Parts Cars

["Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx>]

Bill,

 

Acquiring a badly deteriorated car and using it for parts is no bad thing.  It may have been running, but if it its structural integrity was badly diminished it is not for anyone else to second guess your course of action.

 

Now, one could not say the same if you had found a good car, ripped out the engine and left the rest to rot, which is what happened to so many 57 & 58 Imperials and higher end Chryslers.

 

What you did was reasonable and allowed your two other Imperials to continue into the future.  I find it hard to believe that a single person on this list has not benefited in some way from parts cars.  I know I have.  I even have a good working knowledge of where many of my era of Imperials are, which scrap yards to call.

 

It always comes to economics, supply and demand.  Yards will keep these cars as long as folks like us have a demand for the parts.  Folks like us will always want to buy the best car we can for as little as possible, to have a trouble free ownership experience and to pay as little as possible for parts and labor when we are obliged to get some.  It seems to me that Imperialists will always be sorely disappointed if money is a major determining factor in their decision making.  The cars are old and complex.  Finding mechanics willing to work on them is a challenge in and of itself.  Finding parts requires a technology as far reaching as the internet to make it remotely feasible.

 

And yet a few of us chose, of our own free will, often to the puzzlement of others who like to have what every one else has and knows about, like Mustangs and Chargers, and to the dismay of our significant other, who could, at the drop of a spark plug, come up with several other things that he or she might consider to be a more desirable and useful way to spend your time and money and effort.

 

For all the problems I have with my era of car, I'd rather have it than a car with Budd brakes, not that the brakes on my car have been a picnic, come to think of it.  I refuse to be defensive to anyone about my choice.  When it comes right down to it, I really don't care if you agree with my choice or not.  I try not to criticize other people for their choices.  Only a fool complains about someone who is having more fun than he is.

 

I like my car.  (OK, it is a little beyond like.)  I will try to do what I can to keep it road worthy, since driving it is one of the most pleasurable aspects of my life.  I don't care all that much about its appearance and condition, which makes me out of step with the majority of people in the old car hobby.  Its a "Columbo" type attitude.  Its old.  It looks it.  It is capable of amazing things with the application of intelligence and persistence.

 

Hugh

----- Original Message -----

From: Billimp68@xxxxxxx

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 2:08 PM

Subject: Re: IML: Parts Cars

First Penny,

The last parts car I bought was a 1968 Imperial Crown 4-door hardtop.  This was a running car, but the body left much to be desired, with rust appearing in the usual places plus under the vinyl top, the chrome was also pitted.  The car had some front end damage, a bent bumper & grill, but no damage of a mechanical nature.  I paid $500.00 for this car and think that was the best $500.00 I ever spent.   This car was one of the best equipped Crowns that I am aware of, it had the usual Imperial standard equippment, plus power vents, tilt wheel, stereo radio, front & rear air, split 6-way front seat, light sentinal, cruise, etc, etc. etc.  In addition, the car had four new whitewall tires, plus a perfect rechromed rear bumper in the trunk.  The car also had a custom made dash pad, plus the seat covers and carpets had been replaced, but not with the original type material.  It was my opinion that this car was only good for parts, as it would have cost a tremendous amount to either refurbish or restore, much more than an almost perfect 68 4-door Crown would have cost.     

Now, what have I used from this car?  I doubt if I can remember all the parts, but here goes;  the 4 new tires, the rechromed rear bumper, the gas tank, the rear brake drums, some side trim, the rear trunk lid, various interior pieces, dash pad, window motors, windshield, the carburetor, radiator, front calipers and rotors, distributor, harmonic balancer, power steering hose, alternator, power brake booster tank, etc, etc, etc.   I am sure that some of you have a good idea of what some of these parts would have cost if I had bought them from either a parts store or dealer, thousands!  With this car, I was able to eliminate the searching for parts, shipping costs, long distance phone bills,  the saving of time and untold dollars, plus many valuable parts are left for future use. 

Though some people might criticize me for destroying a running Imperial, this car now continues on as a part of two beautiful 1968 Crowns, a 4-door hardtop and a Crown Coupe with the MDO.  I realize that not everyone has the means or location for a parts car, but if you can, get one before they go to the crusher and are of no use to anyone.

Bill/Imp, just a few 68's