Re: IML: KT Keller's Kustom Konvertible

[Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It is indeed magnificent. I happened upon once while in Detroit in 2000.
Some friends and I went to the WPC Museum and it was parked outside in the
forecourt. Our chins hit the floor when we saw it, and the owner was kind
enough to tell us the car's story (we turned out to have a mutual old friend
in New Jersey, where he lives).

As for the body, keep in mind that the body bolts onto the frame on these
cars, and that the Chrysler, DeSoto and Imperial share a lot of components
in the 1955-56 design, unlike 1957 and later Imperials. Even the dash is the
same. So changing out the body, especially the front fenders and such, is no
big deal. The major custom work on this car's body was adapting the rear
quarters to the New Yorker it began life as.

And it probably also looks stretched because of the rear-mounted spare tire.

To have seen all three Parade Phaetons and this car up close and in person
in my lifetime makes me feel like a lucky Imperialist!

Chris in LA


On 11/30/05 7:10 PM, M Turner at tminjesu@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> It may well have been a New Yorker platform, but Furman does not state that
> in his book.  The body clearly is an Imperial body.  It does look
> "stretched", which could be the result of the shorter wheelbase.  I frankly
> do not have enough details to say one way or the other.  Putting all that
> aside, it is a truly magnificent car to behold.
> 
> Vince in Boston
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Christopher H" <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 7:53 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Automobiles of the Chrome Age
> 
> 
>> I think you mentioned the clue in your reply: "a shortened wheelbase." This
>> lends credence to the car starting out as a New Yorker, as it ended up with
>> the New Yorker's wheelbase, not the Imperial's longer one.
>> 
>> Keller might have based his visual ideas off an Imperial (the more logical
>> place to start envisioning), but it would make more sense to build the car
>> itself from a New Yorker convertible as there would be fewer structural
>> differences.
>> 
>> Chris in LA
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: M Turner <tminjesu@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Nov 30, 2005 2:27 PM
>> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: IML: Automobiles of the Chrome Age
>> 
>> According to Furman's synopsis on each car at the end of his book, that
>> 1955 Keller Imperial is a modified Imperial 2-door hardtop, not a modified
>> New Yorker.  Keller gave to Virgil Exner his design changes to the
>> original 1955 Imperial couple, including making it a convertible, lowering
>> the wraparound windshield, adding chrome along the top of the rear quarter
>> panel at the top of the fender line, a shortened wheelbase and a
>> continental kit for the spare.
>> Vince in Boston
>> 
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: Frederick Joslin
>>  To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>  Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 12:20 PM
>>  Subject: Re: IML: Automobiles of the Chrome Age
>> 
>> 
>>  I believe that Mopar Action magazine recently ran an article on this 1955
>> New Yorker which was "Imperialized". You may be able to get more info.
>> from that article.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: "M Turner"
>>  To: "Online Imperial Club"
>>  Subject: IML: Automobiles of the Chrome Age
>>  Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 19:03:03 -0500
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>    For those members who are interested in these things, I just received
>> my copy of Michael Furman's book Automobiles of the Chrome Age: 1946 to
>> 1960.  While to some the book may be a bit expensive ($50.00), it is well
>> worth it.   Among the many cars featured in this photobook is the 1955
>> Chrysler Imperial "Keller" convertible.  This was a modified 1955 Imperial
>> convertible (the only such convertible as Imperial made no convertibles in
>> 1955) built for Chrysler Chairman Kaufman T. Keller.  A few other styling
>> changes were made, in addition to making it into a convertible.
>> 
>>    This car is exquisite, positively exquisite.  It is gorgeous enough to
>> make me drool!  If anyone is aware of any photo prints of this car that
>> are available for purchase, I want to know about.  It is worthy of
>> framing.  Seeing this car in this book made the purchase all the more
>> worthwhile!
>> 
>>    Happy Holidays, everyone!
>>    Vince in Boston
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Fred Joslin
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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