Re: IML: buying a 73 Imperial: what to look for?

[Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>]

1973 weak spots:

1.  Climate controls.  They are bad on virtually ALL
cars.  There is a thing in the engine compartment that
looks like a black plastic gaurd tower.  It is
supposed to be automatic but has a faulty design and
fails.

Fixing it will likely cost $300 for parts at the
least.  There is much to be learned about it by
looking in the club archives by looking for "auto temp
II".  DO NOT GET ANOTHER FACTORY UNIT.  Only the
aluminum bodied aftermarket one will be worth spending
money on.  That or getting a manual control (exact
fit) for the dash and putting it in.

---

2.  Trim, glass, & interior.  If it's missing or torn,
be prepared to have a tough time finding a
replacement, although Bob Hoffmeister seems to be
relatively well stocked.

----

3.  Clock on dash rarely works but is easy to fix if
removed and the works cleaned.  See archives/club
site.  I left mine dead.  Makes a horribly loud
ticking noise that someone supposedly got fired for
not engineering correctly to be appropriately quiet.

----

4.  Steering wheel horn button is a soft rubber strip
on the inside of the steering wheel.  It often is
inoperative or torn up.  Hard to get but not
impossible.

---

5.  Headlight door motor gets sticky over time if not
used regularly.  Manually operate using the knob on
the bottom of the motor in front of the radiator to
open/close HL covers for some time.  It will come back
and does not need replacement.  Make certain it's
plugged in first...

---

The good news is that most of the mechanicals on the
car are common and easy to get as they were shared
with other chrysler products. 

The sheetmetal is going to be a tough thing to ship
overseas, so check that the car is straight.

Go get that car if it seems straight!  If it does not
appear to have new shocks, replace them and get ready
to redefine luxury to your social circle.  That car
handles more like a modern vehicle than the older
ones, and can be tremendously enjoyable, especially on
the highway or autobahn.  

Oh, and get used to not having to move over for
anything else with four wheels besides city busses.  

This car has real presence.  When you take your time
yeilding or doing things and other motorists pull up
beside you to give you the evil eye, look back and rub
your dash in an exaggerated, loving fashion to
communicate that you just don't really HAVE to care
what they think about your road real-estate ownership.




--- j.linssen2@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Dear Imperial-lovers,
> 
> Let me fist start with a short introduction. I am
> Jacques from Holland, and a big fan of full sized
> Mopars.  I currently drive a solid  '67 Newport
> Custom Coupe (see
> <http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/408100>). I am
> very happy wth this car, but actually, I want
> something bigger and more luxurious.
> 
> Now, I have an opportunity to possibly trade my
> current car for a '73 Imperial Le Baron which looks
> quite good a first glance.
> 
> It has a rebuilt transmission and a rebuilt '69
> 440-engine in it, it runs and shifts very well.
> 
> Are there any specific weak point or known troubles
> with these cars that I should specifically watch out
> for? My main concern is all the electrics on the
> car, what are the known indications that something
> might go wrong on short term?
> 
> I would appreciate all your comments and advice.
> 
> Thank you very much in advance for your replies.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Jacques.
> 
> 
> 
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Kenyon Wills
 
 






















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