IML: 1963 Imperials Available in Oregon / It Began at RhodyFest

["Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yesterday, I had the rare opportunity of looking at two 1963 Imperials 
parked in a barn and untouched for the last 20 years. The story of this 
event began last May while at the famed Rhododendron Festival in Florence, 
Oregon, hosted by our very own Leslie of 1967 Imperial fame.

Whiile standing in front of our lineup of Imperials at the Rhody-Fest car 
show, a somewhat more senior woman to me stepped over and mentioned that she 
had two 1963 Imperials, and that she was surprized to see our bevy of 
beauties at this car show. She explained that her husband passed away a few 
years back, and now she needs to part with these two cars  I gave her my 
number and we met yesterday to have a look at the cars.

And there they were. One always hopes for the best with these barn-stored 
finds, and usually they end being well worn cars needing a lot of work, 
which these turned out to be. The cars hadn't been touched in years, 
including being covered in dirt from sitting so long. For those who might be 
interested in these cars, I've described them below. I took plenty of 
pictures, if anyone is interested I can send pictures and relay interest to 
owner. The cars are located about 10 miles north of Eugene, Oregon. The 
owner would like them out of the barn soon, and she sounded like most any 
offer would be welcomed. Anyone interested? Contact me off list at 
gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx

Eric
Portland, Oregon

For those interested, the owner would like to sell them as a pair. I might 
have some interest in one or the other, or in some parts, if this helps to 
move them out.

Both cars are Ivory, code S paint (pastel yellow / cream) 
http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1963/PaintChips.htm
with their respective gold/brown cloth interiors, the checkweave instead of 
the nylon material in the Crown. While not completely rust free, the dry 
storage has kept both bodies better than average in terms of corrosion.

The 'parts car' is a '63 Crown 4dr w/ headlamp dimmer, power locks, a/c 
w/tinted glass, radio, and trunk release. It's missing the rear backlight 
glass, carpet, rear seat, and some trim. Engine was in car and looked 
complete. Good dashpad, poor front seat, door panels have water damage and 
missing the carpet strips. With the missing items replaced, this car may be 
worth saving for the right person, and in ways is the better of the two.

The other is a 1963 Custom 4dr, options are the brightwork trim package, 
radio, tinted glass, and RH side view mirror. On this car, the license 
expired in 1981. It shows the typical wear of a well used 18 year old 
Imperial, as it would have been when it was parked. The body is a little 
rough, with the left 1/4 panel being the worst of it. The panel looked like 
it could be pulled and puddied pretty easily.
Body- Dented front fenders at the front bumper ends, RF fender scrape, 
wrinkled left 1/4 panel, minimal rust, good glass.
Drivetrain- Motor rotates by hand, engine compartment looked complete except 
for vacuum hoses, radiator (non a/c) was clean and looked like a recent 
replacement 20 some yrs ago when car was parked, transmission would only 
engage in Neutral with other buttons pushing in but not engaging, starter 
would not crank when battery installed and didn't put a load on the 
electrical system as with maybe a faulty neutral safety switch, flat tires
Interior- Small crack in steering wheel, fair dashpad, good headliner, nice 
rear seat, poor front seat, fair door panels, a window that I tried worked 
as well as the seat, dash lighting inop, radio didn't play, antenna didn't 
operate, some evidence of mice enjoying Imperial's glove box cardboard. 



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