RE: IML: Why We Collect

["Neal Herman" <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In looking at my cars, I initially didn't see a pattern.  At first blush,
none have much in common with the others.  I have long gravitated toward
specific Imperials because my grandmother owned a '64 Crown 4-door and it
was one of three cars I learned to drive on (the others being my mother's
'74 Monaco Brougham and my dad's '77 Monte Carlo).  My first old car
acquisition was a '72 boattail Riviera, because it was similar to one I had
in high school and college.  The difference was that the college car was a
good Riv, and the one I owned 15 years later was a pile of crap!  

After I recovered financially from that fiasco, all I knew was that I
wanted a really big car.  The first choice was a Bill Blass Lincoln Mark V,
until I drove one and discovered it was like piloting an aircraft carrier. 
Then in the fall 1998 I saw a '59 Imperial in the Washington Post in
suburban Maryland, and thought that I'd see if it was as hard to drive as
the Lincoln.  Surprisingly to me at the time, but of course not to die-hard
IML-ers, the '59 Imp was quite easy to drive, feeling nothing like the
barge the Lincoln was.  That particular Imperial needed more cosmetic work
than I was willing to swallow, but I diligently set out to find a nice one,
and wound up with the one I currently have, which is finally in the
prolonged throes of a restoration.

Two years after I bought the Aquitania, I decided to track down a really
nice '72 Riviera again, and found one in San Diego.  In spring 2003  it was
time to retire my daily driver '83 Cordoba which I have owned since it was
almost new.  Buying a used grocery-getter '97 Riviera brought the fleet up
to four cars.

I certainly wasn't in the market for another car that fall, but as many of
us do, I was skimming the eBay auctions and came across a turquoise '65
Bonneville 4-door hardtop.  No one in my family, and few friends have ever
owned a Pontiac, but this one just pushed the right buttons.  Primarily
because it is a lovely color and is loaded.  Finally, a little over a year
ago, I came full circle and found a suitable Imperial like Grandmother's. 
Most of the Engel-designed Crown sedans I've found are (to my mind) boring
white or beige or gold, but this one was the famous Haze Green, sort of the
color of grass.  Another San Diego car, she's in great condition and will
be at Carlisle next week.

When I look at my cars, the only real thread I see is that they are all
PPA'd (packed with power accessories).  While that really means that there
is more to go wrong with them, I can't image not having power windows,
seats, or air conditioning.  Each of them is also somewhat unique from a
styling standpoint than most other cars of their year.  The '59 Imperial
had the most graceful fins of most any '59 car from any manufacturer. 
There was nothing remotely similar to the boattail Riviera in 1972.  The
'66 Imperial is one of the most elegant cars in 1966, and it has that
aforementioned Grandmother quotient.  The Bonneville I call my glamour
barge, because few cars in 1966 were quite as flashy, popular or
well-remembered.  The '97 Riviera is not really what one would call a
collectible, but it is unique in its own way.  I really can't say I'm in
love with it, but I like the practicality of a full-sized luxury coupe, and
choices were pretty limited in the late '90s - the Riv and Lincoln Mark
VIII were about it.  

The '83 Cordoba is the only one that isn't really a standout - most cars
were boxy in 1983.  But I can't walk away from Christine without looking
back and thinking that she is still a fine-looking car 20+ years after I
got her.  I parked her next to a Lincoln Mark V once, and realized that
whoever at Ford designed the Mark must have been involved in the early '80s
Cordobas.  The proportions are uncannily similar, only in a manageable
size.  I guess I wound up with my "Mark V" after all!

In short, I'm drawn to large, well-equipped, flashy cars which have
something unique about them.  I love driving them around town knowing,
perhaps in my own mind, that anyone with $45,000 can buy a Lexus or
Cadillac or Chrysler 300C, but I have something truly unique that not
everyone else has - or more probable - wants!  Among the fun ones I've
spotted recently which tripped my trigger are a red & white '76 Buick
Electra Limited Park Avenue, with a console between the front seats and
tufted velour for days; and a lipstick edition '76 Mark IV (white, lipstick
red landau roof, white leather with lipstick red straps on the seats). 
I've not seen a '67 Toronado or '73 Imperial in a color that really wows me
in some time, but they're on the short list too, as is a '78 Toronado XSR
with the wrap-around rear window, like this one on eBay now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4558791
718&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Sorry if I've strayed too far away from the Imperial topic, but since Mark
is one of the IML's Webmonsters (isn't he?) and threw out this thread, I
figured it's fair game.

Neal Herman
Washington, DC
1959 Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton "Aquitania"
1965 Pontiac Bonneville 4-door Vista "Bonnie Prince Charlie"
1966 Imperial Crown 4-door "Miss Dorothy"
1972 Buick Riviera "Bianca d'Azur"
1983 Chrysler Cordoba "Christine"
1997 Buick Riviera "Le Nouveau Riv"




> [Original Message]
> From: Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 7/2/2005 11:20:20 PM
> Subject: IML: Why We Collect
>
> Over the past few years I've had to sell off my collection of 
> Imperials, but now I'm starting to rebuild it and the whole process has 
> got me to thinking about why we collect cars, and how we go about it.
>
> First of all, there is the issue of HOW.  And by how I mean, what is 
> the system you use?  Is there a pattern to your collecting, conscious 
> or unconscious?  Or is it strictly random, a result of happenstance and 
> luck?
>
> For example, I once read about a man who bought only cars from 1957, 
> because that is the year he graduated from high school.  He didn't care 
> what it was as long as it was from 1957.  Then there are those who only 
> go after particular models, such as Corvettes or Imperials.  Some only 
> collect muscle cars, some only sedans, some only British cars, some 
> only Italian, some like perfectly restored cars, some only like cars 
> that aren't in good condition and present a challenge to restore, etc., 
> etc.  I'm just wondering what are the criteria are that some of us use 
> to collect cars?
>
> For me personally it seems to be that cars from about 1960 to 1971 
> interest me the most, with the year 1968 being my favorite.  At one 
> time it was my goal to collect one of everything Chrysler made in 1968. 
>   I wanted (and still want) a Dodge Charger with a 426 hemi, an Imperial 
> LeBaron, a New Yorker coupe, an avocado green Fury III, a Satellite, a 
> 300, etc.  I doubt I will ever own all these, but that's my "organizing 
> principle," if you will.
>
> The second big question is WHY.
>
> Do we collect to impress people?  To show how much money we have?  Or 
> how much taste and intelligence?  Do we collect Imperials in order to 
> make the statement that we're "different"-- or do we do it in order to 
> fit into a particular group whose approval we need?
>
> I know one person who buys old Imperials because his grandmother owned 
> an Imperial and he was very close to his grandmother.  I probably like 
> Imperials because my favorite uncle sold them when I was a child, and 
> because I was the "rebel"-- a Chrysler lover-- in a "GM family."  
> Others buy cars because they owned a similar car when they first met 
> their wife, etc.
>
> I never really gave any of this much thought until now, because I am 
> faced with a choice of getting a really flashy "high dollar" Imperial 
> in great shape-- or buying a somewhat rough, somewhat undesirable, and 
> very cheap Chrysler station wagon.  Part of me says "Go for the wagon!  
> It'll be fun!"  And part of me says "Go for the nice Imperial, it's a 
> smart investment!"  And so on.  (And yes, I know, you don't buy old 
> cars as investments.  I just mean I'm far more likely to get my money 
> back from the Imperial if I have to sell it later.)  And part of me 
> says "Nah, get a VW!"
>
> So I guess I'm just wondering which voice to listen to and how others 
> decide what they'll buy when they buy.
>
> Mark M




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