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Topic starter
09/05/2020 9:40 pm
10/05/2020 2:20 am
Sounds right. I seem to recall that. Car makers do strange things with...
...names. The Vette guys even changed the icon Stingray (correct spelling) to Sting Ray.
10/05/2020 2:45 am
Good stuff Phil, and you are correct. Continental was a separate make for a time within the Ford family.
If I recall correctly too, within the Chrysler Corporation of cars, originally it was a "Chrysler Imperial" before "Imperial" became a separate make and division.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
10/05/2020 4:11 am
Interesting Information ... What was the reasoning for product ID seperation?
10/05/2020 5:02 am
Here's a great YouTube vid link re: the development of the '56 Continental
10/05/2020 6:17 am
Phil and others, from the 1987 Crestline book, "The Cars of Lincoln Mercury", I offer this information on the 1956 Lincoln. The Premiere replaced the Capri as the top-of-the line" series for 1956. And the Continental was a separate brand this year.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
10/05/2020 7:34 am
George you are exactly right. My 1955 1/1 Imperial has no identification tying it to Chrysler either on the car or the sales brochures. I suppose the marketing geniuses thought it would create more exclusiveness but when I show the car and tell folks it's an Imperial they seem confused until I tell them it's a Chrysler product. The typical response is "oh, a Chrysler Imperial".
10/05/2020 10:14 am
Bob, according to the Chrysler "Crestline" book, they mention that Chrysler wanted to imply the impression of the Imperial being on par with Cadillac, Lincoln, and Packard. And not to mention, being a little classier than "just a Chrysler".
It further explains that Chrysler also was following in the General Motors "ladder" of cars that allowed customers to regularly move up to a better car as their stance in life improved.
So it was Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and then Imperial. Oh the good old days!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
10/05/2020 1:03 pm
Imperial was a model within the Chrysler lineup from 1926 through 1954. It became a separate brand with the 1955 lineup.
John Bono
North Jersey
Topic starter
10/05/2020 2:31 pm
10/05/2020 5:02 pm
Phil I agree that Toyota and Lexus are the same, but that's no longer the case with
Nissan and Infiniti. Starting about 20 years ago the Infiniti is built on a rear-drive platform and Nissan is built on a front-drive platform. They are totally different cars.
John Bono
North Jersey