-------------- Original message --------------
From: PAUL WENTINK <randalpark@xxxxxxx>
> The first car that I actually bought and owned was my '56 back in 1971.
> I spent every Saturday morning scouring the many salvage yards
> collecting parts. I managed to find most of what I needed to get things
> done and keep the car on the road for many years. Later, I became more
> sophisticated and began to attend swap meets. I made friends in car
> clubs that had access to parts inventories. Then I got busy with my
> life and the cars sat in the garage for nearly 20 years.
>
> In 2003, the decision to get them back on the road brought me to the
> IML and the Internet. What used to take years of looking for parts only
> took months on the web. Here in Washington, swap meets often happen in
> the rain. Sloggi ng around in mud with an umbrella looking through
> tables of dirty old parts no longer is appealing to me.
>
> I think the hobby has come a long way. I hope that younger folks can
> keep it going after I have moved on. When that time comes for me, there
> are 8 good original running Imperials ranging from 1955 through 1968 in
> my garage waiting for their next care taker.
>
> Paul W.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: YBSHORE@xxxxxxx
> To: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Fri, 7 Mar 2008 7:18 pm
> Subject: IML: Old Cars, Old Clubs, Old Parts, Old Time
>
>
>
> Fellow Imperialist's:
>
> Â
>
>     The reminiscing about the origination of the club has brought a few
> queries to mind concerning our Old Car Game. Back before the Internet
> and all its inherent resources [talking in the 1970's getting my
> license], I had a car of early sixties vintage which I used as a daily
> driver and its resultant personality kept me in touch with most of the
> salvage yards in the area here north of Boston, from which there were
> plenty to choose.
>
> Â
>
>     Enter the EPA and clean-ups, etc., then soon there were few left,
> making it harder to chase parts down. A lot harder. I would spend
> hour upon hour trying referenced phone number after phone number from
> kind boneyard owner's, who if they did not have what I needed, would
> pass along another number. Then there was the matter of
> shipping:  somewhat restrictive as vendor's were not so kind as today,
> and frankly there were no choices but Uncle Sam in essence. These were
> factors in me selling the car, and thusly for a long time I did not
> have to deal wi th 'the chase'. Upon purchase of my 1956 Imperial that
> changed and this club's list of phenomenal vendor's coupled with the
> proliferation of the before mentioned Internet, in conjunction
> with booming aftermarket parts availability, and all of a sudden, at
> least it seemed to me the plumber, parts were hardly difficult to find,
> and even the alleged tough items were found to be available
> generally--of course for a price.Â
>
> Â
>
>     This all makes for satisfied antique car owner's and many
> profitable businesses. Being a young 45 {LOL} my question is directed
> to those who did business in the junking/saving car game pre-Internet
> and specifically to those whose yards and to those parts
> collector's who were dedicated to a particular brand (think Lowell
> Howe):  1) did word of mouth or car clubs provide enough exposure for
> good busin ess?, 2) what was the preferred method of advertisement?, 3)Â
> has this Internet made salvage businesses more successful than word of
> mouth ever did?Â
>
> Â
>
> Â Â Â Â I know every time I think this Internet is an end all for it all, a
> guy like Lowell, or a similarly genuine formerly unknown car mechanic
> or the like reveals to me old fashioned early rising and fine service
> still proves advertising and exposure isn't always necessary ......
> thanks for any insight.
>
> Â
>
> Jack
>
> Â Â Â Â
>
>
>
>
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