--- Bill Watson <wwatson@DIRECT.CA> wrote:
> In Canada Chrysler used the same key blanks for all
> the cars. The Imperial used different keys, but it
> was imported.
>
> The ignition key on the Forward Look cars used an
> ignition key with with a large, almost rectangular
> head, while the trunk key had a round head. Both
> had the Forward Look symbol on them.
This was also true in the US from '60-'63. It's
possible that the switch to the pentastar blank
happened midyear '63, which is also when it started
appearing at the bottom of the right front fenders.
I think the individual make aluminum blanks were
mainly a '59 thing, possibly '58. Neither of my '57
Plymouths had a single-make blank (although admittedly
my current one seems to have a pre-'56 set of
locks...) My first '57 had an octagonal aluminum DPCD
blank that looked much like the pre-'56 blank but was
grooved differently. Both were/are wagons and the
tailgate key on both (non-power window in both cases)
appears shorter than the trunk key of the era. I never
had the factory blank on either of the tailgate keys,
so I have no idea.
> The pre-Forward Look cars had a smaller igntion key
> with an octagonal head while the trunk key was also
> a smaller key with a round head. Both keys had
> the D-P-D-C symbol on them.
I believe the round head happened after the '56 lock
change. Seems to me my parents' '55 Custom Royal had a
diamond-headed trunk key, as I believe was true of the
'49 DeSoto Custom and '51 Coronet that preceded it.
> And they did appear to be made of aluminum. I can
> remember the keys for my father's 1950 Dodge
> Special DeLuxe and 1955 Dodge Regent. The keys
> had the same aluminum blank style, and had a very
> unique smell to them. Only the Chrysler keys
> smelled and felt like that, undoubtedly due to
> the aluminum composition of the key.
I hadn't thought of this until Bill mentioned it, but
he's right, as I'm sure his theory for why is as well...
=====
Mike Sealey, San Francisco CA
'57 Plymouth Sport Suburban
'64 Chrysler 300-K 2dr Hardtop
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