Chrysler Historical Collection's Build Records

["Quint Villanueva" <Qlv@xxxxxxxxx>]

Richard

Thanks for the information about where to look for the history of my Imperial.  You also have a keen eye re my trip to England.

I believe I am only the third owner of my Imperial.  The car is a New Jersey car. The first owner had it from '53 to '55 at which time my brother-in-law purchased it from him.  When he passed away several years ago, I inherited the car.  My first trip with it was in 1997 when I drove it from NJ to California with absolutely no mechanical problems.  I did have a blowout in the middle of the California desert but was able to resolve that problem with the help of a Snowbird from Montana who saw me in distressed and stopped to help.  Thanks again for the information, Richard.

                                        Quint

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

From: Richard Woodside

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:04 PM

Subject: IML: Chrysler Historical Collection's Build Records

Quint Villaneuva (of Cadillac-LaSalle Club fame - his picture is in this month's club magazine, showing Quint, in England, talking to the great-nephew of Robert Faulconer, of Leland & Faulconer  (you know, those Brand X guys of 90 years ago) was asking about the build record for his 1953 Imperial.

 

Chrysler's Historical Collection:

http://www.museum.chrysler.com/Museum/CDA/Msm_CDA_Home/1,,144-20,00.html

is at:

 

Walter P. Chrysler Museum

CIMS 488-00-00

1 Chrysler Drive

Auburn Hills, MI  48326-2778

 

and offers build records for $45 (click on the Archives tab):

http://www.museum.chrysler.com/Museum/CDA/Msm_CDA_Home/1,7093,140-22,00.html

 

I got the package for my 1958 New Yorker Town & Country Wagon. I received a computer punch-card, and a letter that set out the basic facts, including the selling dealer's city, but not the actual dealer's name, if I recall correctly. Some of the most interesting items turned out to be photocopies of some factory photos (reprinted 8 x 10 glossies are $15 each) which are more reliable than the artist's conceptions in the showroom brochures, for some details.

 

In another case of "gee, it's a small world", my '58 NY Town & Country was originally sold in Indio, CA, about 10 miles from Quint, in Palm Desert.  Dunno who the original owner was, but the CA title showed it was owned by Hugh Betts in Cathedral City from 1975 to 1989, when it was sold to Charles Baltzar in Palm Desert.