Yes I did, Chris - thanks for keeping your eyes open, though. I have been
watching eBay and getting this info from any 67 that comes on the block.
Many of the IML members haven't responded yet, however.
To date (21 cars), and with two strange exceptions, it appears that there
was no overlap of standard AC once ATC went into production (and this would
imply that there are no 68s with standard AC - that will be my next quest!),
and that all convertibles were built very early in the year, thus none have
ATC. The two strange exceptions are: One very early car with ATC, now
owned by Robb Newton, and a Convertible seen at a show/swap meet by Mike P.
last year with ATC, VIN not available.
It is also becoming apparent that the Imperial production line shut down
sometime about half way through the year, and did not start up again until
nearly the end of the year, and then for only a few cars, as there are no
reported Imperials with VINs between Robb Newton's 236163 and Roy Bowman's
279011 - a gap of nearly 43,000 Jefferson built Chryslers. One would
predict over three thousand Imperials in that gap, yet in our statistics so
far, none has shown up. Since our we have data on .12% of the Imperials on
our list, one would have predicted 4 of our cars would have appeared in that
gap.
It's a puzzlement!
The 67 convertible on eBaY looks to me like the typical dealer car -
cosmetically flashy, not correct, and built to dazzle the eye, with
shortcuts taken everywhere possible. That interior looks like cloth to me.
I was amused to see they left the original cruise control actuator on there,
including its controls. I'd love to rob that from the new owner - I'd even
donate a plain dash piece to hide the fact that it has been removed.
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Hoffman" <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 9:41 AM
Subject: Re: IML: dubious 67 Crown Convert on eBay
> My, what an interesting "restoration" this is...
>
> According to the sellers, "This car is FULLY RESTORED and looks like new.
> You have to visit us and see that this is the best Imperial you have ever
> seen. We are not very familiar with Classic cars, so the best way to
answer
> all your questions is to come to us."
>
> So, what's with...
> - the wide whitewalls and fuzzy dice (1957 sockhop meets 1975 Superfly)
> - the missing side spears and front bumper reveals
> - the missing hood ornament
> - the odd pattern in the "leather" upholstery"
> - the incorrectly painted wheel covers
> - the incorrectly adjusted front torsion bars (undignified ride height)
> - the missing pie pan in the air cleaner cover
> - the incorrectly painted (or unpainted) taillamp "grilles"
> - the pushed-in front bumper
> - the Hartz cloth top
> - the aftermarket cruise control
> - unrestored engine compartment crossmember (radiator support)
> - missing A/C compressor tag (c'mon, how hard are *they* to find!?)
>
> Granted, this doesn't look like a wreck, but it's just not worthy of the
> superlatives of the seller. Looks like a clean car with a new white paint
> job (wonder what color it was born?) and most of its trim removed. And if
I
> look carefully, it appears that both the headlamps and parking lamps are
on
> in one shot, suggesting some post-factory re-wiring of stuff, too.
>
> But hey, put another $7,000 into it, find the missing trim, fix all the
> details, and it could be the best Imperial you have ever seen!
>
> By the way, Dick, did you grab its VIN for your A/C vs AutoTemp database?
> It's YM27K73139224, and being a Crown Convertible, manual A/C of course.
>
> Chris in LA
>
> Dick Benjamin (DickB@xxxxxxxxx) wrote:
>
> > I notice that the seller of this car is bidding on the "restored" 67
> > Convertible in LA.
> >
> >
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6181&item=
> > 1874716321&rd=1
> >
> > Dick Benjamin
>
>
>
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