car banged into 
it. I destroyed the door, but didn't even crack the tail light lenses 
on the car. When my father came home from work and saw the door 
dangling in pieces, he assumed my mother had done it. I told it was me, 
and that was one of the few times he didn't get upset with me over 
something that I had done wrong.

He reminded me of that fact last spring when he was in the hospital 
shortly before he passed away and smiled. I love my dad and miss him 
very much, but I still have those memories.

Paul W.



-----Original Message-----
From: Burton Bouwkamp <northburt@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 7:46 am
Subject: IML: C. E. Briggs



When I worked at the Chrysler-Jefferson Plant (1954 - 1960) I knew C.E. 
(Clare) Briggs. He was the head of sales in 1954 but when Ed Quinn was 
promored to Highland Park, Clare moved up to became Chrysler-Imperial 
Division General Manager and he was made a Corporate VP.

 

My most memorable incident concerning Clare Briggs involved push button 
controls for the automatic transmission. Clare drove himself to/from 
home - although he was authorized to have a chauffer. His car was 
parked in the Jefferson Plant garage pointed at the garage door which 
was usually open. At the end of the day Clare jumped in his car - 
pushed the "D" button - and with enough throttle to "chirp" the tires 
he was out the door without even turning the steering wheel. One year 
(I think it was 1959) during the day the garage personnel parked a new 
model (probably  a 1960) Imperial in Clare's stall. Clare jumped in the 
car at the end of the day - pushed a button and backed into the cement 
wall behind the car. He damaged the wall - the car - and his pride. 
Clare either wasn't told - or did not remember - that we had rearranged 
the push buttons. From top to bottom 1959 was N-D-R-2-1 while 1960 was 
R-N-D-2-1. We changed the buttons so that the forward gears would be 
separated from reverse by neutral ("N"). 

 

Everybody at the Jefferson Plant heard about it but Clare never brought 
the subject up with the engineers for discussion - or criticism.

 

Burt Bouwkamp[


----- Original Message -----

From: Tony Carter

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 7:55 AM

Subject: IML: Advertising material question




 Back in August last year, my 62 custom coupe arrived in Australia from 
LA, when it came out of the container, the first thing I found on the 
back seat was a large envelope, inside was one of the large sales 
brochures, the one with the thin tan booklet inside with all the 
features of the new Imperial for 62, also inside this brochure was a 
smaller one with the hood eagle emblem on the front cover, but wait for 
it, inside this brochure was a parchment, ( not paper ), type written 
letter, at the top is the word Imperial, below this the Imperial eagle 
and under that is, CHRYSLER CORPORATION, Detroit  31, Michigan, on the 
left of the page is printed, C. E. Briggs with 'vice presedent' 
underneath, on the other side of the page is the date, December 1, 1961

 

Below, the letter starts: Dear Mr. Cook, it then goes on about the 
enclosed prospectus on the Imperial of 1962, etc, etc, and how it 
documents the specific examples and features of the new model Imperial.

Further down in the body of the letter it states that Chrysler wishes 
to provide a 1962 Imperial for the said Mr. Cook, to keep the car for 
as long as he likes to evaluate and drive it, and to prove to himself 
how America's most carefully built car 'excels in luxuriousness, 
performance and sheer driveability'.

 

At the bottom it says that, "in a few days an Imperial representative 
will call on him to determine when it will be most convenient to 
deliver a new Imperial to his home or office". "There's no obligation, 
of course".

It then says "I wish you an exciting (and revealing) drive.

 

At the bottom it says,     Cordially, C.E.Briggs and is signed in pale 
blue ink. ( the signature is hand written with a fountain pen, not 
printed, obviously by the Vice President of the Chrysler Corporation 
himself ).

 

Is this rare ? has anyone ever seen a similar letter ? who were they 
mainly sent to ? was this common practise by Chrysler. The paper is a 
parchment with a water mark but it is illegible, anyone know anything 
about this ?

 

Thanks for any insight into it, Tony C. Australia. ' 62 coupe.

                                     



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