Dear Michael,
Congrats on your new Imperial. Sounds terrific.
Regarding the parts you are looking for:
-- the "leBaron" script like yours was used for many
years - 1965-68 I believe. Donors are out there
beyond the 1965 model year.
-- The radio is more difficult. But again, they are
out there. Interestingly enough the AM-FM units in
1964 Imperials (and 1965, I think) were the same as in
my 1964 Riviera. I found my 1966 AM/FM unit at a swap
meet like Pomona.
-- The interior chrome trim around your windows will
be the easiest to find. It is the same from 1964-66
on both 2-door and 4-doors. Much of it also
interchanges with 1960-63 4 doors, too.
There are several salvage yards down through central
California (Rt 99) with Imperials of your era. If you
ever get to Phoenix, the Hidden Valley & Desert Valley
yards have plenty of these cars with many intact trim
pieces.
Good luck with finishing the final details on your
car.
Chris H.
60 NY T&C
66 Crown Convertible
66 LeBaron
--- Ulander <ulander@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hello-
>
> I'm fairly new to the list and really enjoying it.
> Who would have thought
> that there were so many other Imperial nutcases like
> me out there?
>
> I've recently acquired a 65 LeBaron 4 door (green,
> no vinyl top). In late
> 1997/early 1998, the PO invested buckets of $$$ in
> the car including a
> complete engine/tranny rebuild, reworked the
> suspension and brakes, new
> tires, new Deltron paint, rebuilt the AC system, new
> headliner and carpet.
> Although purists will be alarmed, the car is
> interesting because he
> installed a very nice '66 dash (he tells
> me he did this because he liked the full walnut trim
> - so do I). He also
> pulled the front and rear seats and installed a
> black leather set from a '66
> (with the Imperial logo stitched in the leather seat
> backs) - also in great
> condition. She's a beauty, 99.99% complete, and
> runs like a top. Sold new
> in Stockton, CA and has the original black
> California plates.
>
> I think he lost interest after that. The car sat
> largely unused since that
> time and
> was rarely driven, until now.
>
> Although there is some minor oxidation in the paint
> from sitting out here in
> the California sun (looks like it's going to come
> out), a thin layer of
> dusty grime everywhere and some very minor chrome
> pitting here and there,
> she is quickly coming back to life. Everything
> works. New fluids, belts,
> hoses, a
> tune up and a lot of detailing elbow grease have
> worked wonders.
>
> But I'm stuck on a couple of minor cosmetic items.
> I've been prowling for
> these without much success and thought maybe someone
> on the list might be
> able to help.
>
> First, she is missing her radio (although the
> previous owner did install a
> new power antannae - go figure). It would need to
> fit the '66 dash. Right
> now the dash reminds me a little bit of a beautiful
> woman who is missing her
> front teeth.
>
> Second, the trunk lid "LeBaron" script has the n
> broken off and reads
> "LeBaro".
>
> Lastly, the chrome interior strip that trims out the
> headliner and runs on
> the passenger side from front to back just over the
> windows isn't responding
> to cleaning (pitted), no matter how much I curse at
> it.
>
> I've checked the classifieds, eBay and other
> resources I can find without
> luck so far. Anyone out there have these things
> laying around in the corner
> of your garage somewhere or can maybe point me in
> the right direction?
>
> Thanks.
> Michael Ulander
> 1965 LeBaron
> Castro Valley, CA (SF Bay Area)
>
>
>
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network