53 and 54 ruby encrusted Crowns

["Quint Villanueva" <Qlv@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Roger.
                                    Quint
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mopar48291@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 1:42 PM
Subject: IML: 53 and 54 ruby encrusted Crowns


> When I did the major resto work on my '54 Custom Imperial, I also restored
the gold/ruby crowns.  They are the loveliest touch of jewelry on a black
sedan and number a total of 8--four on the body and one on each wheelcover.
On earlier Imperials, they are a cast crown with cloisonne ruby inlays.  On
the '53/54, they are a stamped metal with a red plastic insert.  They can be
taken apart and the metal crowns re-gilded by most any plater.  The "rubies"
can be cleaned up and polished as long as they are clear and haven't turned
cloudy.  A key to their sparkle is the silver "mirror" backing that reflects
light back thru the red plastic.  That silvering tends to flake off, and
just painting silver paint won't give you the sparkle.  I found sheets of an
adhesive-backed silver mylar at a hobby shop that is shiny on the sticky
side.  It's easily  pressed on to the back of the plastic "rubies" and looks
great.
> When I showed my '54 at it's first AACA meet in Dearborn, I was backing
into my assigned space, when a man ran up to me and said I was in the wrong
class and should go back to registration.  I said, I thought I was in the
right class, and he said "This is a  Crown Imperial, isn't it?"  That would
put it into class that features other very low production, exclusive cars.
"No, I said, it's but a simple Custom."  "But it has all those Crowns on
it........"
>
> Cheers,
> Roger
>
>