I'm from Sna Antonio. Mitchells, the dealer you have mentioned before went
out of business eons ago. I used to se a lot of their badges on older cars,
but, obviously, that frequency is going down I think one of the museum
vehicles was originally bought there. You most often see them on Buicks and
other GM cars. The Imperial was a surprise to me.
Hugh
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gale Jorgensen" <gjorgensen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2003 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: IML: Good weekend
> what part of Texas Hugh - my original owner lives there
> ----------
> >From: "Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx>
> >To: "Imperial Mailing List" <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Subject: IML: Good weekend
> >Date: Sun, Feb 23, 2003, 11:52 PM
> >
>
> >Hi, all, especially those in the grip of frozen winter. I have just had
a
> >lovely Imperial weekend. Yesterday I took the car out for a long drive
in
> >the country. I belong to the class of owners who simply want to drive
their
> >Imperial. There are others who like to tinker with them, and others who
> >like to show them off. Me, it's all about the driving. I get off the
> >beaten track as much as possible. Get the car on to some nice, twisty,
hill
> >country roads. For the umpteenth time, I ran out of gas yesterday. I
had
> >just noticed the gauge had been consistently reading just under one
quarter
> >of a tank since I had left the house and decided to stop at a Chevron
> >station where the country road I was on met the freeway. I didn't make
it
> >by just over a mile. I opened the hood and started walking. It was a
> >beautiful day and the roads around Bulverde are very pretty at this time
of
> >year. The third vehicle that passed me stopped and I got a ride to the
gas
> >station. A middle aged woman, a rancher, the kind with the big fore arms
> >who can pitch a hay bale like it was a soft ball. "Couldn't see you
> >walking, son, even on such a wonderful day." When we got to the station
she
> >needed to fill her truck, too. A man already filling up called over to
me,
> >"Hey, are the dude who was walking away from that big old car?" Before I
> >can say a word, my saviour turns around to him and snarled, "Yeah,
doofus.
> >I know your daddy raised you better than to see someone walking away from
a
> >car like that and not stop to help. Lord help us, but I know he did."
> >Some Texans take their community responsibilities seriously, and if than
get
> >to beat up their little brother in public too, well that's just a bonus.
> >Carrying two brand new one gallon gas tanks, I set off back towards the
car,
> >having assured the lady I was sure I would get another lift. I was
right.
> >First pick up that passed. Two sedans breezed on by. But yet another
lady
> >rancher, another hard working, strong woman, stopped, had me put the gas
in
> >the back and took me to the car. "Nice car. reckon she'll start with
the
> >gas?" I assured her it would and she took off, with a smile. Sure
enough,
> >with a drop in the carburetor to prime it, the car purred back to life.
The
> >whole thing must have taken less than fifteen minutes.
> >
> >Me, Treece and Jennifer went out today to Perdenales Falls, near Johnson
> >City today. To my surprise, Treece thought we should take the Imperial
> >which was conveniently parked on the street. She does not really trust
it
> >but we were going with friends who were taking their car so maybe she
> >thought she wouldn't have to worry too much if the car did break down.
> >Also, she can lie straight across that big back seat and sleep, always a
big
> >plus. I am delighted to report that Mrs. Blueberry did not let herself
> >down. She was about as flawless as possible. Just rolled right along.
I
> >still am impressed that I can forget all those techniques I learned when
I
> >drove anemic vehicles. No need to gain or conserve momentum in an
Imperial.
> >Gotta love being able to accelerate up those long straight hills, passing
> >all kinds of cars like there were standing still. For some reason,
> >everywhere we stopped, folks were oohing and aahing over the car. We
> >encountered some biker chicks at a gas station, dressed to my surprise in
> >just tee shirts and jeans. They loved the car. Jenny pointed out the
> >obvious, sotto voce, once back in the car. "Won't they be cold?" I had
to
> >agree. It was a nice day for a hike and clambering over the sheet rocks
> >that make up the falls but even we didn't have the windows open. Not
that I
> >didn't get a sun burn, come to think of it, but not as much as the convoy
of
> >slow moving, tricked out Jeeps we passed on the way home with their roofs
> >off and doors removed. They all tooted their horns and flashed their
lights
> >as we thundered by, high stylin' by comparison. It seems just about
> >everyone can appreciate an Imperial.
> >
> >She is still burning and dripping way too much oil but the rear window on
> >the passenger side came back to life mysteriously today, so I have to
count
> >that as a blessing. That door does not open, so gaining access to the
motor
> >and wiring would not have been fun. I think I'd have to remove the door
> >from the post on the truncated B pillar, not something I have on my list
of
> >things I am just itching to do. As I said before, for me, it's all about
> >the driving.
> >
> >Hugh
> >58 Imperial. Old, unique and, today, a real pleasure to have around.
> >
> >
> >
> >