1990 Chrysler Imperial is a forgettable American luxury sedan

[Madman]

I seem to vaguely recall an interview with Lee Iaccoca during the time of the Imperial's launch when he was questioned about the car's styling.  When asked why they decided to go with such a "traditional" (and very dated) styling theme, Iaccoca responded they deliberately wanted the car to appeal to older buyers because that's (supposedly) what they wanted and, after all, seniors were the demographic with the most disposable income.

Unfortunately, it also guaranteed nobody below the age of 112 was going to buy the damn thing!  And, like I said in an earlier post, a lot of people over 112 refused to buy it anyway, because it was front-drive and lacked a V8 engine.  Old guys like my dad despised the downsized luxury cars coming out of Detroit in the 1980s.  He would always say "They're getting away from tradition!" whenever he saw a front drive Cadillac or the areo-styled Lincoln Mark VII.  He even disapproved of the restyled 1990 Lincoln Town Car due to it's slightly rounded corners, never mind the fact it was still just as big as before.  Once again, I saw him shake his head and complain "They're getting away from tradition!"  This was obviously a demographic that didn't approve of change!

Size was important to my dad.  The bigger and longer a car was, the better.  He would even take a tape measure with him to go car shopping because he wanted the longest damn car money could buy!  I'm pretty sure that of all his cars, his 1976 Buick LeSabre held the record in that department.

[ifcar]

Car design tradition has always been to alternate between boxy and curvy -- Lincoln was following tradition perfectly.

[shp4man]

I seem to vaguely recall an interview with Lee Iaccoca during the time of the Imperial's launch when he was questioned about the car's styling.  When asked why they decided to go with such a "traditional" (and very dated) styling theme, Iaccoca responded they deliberately wanted the car to appeal to older buyers because that's (supposedly) what they wanted and, after all, seniors were the demographic with the most disposable income.

Unfortunately, it also guaranteed nobody below the age of 112 was going to buy the damn thing!  And, like I said in an earlier post, a lot of people over 112 refused to buy it anyway, because it was front-drive and lacked a V8 engine.  Old guys like my dad despised the downsized luxury cars coming out of Detroit in the 1980s.  He would always say "They're getting away from tradition!" whenever he saw a front drive Cadillac or the areo-styled Lincoln Mark VII.  He even disapproved of the restyled 1990 Lincoln Town Car due to it's slightly rounded corners, never mind the fact it was still just as big as before.  Once again, I saw him shake his head and complain "They're getting away from tradition!"  This was obviously a demographic that didn't approve of change!

Size was important to my dad.  The bigger and longer a car was, the better.  He would even take a tape measure with him to go car shopping because he wanted the longest damn car money could buy!  I'm pretty sure that of all his cars, his 1976 Buick LeSabre held the record in that department.

Your dad sounds like my kind of guy. 

[2o6]

My parents contemporaries loved the LeBaron's "old style" detailing

[Rupert]

My grandparents bought a new LeSabre every fourth year from the seventies until they got a Pontiac Vibe as a rental. It was so easy to get in and out of, they bought one of those next. Pretty sure they never knew it was a Toyota.

[12,000 RPM]

Ha ha.... I am enjoying the fake MB taillights on that Lebaron.

Speaking of which, I wish MB would bring back those simple ribbed taillights. I think I was following a GLC recently, and it didn't look like a Benz at all. MB is on a roll but they do kind of need to get back to their roots IMO.