I suggest, is what you saw, was a Newport or New Yorker. I have seen Imperials in derbys, and while it wasn't a pretty sight, I've never seen an Imp with it's rear bumper folded to the back window, though I've seen Imperial easily do the same to GM cars ranging from Cadillac de Ville's to Chevrolets. And while a station wagon may be an advantage, I saw an experienced derbyest just flat take apart a Chevy wagon with a 71 Imperial 4 door, like a dog tears apart a chicken carcass.They don't go too far, once the front wheels are tore off, or the frame breaks. Only time I've ever seen an Imperial lose a derby was either due to mechanical malfunction caused by bad preperation, or where they lost their tires and got hung, or where there was more than one Imperial in the derby. I don't want to see any more Imperials destroyed by derbying, but to imply that any GM wagon can fold up an Imp, is simply ludicrous. Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: "Otis Davidson" <otisdavidson@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 8:56 PM Subject: Re: IML: Demolition men > I always hear about Imperials being good in Demo Derbys,but from what I > have seen,this is not the case. > > In the late '80s,I enjoyed running in 9(nine) Derbies. Tho I have never > taken an Imp to a Derby,I have seen the rear bumpers folded up to the rear > window,restricting visibility...and their big engines heatng up quickly and > being hard to start when they are boiling over furiously...and lost the > alternator belts a few minutes back. > > Station Wagons are the way to go.....so whoever is contemplating slamming > an Imp,think again. The big Mid-70's Che*y Wagon with the little engine with > tons of room around it,is the ticket. Heck,I won with one in a 95 car heat > at Lebanon Valley! Old Cad Ambulances do well also as do the Chrysler Town > and Country wagon (sorry Brad). > > In the older Imps that don't have a Sure Grip,the rear axle didn't have > the rear-cover that gave access when welding-up the spider gears. You'd have > much more work on your hands. And trust me,you DON'T want to enter a Demo > with a one-legged car. > > I hope this true story keeps some Imps from a cruel death. > > Steve from Albany,N.Y. > '75 Imp 4dr <--would probably quit on the first shot!! > '79 440 powered 35 ft RV <--there'd be paneling and rust-colored velour all > over the place.