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.
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