Neal Herman is right about our Imperials and Chryslers. I have collected
for years, and I do not see the situation changing as to values. The cars
are obscure to most mere mortals. The working class cars were always
chevies and fords and a few people stepped up to pontiacs and chevies in the
50's and 60's. It was rare to see anyone in a Cadillac that I know in those
days. My friends all drove chevies or fords, and occasional Olds 88,
because it was fast. My leaning toward bid Chryslers was established by my
older brother and brother in law. When it came time for me to get my first
car, I hunted down a seven-year-old Windsor Covert, a 50 model in 57 and had
to restore it, but it is what I wanted. Then came the 52 New Yorker, then
the 52 Imperial hardtop. Still many fond memories of that car! I found one
just a town or two away that is currently not for sale, as it was the boy's
grandfather's car and he wants to restore it some day. I have my doubts, as
the car sits outside, uncovered and forlorn, and that is a shame! I will
try again, as it is the dead of winter here, and most folks are not thinking
too much about cars. My meager collection consists of an 8l and 82
Imperial, 5 cordobas from 77 to 8l. My son likes the barracudas and darts,
and has way too many! I made a list sometime back of the Chryslers in my
life, and it was very long! From the 50, up to the 82 Imp, I could account
for 46! I am sure there were others that were purchased just for parts.
ONe last anecdote and I'll shut up: Was driving my latest pride in my
misspent youth, a nearly new XK-E and met a family I knew on the street
sitting next to me. They asked what kind of car it was, how much it was,
and then, without hesitation said,"Gee, you could have bought a Cadillac for
that much money!". So, you see, everyone has a different idea of what is a
great car, and isn't that great? Happy Holidays! Ron Stephenson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Neal Herman" <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2002 11:46 AM
Subject: IML: Skewed values of Imperials
> Observing people's reactions to my cars and what they think they are
worth,
> it appears to me to be a result of what they're familiar with. Many more
> people could afford Chevys and Fords through the years than could afford
> Imperials or Cadillacs. If they later have an interest in old cars, I
> think they tend to consider why, and realize that they want cars that they
> grew up with in the simpler times of the Eisenhower or Kennedy/Johnson
era.
> Since daddy had a Chevy, that's what they seek, no matter what the cost.
> Since Mr./Ms. Collector's first car was a Mustang, that's what they want.
> If daddy had an Imperial, then that may be what they'd try to find. Fewer
> people owned Imperials then, so fewer want them now - a simple case of
> supply & demand. I have a friend whose family owned what I half-kiddingly
> call low-rent grandma-mobiles: Valiant, Dart, Fury 4-door post sedans with
> few options. He now can afford Imperials, but he gravitates toward these
> plain-Janes. Even when he was finally persuaded to get a gorgeous
> low-mileage '61 New Yorker, he's now decided that he's not comfortable
with
> it (too big, too many options to go wrong - even though they don't), so
> it'll be the first to go when he finds the next '61 Dodge Seneca (a study
> in ugly, IMHO!)
>
> The guy from whom I bought the Aquitania is another case in point. He
> inherited the Imperial from a very close friend, but when he had the
> opportunity to acquire his parents' '57 Chevy that he grew up with and
took
> trips in, the Imperial was put on the block so he could get and restore
the
> Bel Air. At the time, this concept mystified me, but I understand better
> now.
>
> Those '50s families who had Chevys and Fords likely one day dreamed of the
> day they could move up, and the perceived pinnacle of status was the
> Cadillac, not the Imperial, alas. The current crop of collectors remember
> this, and even though they may finally have that Bel Air, what more
obvious
> statement to say "I've arrived!" than to buy a '59 Cadillac, the '50s
> symbol of excess. Nowadays, a pristine Eldorado would go for twice as
much
> as a comparable Imperial convertible, LeBaron, Continental or even post
'57
> T-bird.
>
> Those who owned a Mustang in high school, college, or shortly afterward
may
> have also wanted a Super Bird or Trans Am or something of that (icky)
> muscle car ilk. An Imperial is just some big car the country club
> Establishment owned that the boomer had to maneuver past to see the Hemi
> Orange 'cuda. Unfortunately, I don't ever see that a late '60s or newer
> Imperial will ever attain the price levels commanded by the muscle cars.
> If there's any good news in that, at least Eldorados, Lincolns, Mark
> III/IVs, Electras, Toronados, and even my boattail Riviera aren't going to
> do much if any better.
>
> I was approached last weekend by a maintenance worker for the apartment
> building where I garage my Imperial and Riviera. He had never seen the
> Imperial uncovered, and asked what it was worth. I told him
realistically,
> maybe $10,000, and, God willing, $15,000 when it's all restored with new
> interior, etc. He was flabbergasted that it wasn't the $40,000 that he
> thought. If someone offered me $40,000, I'd probably be the only one in
> history to MAKE money on an Imperial!
>
> People like the seller on eBay with the '55 Imperial Newport hear from
> folks like the guy in my garage, and get this inflated opinion that their
> Imperial, or Lincoln or Buick Limited is worth beaucoup bucks. "Since
it's
> more luxurious and exclusive than a Chevy Bel Air, and people tell me I
> should get $40,000, then it MUST be worth that." Well, if it were a
> Cadillac, maybe, but it's not. I wish things would change, because each
of
> these three are fine, unique cars, but I don't see that ever happening, at
> least for many years.
>
> Hoping to be proven wrong, have a Merry Chrysler and an Imperial New Year,
> everyone!!
>
> Neal Herman
> 1959 Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton "Aquitania", an acknowledged
> loss-leader, and I DON'T CARE!!
> 1972 Buick Riviera "Bianca d'Azur", a pristine, well-maintained original
> which I might break even on, if I ever sell her
> 1983 Chrysler Cordoba "Christine", which will never be a collectible, but
> will be an interesting nostalgic Reagan-era car in all her plastic glory
>
>
>
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