Cummins, however, realized that there was a small amount of money for an experimental die program. He convinced stamping professionals to try out the prototype using temporary tools. Cummins admitted that the prototype parts were not satisfactory. The bumper was built in one piece, with constant effort by Cummins. One interesting aspect was the side-marker light/cornering lamp, housed in three distinct vertical “gills” located on the fender in front of the opening for the front wheel. Turn-signal indicators that were visible to the driver were integrated into small body-color castings that covered the forward top of each fender. The three openings were not available for purchase since there was not enough money to make a body-color die casting. They were required to be purchased “free” using the basic fender configuration.
Vee’d change slightly in plan with flipped-out end; the surface was pierced through horizontal openings, through which were put the taillight and backup light units, and the taillights with sequential turn signals. Contrasting with the bodyside ascetic, the wheel covers were incredibly elaborate, with delicate bright spokes arranged radially around the silver and chrome center with a gold Imperial Eagle. The car’s width was reinforced by a long black and chrome horizontal bar. It was adorned with an egg crate-like texture anchored at the top and bottom with a thin chrome line. The first time that hidden headlamps were used was on an Imperial. The elaborate diecast grille could span the entire opening of the bumper.
Inside the interior, the new Imperial had an instrument panel that was typical of the late sixties Chrysler products that were a large rectangle with a padded bottom and top that covered the entire width of the car (a The India Today News style loved by Engel). A block-letter Imperial nameplate was positioned between the lights. The grille’s ends contained turn and park lights, each encased in a thin vertical tower of a translucent lens that contained a miniature of the stylized Imperial Eagle, which adorned the deck and hood. Ted Halloway, a company stamping expert, was worried that once a loop bumper was stamped, it would “rock,” and that meant that the vertical ends would be in opposition to one opposite. Much time and attention were devoted to the grillework inside the loop.