Re: IML: Old Cars, Old Clubs, Old Parts, Old Time

[PAUL WENTINK <randalpark@xxxxxxx>]

The first car that I actually bought and owned was my '56 back in 1971. 
I spent every Saturday morning scouring the many salvage yards 
collecting parts. I managed to find most of what I needed to get things 
done and keep the car on the road for many years. Later, I became more 
sophisticated and began to attend swap meets. I made friends in car 
clubs that had access to parts inventories. Then I got busy with my 
life and the cars sat in the garage for nearly 20 years.

In 2003, the decision to get them back on the road brought me to the 
IML and the Internet. What used to take years of looking for parts only 
took months on the web. Here in Washington, swap meets often happen in 
the rain. Slogging around in mud with an umbrella looking through 
tables of dirty old parts no longer is appealing to me.

I think the hobby has come a long way. I hope that younger folks can 
keep it going after I have moved on. When that time comes for me, there 
are 8 good original running Imperials ranging from 1955 through 1968 in 
my garage waiting for their next care taker.

Paul W.


-----Original Message-----
From: YBSHORE@xxxxxxx
To: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Fri, 7 Mar 2008 7:18 pm
Subject: IML: Old Cars, Old Clubs, Old Parts, Old Time



Fellow Imperialist's:

 

    The reminiscing about the origination of the club has brought a few 
queries to mind concerning our Old Car Game.  Back before the Internet 
and all its inherent resources [talking in the 1970's getting my 
license], I had a car of early sixties vintage which I used as a daily 
driver and its resultant personality kept me in touch with most of the 
salvage yards in the area here north of Boston, from which there were 
plenty to choose.

 

    Enter the EPA and clean-ups, etc., then soon there were few left, 
making it harder to chase parts down.  A lot harder.  I would spend 
hour upon hour trying referenced phone number after phone number from 
kind boneyard owner's, who if they did not have what I needed, would 
pass along another number.  Then there was the matter of 
shipping:  somewhat restrictive as vendor's were not so kind as today, 
and frankly there were no choices but Uncle Sam in essence.  These were 
factors in me selling the car, and thusly for a long time I did not 
have to deal with 'the chase'.  Upon purchase of my 1956 Imperial that 
changed and this club's list of phenomenal vendor's coupled with the 
proliferation of the before mentioned Internet, in conjunction 
with booming aftermarket parts availability, and all of a sudden, at 
least it seemed to me the plumber, parts were hardly difficult to find, 
and even the alleged tough items were found to be available 
generally--of course for a price. 

 

    This all makes for satisfied antique car owner's and many 
profitable businesses.  Being a young 45 {LOL} my question is directed 
to those who did business in the junking/saving car game pre-Internet 
and specifically to those whose yards and to those parts 
collector's who were dedicated to a particular brand (think Lowell 
Howe):  1) did word of mouth or car clubs provide enough exposure for 
good business?, 2) what was the preferred method of advertisement?, 3)  
has this Internet made salvage businesses more successful than word of 
mouth ever did? 

 

    I know every time I think this Internet is an end all for it all, a 
guy like Lowell, or a similarly genuine formerly unknown car mechanic 
or the like reveals to me old fashioned early rising and fine service 
still proves advertising and exposure isn't always necessary ...... 
thanks for any insight.

 

Jack

    




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