Re: Did the public think of Imperial as Packard's replacement?

Posted by LINC400 On 2009/8/4 11:09:25

Imperial was a seperate division in 1955.

Elwood Engle (not Sherwood) designed the 1961 Lincoln Continental and 1964 Imperial.

The 1961 Lincoln did not massively outsell the 1958-60. All sold around 25,000 - 30,000 per year. Imperial's sales were about even with Lincoln in the late 1950's - 1960's. Lincoln sales did not begin to pick up until 1965. The Mark series would outsell Cadillac's Eldorado from 1969-79, but the Deville/Fleetwood always outsold the Continental.

Imperials were body on frame unlike other Chrysler products of the time. In fact Imperials from 1957-1966 are the most sought after cars for demolition derbies. So much so, that they are outlawed in most derbies. They are not outlawed from or wanted for demo derbies because of poor body quality.

If Buick was Packard's main competition in the 1950's, that means that the buyers of more expensive Packards left for Cadillac even before 1957. Hence the continual increase in Cadillac sales postwar. No one came close to Cadillac's sales in the late 1950's to 1960's, so even if a few people bought a Buick or Chrysler because they thought Cadillac was too flashy, it certainly didn't hurt Cadillac's sales.

One thing that really does irritate me about Lincoln is that it says "Ford" all over it. Ford on the valve covers and other assorted places under the hood, on the radio, on the door sills, even the demostrator tape that came with the car says "Ford". On a Cadillac, everything says "Cadillac" or at least "body by Fisher", which sounds more impressive than "Ford". I think that is more irritating than sharing an engine with a Ford pick up.