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.
Interesting!~
I owned a 76 Dodge maxivan (ok-I used it to go to Imperial meets!)
which did NOT have a cat converter. I bought it used that way. First
time I went for inspection the mechanic said it couldn't be passed
because it lacked a converter. He said all vehicles from 1975 had to have
them-
I found another mechanic who didn't look underneath., as I couldn't
convince the first guy the van didn't have one when made. -Is it possible
this is one of the vehicles that was factory free of a converter?
TED
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network