Re: IML: Imperial gasoline usage commentary

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

It really is too bad that the cost of fuel has to become such a big issue for us. I have never driven cars that were particularly fuel efficient. Today I am driving an '80 Lincoln  that gets 23 mpg and runs on regular. To me that seems good, and compared to a lot of SUV drivers it is, but a lot of stuff on the road is getting 30+.

I saw a very interesting cost table on TV last week. In today's dollars, 1979 was the highest price ever paid for a gallon of gas at around $2.80. Current prices fall someplace in the middle of the years they analyzed. In 1979 it was actually around .95 per gallon. At that time I was driving my 1965 Imperial as an everday car. My apartment rent was about $130.00 per month, and I paid around $120.00 per month for gas. 

Even at today's prices, gas is still just about the cheapest thing we buy for our cars. I hope everyone doesn't become too discouraged. It is expensive, but running an Imperial is more than just "driving" it is a hobby and a source of pleasure. It is normal for people to spend a large portion of their income on things that interest them. The Imperial is increasing in value, as opposed to depreciating, while serving a practical purpose. 

I no longer drive my Imperials everyday, but that is mainly because keeping them all going became less of a priority for me at some point in my life. Since then I have spent a lot of money purchasing and maintaining other cars that have lost value, and not been all that much better or fuel efficient.

Hang in there and don't let it get ya'!

Paul

In an email dated Mon, 28 3 2005 3:11:58 pm GMT, Mike Pittinaro <mechimike@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

>> figures" -it seems like Imperial ownership becomes
>> increasingly
>> challenging as fuel prices skyrocket-pretty soon we
>> will be at $5.00 a
>> gallon. At that point my cars will probably become
>> lawn ornaments, but
>> at least they will be amusing to look at.
>
>Very sad to contemplate. ?Even though gas prices have
>been steadily creeping up here, I decided to take YE
>on a long trip for Easter to visit my family in
>western NY. ?Dimitrios Dardalis, of 1968 ownership x2,
>rode along with me to Philidelphia, where he had to
>catch a flight back to his home in Austin, TX (we had
>fun terrorizing SUV's and Hyundai's alike with the
>Yellow Eagle!) ?
>
>For the trip, I averaged just a hair over 13 mpg,
>which involved some pretty hilly driving through PA
>and none of it done at what I would consider "normal"
>speeds. ?There's just something about punching the gas
>and passing a doodling lexus in the left lane, uphill,
>and watching the speedo climb like a mountain goat on
>crack.
>
>Still, those gallons weren't cheap, averaging $2.30
>each for the 93 octane that the "Eagle" demands and
>deserves. ?I rationalize by realizing I have only
>driven her around 4000 miles since I have owned her,
>and 1606 of those were the trip back to Baltimore from
>Austin. ?But if gas gets much more pricey, those 600
>mile trips will be a memory. ?
>
>So what can we do? ?Could alternative fuels somehow
>power an Imperial? ?Or could modifications provide the
>Imperial with better gas mileage? ?I have long been
>toying with the idea of adding a gear vendors OD unit,
>and a lock up torque converter. ?Coupled with a
>slightly lower rear gearing, these would provide both
>better acceleration and improved milage- I would not
>be surprised if I could achieve close to 20 mpg on the
>highway with these modifications. ?Of course, the cost
>of these mods would be steep- about $3000+ according
>to the quotes I have seen. ?You would need to drive
>over 48,000 miles to recover the cost. ?If gas hits $5
>per gallon, though, the savings would come much more quickly.
>
>--Mike Pittinaro
>
>Beautiful Boxcar
>American Grandeur and
>Danish modern Style
>
>
> ? ? ? ?
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