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Trucks and vans, or work vehicles had a
completely different set of safety, and emissions standards, which is
why truck did not have collapsing bumpers, head restraints, and a plethora of
other Federally mandated features that Imperials, or lesser cars had to
have. Only when trucks started to become something more than a utilitarian
vehicle found mostly outside of cites, or were for commercial purposes, did the
manufactures start making them more appealing to the eye, with upgraded
interiors, bed liners, etc... To this day, if a vehicle is designated as a
truck it does not have to meet the CAFE standards that cars do. Subaru
just tried to get the Forester, and the Outback designated as trucks to avoid
fuel, and safety standards applied to cars. It was a public relations nightmare for such a popular
family series of cars. Subaru pulled back, and fast.
I think you can still buy a work van without
head restraints. I had to Rent a Chevy 15 passenger van today for our
Philanthropy staff to host a donor fieldtrip that had no restraints on the two
front seats, nor any other seat for that matter.
I do get a lot of crap from
some people at work
about my Imperial. "Not very environmentally friendly now is it,
Bill?" I just smile and say it has been on the road for 39 years, and it
is made out of a material known
as "Steel". If I so chose to, I
can sit, lay, or even stand on the hood, or trunk of the car
without causing a couple thousand $$ worth of damage. If something
wears out, or even breaks, I have it rebuilt. It's what is called
"Mechanical". No silicone chip, no
computer, it has a "Carburetor", It is
also has a V-8 engine, measured in size by cubic inches, rather than how
many 1 liter cola bottles fit under the hood, and yes it gets 8
mpg, 6 if I'm doing anything over 70 mph over one of the several
mountain passes we have here. And, last year when we had our staff
retreat, and carpools were being formed, and people kept emailing they had room
for one or two more riders, it was May, and the weather was getting nice,
my car was full up in less than 10 seconds after sending out the email I was
driving Doris to the retreat. Passed many a Civic, Accord, Camry, Prius,
etc.. Top down, 6 passengers, waving to co-workers as I/we flew by over
Stevens (?) Pass. That night I gave rides to 3 different groups of
co-workers, lobbyists, State Director, Gov't Relations, board members, the
big guns from around the state, all around Leavenworth, WA. A
Bavarian style town. Of course some of these people at work (none just
mentioned) are the same people who are strict vegetarians, not that that is
a bad thing (my mom turned vegetarian about 12 years ago. Pity. She
made the best Chicken in wine sauce), but I do like a good steak, and am not
going to take any guff over it. To each his/her own, but one day, our
office manager came in the lunchroom and said "Bill, that's so gross to sit here
and watch you eat flesh". I took a big bite, chewed, swallowed, wiped my
mouth, smiled, and nice as pie, said to her, "Well Cyndi, I always thought
vegetarians were skinny?" That was the end of THAT conversation.
Point is, well, who know just what the point is, but it was a good story.
Oh, something like some of us walk to the beat of a different drummer, and if
that tune is being played out of a state of the art 4 watt AM radio in a car
made 40 years ago, so be it.
Wouldn't it be interesting it Imperial ever
made a luxury truck? Escalades, and Navigators, or that stupid Lincoln
Briarwood (?) At least Imperial would add a little class to the Pimp niche
market.
Bill Ulman
Seattle, WA
'66 Imperial Crown Convertible Coupe - Doris
Day - with factory installed smog pump mandated for all cars sold in California
starting in 1965. Said so right on the window sticker. My car was
sold new in San Rafael, CA, just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin
County. California led the way. They had to. They had the
worst air quality, at least in S. California.
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