Congratulations on your new baby, Steve! If you have the "value leader"
Imperial, it's an Imperial Custom. There is no "Deluxe" designation.
Imperials are deluxe by definition! I don't know whether there is a badge
anywhere on the car that states it is a Custom. The Crown had little
rectangular badges that said "Crown", and the LeBaron had its name somewhere on
the exterior, probably the front fenders.
The Southampton reference merely means it is a hardtop. In 1963, all Imperials
were Southamptons (except the convertible, of course), though they had no
badges that explicitly stated as much. To my knowledge, the word "Southampton"
never appeared on an Imperial body.
Neal Herman
1959 Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton
1972 Buick Riviera
1983 Chrysler Cordoba
On Fri, 19 Apr 2002 10:56:50 EDT ImpSvcs@xxxxxxx wrote:
Good Morning all,
It's like Christmas morning here!
Returned home yesterday from a road trip to Iowa, with a blue '63 in
tow! The car is pretty decent, needing some minor body work and paint to be
presentable. The interior has aftermarket seat covers, and a box containing
new blue carpets (nylon loop, unfortunately, but it is new!) Hoping to get her
running today and see what she needs in the drivetrain department.
I do notice the additional "mass" of each component, as compared to my
'68. What a car. (Not to besmurch the quality of the '68, of course)
The car is dark blue with a light blue interior, ps, pb, a/c, pw, power
front seat, power antenna, power truck lock, remote driver's side mirror...
hey, I thought the Deluxe was the "entry level" car!
Question... all the reading material I've been able to muster refers to
'63's as "Southhamptons"... but I see no reference to that name on the car.
Anybody know the story on that?
Anyway, just all excited and had to share it with the group. I'm sure
the neighbors all think I'm nuts.
Gotta go get a plate on her before the Driveway Police make their
customary visit following a new arrival!
Whoo Hoo!
Steve Charette
'63 Imperial Deluxe (Southhampton?) 4dht
'68 Imperial Crown 4dht
'81 Imperial Coupe
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