Hard to Park: The 5 Longest Cars of 1975

Nov

Hard to Park: The 5 Longest Cars of 1975

Written by Tom Appel in Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Classic Cars, Lincoln

At 232.7 inches end-to-end, the 1975 Chrysler Imperial ranks 4th on our longest cars list.

Presented here are federal guidelines for parking space design. One of the most noteworthy dimensions on the layout maybe the suggested length of a singe parking space: 20 feet.

Now, a parking spot 20-feet long works just fine for most contemporary rides, as the average midsize car (think Toyota Camry) comes in at about 16-feet long, and even the long-wheelbase Cadillac Escalade ESV comes in at just under 19 feet. Forty years ago, however, these parking spaces might have proven a wee small.

Suggested parking-lot layout, courtesy Federal Highway Administration.

At an average length of 233 inches (19.4) feet, the longest cars of 1975 might have just squeezed into one of the federally sized sparking spots, provided there wasn’t a concrete parking barrier in place consuming a precious foot or 2 of space.

If you owned or spent time with one of these substantial vehicles, tell us about it. And let us know how difficult it was to park your ride.

Hard to Park: The Longest Cars of 1973

Hard to Park: The Longest Cars of 1977

Hard to Park: The Longest Cars of 1979

Hard to Park: The Longest Cars of 1988

Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham: 233.7 inches (19.5 feet)