Crapper Motors Flamingo

The Flamingo was a Personal Luxury car, spanning 5 generations, running from 1975 until 1999, just before the new millennium.

## Powertrain

### Engine

 FG 130FG 150

FG 130 ComfoLine

## Performance

### Top speed

~ 118 - 125 mph

In 1974, Elijah and William Crapper planned their next vehicle of the 70s, the Flamingo. Plans were finished in December 1974. The car went into production in 1975, running for 3 years, until 1977. It was successful. The Flamingo could be considered a family car, a business car, or an executive car, a personal luxury car. It was a long, boxy sedan with virtually no horsepower. The FS, or sport model, introduced a more powerful engine and a convertible top. All of the Flamingos came in a light Salmon or pink color. Interiors had cloth seats, manual crank windows, and wooden interior trim. The base and luxury models came with a column shifter. The sport model came with a 4-on-the-floor shifter. Contrary to popular belief, the Flamingo was not the last vehicle authorized by Elijah Crapper, as he fell ill in early (April 30) 1975. The Flamingo was authorized by William Crapper on July 25, 1975 on behalf of Elijah Crapper, and production started later that year on September 3, 1975. The cars hit the showroom of Crapper Motors Dealers around October 2, 1975. Elijah Crapper was happy with the vehicle and proud of his son. He told him this in hospital during his recovery.

## Second Generation

Front View of a 1979 Crapper Motors Flamingo FX.

## Powertrain

### Engine

FG 135FG 155

FG 135 ComfoLine

## Dimensions

### Weight

1430 kg (3153 lb) (FC)1450 kg (3197 lb) (FS)1500 kg (3307 lb) (FX)

## Performance

### Top speed

~ 125 mph

After the successful first generation, the Flamingo came back in 1978, running until 1983, for 6 years. With planning finished in June 1977, starting production in September 1977, and first being sold on February 3, 1978, it was again successful, and mimicked the design of its predecessor. It again came in three trims, the Base FC, the Sport FS, and the Luxury FX. Interiors came in vinyl, the door cards got updated and chunkier, better armrests with integrated door handles were added. Power windows became standard and switches were added to the door rests as well. The base and luxury models again came with a column shifter. The sport model, also again, came with a 4-on-the-floor shifter. The seats did not change, nor did the dashboard or steering wheel. The exterior had a massive update, opting for a chunkier, blockier design. Starting in 1981 a small facelift changed the bumpers to a plastic material. By 1982 and 1983 sales declined, and thus production ended in April of 1983. It is considered the second vehicle produced by William Crapper.

## Performance

### Top speed

~125 mph

After the previous two successful models, the Flamingo came back once again in 1984, running for 5 model years, until 1988. The vehicle was planned in March 1983 and finalized in April 1983. Production started in Late April (22) 1983 and the first car was sold on January 27, 1984. It was again successful. This brought about a massive change to the interior, with a dash update, replacing any wood from the previous gen’s aging interior with more plastic. Seats were completely changed, as was most of the interior. A brand new stereo system was added. Mechanical upgrades included a brand-new engine, now ditching the V8 engines used previously in favor of a 139 hp V6. The interior redesign included red cloth and red plastic, a brand new dash design, no wood trim (with everything now plastic), a center-console mounted shifter, and more. Changes to the exterior included once again a brand new body style, chrome bumpers (and most chrome in general), being replaced with plastic, and more. This was in response to complaints mainly starting in 1982 about the overall outdated styling of the Second Generation Flamingo from ‘78 to ‘83.  People liked the car itself, but explained how it would be a subject of ridicule due to the design. As for the Third Generation Flamingo, as previously mentioned, it did very well, not requiring an update until 1989. Sales were exceptional from 1984 to 1987, however the 1987 model year did sell less, and by 1988 sales were declining. One again, this had to do with outdated styling, which, again, eventually caused its demise on January 8, 1988. It is considered the last car to be authorized by William B. Crapper.

## Body and chassis

### Suspension

MacPherson Strut (F)Semi Trailing Arm (R)

## Powertrain

### Engine

FG 130 (1989)FG 150 (1989)

FG 130 ComfoLine (1989)

### Transmission

4-speed automatic (FC, FX)4-speed manual (FS)

## Dimensions

### Weight

1227 kg (2707 lb) (FC)1416 kg (3123 lb) (FS)

1256 kg (2771 lb) (FX)

## Performance

### Top speed

~ 128.2 - 128.3 mph (FC)~ 125.7 - 125.8 mph (FS)

~ 128.3 mph (FX)

Once again the Flamingo came back for the 1989 year, running for 5 years once again, until 1993. It was again, like all of the others, successful, but at this point it had run its course, and by 1991 it was criticized for its outdated styling, which it struggled to sell as a result of. A quick redesign in 1992 helped somewhat to remedy this, bringing sales up slightly, but not by enough, and thus in 1993 it was cut from production. Again, contrary to popular belief, the Fourth Generation Flamingo was not the last vehicle to be officiated into production by Elijah II. While it did start production in 1988, it was planned in February 1987, and approved for production very early on, in May 1987. Production actually started in August 1988. This was mainly because Elijah II had decided to redo plans during retooling, causing a delay, and more retooling.

## Fifth Generation

Back of a 1995 Crapper Motors Flamingo FC.

## Body and chassis

### Suspension

MacPherson Strut (F)Semi Trailing Arm (R)

## Dimensions

### Weight

1585 kg (3496 lb) (FC)1588 kg (3501 lb) (FX)

## Performance

### Top speed

~ 126.2 - 131.2 mph (FC)~ 126.3 - 131.8 mph (FX)

The Flamingo came back once again, for the fifth and final time. The car was sold from 1994 until 1999, just before the millennium. The car featured many firsts for Crapper Motors or the Flamingo brand, such as power seats and heated seats. The car was first planned out from December 1992 to February 1993. The car started production in May 1993. Carrying over design trends, the car featured a similar, yet updated, body style to the Fourth Gen Flamingo from 1989-1993. It also featured an updated interior. The car sold successfully from 1994 until 1997, where sales started to plateau into 1998. From 1998 to 1999, sales decreased, leading to the car unfortunately ending production, as people grew tired of big, lumbering, personal luxury cars. The car was the safest Crapper Motors vehicle of the time.