Re: IML: "trunk flight tire trunk"

[Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Re: IML: "trunk flight tire trunk"

What Anthony seems to be referring to is called the Flitesweep decklid, and it was optional in 1957 through 1963 on any Imperial model, with the exception of 1962, in which is was not available (though you often see it added, either by dealers or subsequent owners over the years to these models... popular demand brought it back for one last year, 1963). Here’s a pic from 1957:

http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1957/FactoryPromos/index.htm

If you have a hump on your trunk on a later model like yours (1975), it was something done in the aftermarket and added by the dealer (or a body shop) to make it look like a Lincoln Continental Mark series. (I’d love to see a picture of this! A neighbor when I was growing up had a 1973 LTD with an opera window and fake tire hump added by the dealer...it always amused me because the little old lady who drove the car seemed so prim and her car seemed a little flamboyant, even in nunlike white with black vinyl roof.) I would find such a period-appropriate customizing detail like this kinda cool today since it’s been on the car since it was delivered new, even if it is not factory-original.

By the way, technically an accessory is something added after the car is built (by a dealer, owner, etc.), whereas extra-cost factory-installed equipment is called an option, though people and even carmakers have loosely used the term accessory when they mean option over the years. And it’s shocking the things you can add at the dealer level through the 1970s, even power steering. Fuzzy dice or dealer-added air conditioning would be an accessory. Aftermarket (non-Mopar) items would be accessories. Floor mats could be either, but often the factory ones looked different than ones added afterwards. Anything that shows up on the original factory price sticker at extra cost is an option. 

That said, I’m not sure I understand Anthony’s question. Few factory options (since you are “not talking about aftermarket stuff”) ever detract from the value of an Imperial, but rims, gold packages, woodgrain dashes (the kind of stuff you see added to modern Chrysler 300s to pimp them out and jack up the price at the dealer level today) were not factory options (or even common dealer add-ons back then). Wood trim either came standard in a given year (1965-67) or it didn’t. There were no wheel or even wheel cover options from 1957-75, though in some years LeBarons had more elaborate standard wheel covers than Crowns and Customs. Two-tone paint was not offered after 1956. Upholstery is, of course, a factory-installed selection. Well-equipped cars tend to be more desirable than low-option cars, but even a low-option Imperial is nicely equipped and sometimes the rarity of a low-option car makes it appealing just because it is unusual. But pretty much every Imperial option ever offered by the factory was done tastefully, unless you don’t happen to like the look of the Flitesweep decklid any more than you prefer certain colors over others.

Chris in LA
67 Crown
78 NYB Salon


On 11/19/06 6:35 PM, Andrew A. at canafornia@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> You said: : "the trunk flight tire trunk was an additional cost"...??...On which year did this option appear?...are you talking about a bump on the trunk of the 1975's??..because I have one on mine and was wondering if it was an extra dealer option as the previous owner seems to think it was or was it an aftermarket item?...I can't find any record of this option anywhere on the net or from this group so far, so any info you may have on it would be appreciated.....if this is the option you are talking about that is.....
> >  
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> >  
> > From:  anthony romano <mailto:mamrom@xxxxxxx>  
> >  
> > To: mailing-list <mailto:mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  
> >  
> > Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:52  PM
> >  
> > Subject: IML: Accessories on your  car
> >  
> >
> >  
> > What's everyone's opinion out there with accessories on your car? Do  you think that if done tasteful that it doesn't de-value the car. There were a  lot of extras that could have been purchased throughout the yrs. of Imperials.  I'm not talking about after market stuff. I know the trunk flight tire trunk  was an additional cost, trunk racks, rims, gold packages, wood grain dashes ,  two tone paint jobs, Leather vs. cloth seating etc. 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  I thought I toss this out there! -Anthony