Re: IML: Spanish or American 1966 Imperial Limousine

[PAUL WENTINK <randalpark@xxxxxxx>]

I think your friend is right. The information on OIC web site pretty 
much confirms it.

Paul W.

-----Original Message-----
From: mopar37206@xxxxxxx
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 9:55 am
Subject: IML: 1965 Chrysler : Imperial Limousine



I looked at buying that car when it was advertised for sale in 
Hemming's back in the early 90's.  It was being offered by Bill 
McCloskey of Silver Spring, MD, and priced around $14K.  There was 
documentation and placarding on the car in Spanish and the story I was 
told was that the car was built for Gen. Franco, but never used because 
it was not armored.  Later in the 60's Chrysler took the car back and 
placed it with a Washington, DC area dealer to sell.  The buyer was the 
chairman of Mutual of Omaha who owned the Washington Redskins at the 
time.  The car was kept in DC so that at any time he could fly in and 
be driven to a game or other affair.  It was brought up from its 
parking place once a week and washed so it would always be at the 
ready. 

A friend of mine insists that the car is a Spanish-built car, but I 
believe it is Ghia built.  It has some '64, updated to '65 bits 
including the dash and grille opening, and as you see, sports a '66 
grille.  Note the '64 LeBaron script on the front fenders.  I believe 
that the Spanish limousines built by Barreiros were based on '66 
LeBarons and have slightly different side windows.

I remember the car having a gray broadcloth interior that showed some 
water stains due to leaks from the frequent washing.  The rear-facing 
jumpseats are a departure from the usual Ghia practice.The car also had 
its original black lacquer paint showing many cracks as well as a few 
patches that had flaked off.  We went for a short drive in the car--I 
sat on one of the jump seats--and I remember thinking that the interior 
wasn't all that warm and inviting.  That austere luxury was, however, 
correct for the period as I have the brochure for a '63 Roll-Royce 
Phantom limousine that is similarly restrained. 

As far as the front compartment, it was normal for the driver to have a 
more plain interior for his work environment.  I recall that even the 
throwover door handles were upholstered in leather to tone it down from 
the color-keyed plastic insert. 

It was at the yard in Silver Spring that I first saw the '55 Crown 
Imperial that I later came to own.  I was told that it was Mrs. 
Eisenhower's car, tho I've come to learn that she had a Derham-modified 
Crown.  I remember seeing all the rust and badly pitted potmetal and 
thinking how it was too far gone for me to restore, as badly as I 
wanted one at the time.  There are pics of the two Eisenhower Crowns as 
modified by Derham on the OIC site.  Unfortunately, the captions are 
not correct.

Greetings of the Season,

Roger

'55 Crowns x2


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