RE: IML: 64 Ghia limos

[Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>]

Here is Steve's follow-up reply on his car.

He mentions a car in Canada, and I strongly suspect
that it is the one owned now by Greg Ryckman (and may
be the one for sale in Hemmings?):

http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1964/Limo/Landau/index.htm

Please read on:

--- Steve Foster <sfoster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Kenyon's almost right on my preservation, but for
> the... He is right in
> that I usually don't drive my old cars (now just
> have one other '64
> Imperial) as I try to preserve them.  
> 
> The Ghia is regularly started, but remains in
> storage.  It's in very
> good condition and even appears to have the original
> tires and spare,
> which I like better than the wide whitewalls.  The
> car's record book
> shows it serviced outside of D.C. in I think 1965. 
> I still need to
> research the D.C. parking permit, but after talking
> w/ the city it looks
> like I need to show-up in person and then who
> knows...  
> 
> I'm a MI native and first found out about the '64
> Ghia in 1986 when I
> looked at Mary Dodge's nice original '65.  The
> seller, who lived near
> Detroit, gave me a 1979 newspaper article on the car
> when it came up for
> sale from a going out-of-business Detroit Chrysler
> dealership that got
> the car after the WH.  Sidenote: he  bought his '65
> from the Dodge
> estate w/ about 9K miles (black w/ camel upholstery,
> tear in one
> jumpseat) and no repaint (lacquer was cracking); I
> believe I read it
> ended up in Canada.  Back: in 1998 I was surfing the
> web and ran across
> a 1996 newspaper article on the same '64 when the
> Detroit collector who
> bought it in 1979 decided to sell it during the
> Jackie auction.  I
> called the collector the next day: it was still for
> sale so I went and
> looked at it and bought it the next week.      
> 
> It is the six-window town limousine as opposed to
> the four-window
> landau; I've only seen the six-windows as WH cars
> and do have a photo of
> Jackie and her sister-in-laws in a '64 or '65
> six-window (the picture is
> close-cropped and so far unsuccessful in getting a
> more expansive
> version) at the 8-64 Atlantic City democratic
> convention.  I think LBJ
> wanted her to attend and also heard the Kennedy
> family had a blue Ghia.
> 
> 
> I've talked w/ Jan before to try and get more
> information on my car
> (including a potential buyer), but he was unable to
> help.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kenyon Wills
> [mailto:imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:23 AM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: IML: 64 Ghia limos
> 
> It's been a few years since I heard Steve's
> Presidential car story firsthand.  He had it in
> long-term, climate controlled storage surrounded by
> armed gaurds, booby traps, and razor wire last I
> heard.
> 
> The entertaining thing about him when I met him in
> person was that when I took him for a ride in my 64
> crown, he jumped at the chance to drive it when I
> offered.  Turns out that he'd bought the car and was
> so focused on preserving it that he forgot to drive
> it
> around much before it sent away into the vault.
> 
> Tsk. Tsk.
> 
> I'm not certain what the car's story is precisely
> beyond what Steve has shared with the site, but it
> sure feels like the pair (at least) were both part
> of
> the WH stable.
> 
> I bcc'd Steve on this and maybe we'll be able to
> coax
> some additional portions of the story from him?
> 
> 
> His car could be one of the most completely original
> Ghias out there - most have been through a number of
> hands and if not restored are in rough condition at
> best.  
> 
> 
> -Kenyon
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- Jeff Ingraham <jeff_ingraham@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Jay,
> >   I know Jan has full paperwork and Whitehouse
> items
> > with his car. I believe that Jan's car(s) have
> been
> > in
> > numerous coucours shows, featured at Carlisle in
> the
> > Chrysler sponsored show area,  and of course the
> > beautiful article in Mopar Action magazine. 
> >  
> > I do not know about Steve Foster's, and to the
> best
> > of
> > my knowledge, it has never been shown or seen by
> > anyone, although Kenyon I believe has spoke with
> him
> > a
> > several times.
> >  
> > FYI,
> > 
> > I believe that  Jan is the foremost Imperial Ghia
> > expert in the world. 
> > 
> > Period.
> > 
> > He has been around and owned Ghia's for many many
> > years (since the 1970's) and has laid eyes on, and
> > or
> > hands on a LOT of Imperial Ghia limos.  He
> recently
> > helped with some at the Shah of Irans Ghia's
> > restoration and I have learned SO MUCH from Jan
> > talking to him on the phone about Ghia's, and My
> > Ghia
> > specifically, that I am in awe of him.
> > He is the Dick Benjamin (Saint Dick) of Ghia's in
> my
> > book.  I think 
> > Jan is still a member of the IML so perhaps he
> will
> > jump in with more info.
> > 
> > Jeff Ingraham
> > VERY proud 65 Ghia limo Owner
> > 
> > --- JAY D'ANGELO <cadij@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > 
> > > While looking through the website on the 64
> > > Imperials, I ran across the "readers' cars"
> > section.
> > >  I was interested in the references to the White
> > > House (I'm kind of a nut about White House
> > history).
> > >  
> > > Jan Witte's section shows that he has two
> Imperial
> > > LeBaron Ghia limos, one 1964 and the other 1965.
> 
> > > Steve Foster's section also shows a 1964
> Imperial
> > > LeBaron Ghia limo.  Both are purported to be
> > > personal vehicles of Jackie Kennedy.
> > >  
> > > In Jan's section is a magazine article that says
> > the
> > > limo was produced for Jackie, but she never got
> to
> > > use it as it was appropriated by Lyndon Johnson.
> 
> > In
> > > Steve's section, it says that his car was used
> by
> > > Jackie Kennedy.
> > >  
> > > Were two produced and assigned to the White
> House
> > by
> > > chance?  Anyone know for sure?  Just an
> > interesting
> > > story, but I'm not sure which is accurate.
> > >  
> > >
> >
>
http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1964/64Witte/index.htm
> > >  
> > >
> >
>
http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1964/SteveFoster/index.htm
> > >  
> > > Jay D'Angelo
> 
=== message truncated ===


Kenyon Wills
 
 






















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