Paul, Hugh; To me it doesn't make sense even from a financial point of view to relegate Mrs. Blueberry to parts car status. Considering that Imperials are relatively rare, scrapping one with a solid body that is still runs makes no sense. Mechanically this car has already had a fair amount of work done to it, cylinder heads, carb rebuild, brakes, all that it needs now is the bottom end redone and new rings. If the engine needs a rebore and new pistons, so be it, after forty five years it doesn't owe anybody anything. My car needs the same and I haven't even had the privilage of hearing the engine run let alone driving it for a few years. Best Regards Arran Foster 1954 Imperial Newport Needing A Left Side Tailight Bezel and other Trim Parts. ----- Original Message ----- From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 7:36 AM Subject: Re: IML: Replace Mrs. Blueberry and make her a parts car? I don't know about Hugh, but for me the decision to make a long time loved car into a parts car is based more on emotion than logic. It seems to me that Mrs. Blueberry, no matter how dilapidated, has become a member of Hugh's family. For that reason, there is nothing wrong with treating her to a total restoration if that's what Hugh wants to do. Not all of us are in this for the money, some of us think of our cars as old friends. It seems like Mrs Blueberry is that, and maybe she will be one of the lucky ones that survives in spite of the fact that financially and logically, she should not. Paul In a message dated 11/4/2003 10:21:47 AM Eastern Standard Time, Billimp68 writes: > Hugh, > > Though not always possible, the best way to buy an old car is to buy the best one available, one needing nothing. Even with an excellent car, parts are always needed, so a good parts car can be worth a lot, plus it can eliminate a lot of worry and frustration. I think a lot of shops stay away from working on old cars because of the lack of parts, or the wait for parts, so having parts that are available immediately can speed the process of any work by a great deal and lower costs. As you know, I have several Imperials, and the ones that cost more initially, due to their condition, turned out to be the cheapest, due to the fact that they needed very little in the way of restoration or refurbish-ment, in fact some needed nothing, not even a tune up, so I was able to enjoy these cars at once, not several years. It seems that once you have made up your mind, and started, to either restore or refurbish an old car, you must stay the course, even when costs seem to go through the roof, and they usually do. Wishing you and > Mrs. Blueberry the very best. > > Bill/Imp, a few 68's. ?ÿÂz.mNTjjzÊÊ"®1SS.z-TSSs?-¢w®¦{..w.¯x½Tjj¶?¶®z®¢mzÁj®z.mNI ¢§s?-¢z±m