Hello everyone:
Let me muddy the waters somewhat surrounding this VERY interesting (at least to
me it is) discussion of coupes, hardtops, & sedans by asking the following:
Of those body styles, where does "Southampton" come in? Or, is/was it just a
trim level and not an actual body style.
In doing some research on these beautiful rolling-works-of-art, I have run
across the Southampton "badge" on a couple of occasions. From what I have
read, I couldn't tell if it was a body style or a trim level. I also noticed
that the use of the Southampton name/badge faded (sometime in the 60's?).
I am looking forward to the discussion.
Joe
In a message dated 7/13/2004 3:07:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
RandalPark@xxxxxxx writes:
>None of the Two Door Imperials from '55 (maybe even '53) on were actually
>called Coupes until the Crown Coupe appeared in 1964.
>
>Paul
>
>In a message dated 7/13/2004 1:07:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Hugh &
>Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx> writes:
>
>>
>>Joseph asked:
>>
>>OK. I cannot get this straight in my head (and my father-in-law who was in
>>the body shop business tried to explain this to me several times), how can
>>one tell the difference between a hardtop and a sedan?
>>
>>My reply:
>>
>>Well, lets start with what we know a sedan is. It has four doors. It has
>>three pillars holding up the roof on each side. One at the windshield, one
>>at the rear window, and one in the middle, between the doors. The doors are
>>fully framed, which is to say the glass moves within the frame and their is
>>a seal all around it when the window is closed.
>>
>>A four door hardtop does not have the middle pillar. With the windows open
>>there is no obstruction between the windshield and rear window. The doors
>>are not fully framed. When closed the windows seal against the roof of the
>>car, the front and rear pillars and with each other in the middle.
>>
>>The name hardtop is confusing. It is an abbreviation of the phrase 'hardtop
>>convertible, which is almost an oxymoron, or 'fixed hardtop convertible,'
>>which definitely is. The idea is to give the impression that the car is a
>>convertible without actually having a roof that opens and closes. In some
>>sports cars, they do indeed have a canvas roof for the summer and a hardtop
>>roof for the winter. The hardtop obviously cannot be folded away but can be
>>removed. No Imperial had a removable hardtop. Also, many Imperial coupes
>>are really two door hardtops and not coupes at all.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>>Hugh
>>58 4 door hardtop.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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