Quality of the 1957 Imperial

[Philippe Courant <accf-club@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title:

> Door handle mechanism fell apart,
> we had to take the doors apart and reassemble (I also remember we did some
> redesign as the pull handle mechanism was poorly designed).
The system was redesigned and beefed during the '57 model year: the early
had a thin adjustable linkage between door handle and lock which was (i think
and you confirm..) prone to break  Late '57 (after 13241 serial) had a redesigned
linkage which was twice the width of the early . On my car (early model)
i replace the locks with some of late models. 
If the linkage breaks you can't open the door from outside !
> The side windows were curved and
> never lined up properly front to back
Yes ! It's nearly impossible to have a good fit - at top AND at side. If
it's ok when the window is 1/2 open, the window will not properly fit when
close (and vice-versa..)
>  The air conditioning condenser,
> I believe, was right in front of the radiator and over heating was a regular
> occurrence in South Florida's 90 degree summers.
Yes it is in front of radiator but i haven't noted, during last (very hot)
french summer (t° over 100°F), engine overheating, even with A/C on (but
it was rarely "on" because the top was off !). The temp needle never went
beyond 1/2.  And my car runs cooler than my previous '58 Bu*ck !!
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Philippe COURANT (Pau, France)- Webmaster des sites ACCF et C-I-F
Imperial 1957 Crown convertible
Buick 1996 Roadmaster wagon

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