Jim L. in OR----- Original Message ----- From: "Kristian Oyen" <kandkoyen@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 9:11 PM Subject: RE: IML: Fuselage cars
When the 1969 Imperials first showed up, I had almost the same instinctive reaction that I had when I first saw the [new at that time] 1963 Chryslers (no, the Imperial was still fine)-- I thought, "WHAT in gawd's name have they gone and done NOW!?! Well, over the years they have grown on me- boththe '63 (and '64) Chryslers, and the '69 Imperials. I went from a very nice '65 Imperial Crown (which was forced off of a freeway overpass unto the road underneath after five end-over-end somersaults with my my bride-to-be in it-the accident investigators said the car's tank-like construction saved her from being crushed inside it) and THOROUGHLY totaled!) to a then 21/2-year-old '69 LeBaron 4-door (that wasn't missing even ONE of the offered options) because we were about to be married and needed a family car, and Iwas darned if I intended to be left without an Imperial- especially after that accident! I bought it sort of grudgingly because I didn't like thebody-style much, but Imperials for sale were few and far between. It didn't take more than a 2,000 mile honeymoon trip to fall in love with its comfort, features (ah, that factory 8-track!), and performance, however. That car was our family car for about 12 years and over 300,000 miles with no major work ever needed on the engine, and no oil burned. It was a spectacular road-car,and we gave it up with poor grace to a Tennessee salvage-yard in the late eighties because it had spent most of its life being driven year-'round in Minnesota, and we just couldn't keep up with the rust any longer. The drive-train was still very good, though, and so was the interior leather. The main thing that frustrated me on the road was the lack of a flat place to put a tea-cup; all things considered, a small inconvenience compared to the privilege of owning that car.I thought at one time that I would never hear myself THINK it, but if I ever found another '69 like that one at a time when I was flush with the stuff, Iwould grab it in a minute, and drive it all I could. Kristian Oyen 1963 Imperial Crown Southampton 4-door 1966 Imperial Crown Sedan 1967 Imperial Crown Coupe -----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kenyon Wills Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 7:31 PM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: IML: Fuselage cars --- Mark Jefferson <imperialist67@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: You have to drive them (or take a long ride in one) to really appreciate them....... ---It's interesting that you say that. My first one, Imperial Margarinem, wasoffered to me for a pittance. I had never seen one in person, and went to see it with the intent ofperhaps scooping it up and flipping it for some $$ to fund the 1960 project.I owned it mentally as soon as I drove it a block - story is here: http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1973/Wills/index.htm -and the rest is history. The cars ride poorly on worn shocks, undulating and confirming one's worst fears about their boat-like proportions, but the car rode so well that I decided to keep it on the spot and still have it. Aside from a valve cover that refuses to seal despite four tries, I havesince aquired 2 72's and a 70. The 70 has more apparent power, and the flathood looks meaner and somehow different than the 72/73 cars, but they're "better" than all the rest, and I grudgingly include the vaunted 196o in that, despite my passion for the LeBarons of that year.The really amazing thing is the subtle differences between 71 and 72. Sameessential shape, yet so different. Probably just me, but the energy spent on the design of these cars continues to impress, and I feel strongly that the styling is on par with the Exner stuff. No fins to slap you in theface, but equal sophistication that grows on you as you become more familiarwith the car. Remember that 1973 was the L O N G E S T postwar production car ever that wasn't some sort of Formal Car variant at 235.3 inches long due to thefederally mandated bumperettes. Amaze and confound your Cadillac adherentswith that one. Should be good for at least one drink at the bar under the right circumstances. Kenyon Wills ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. 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