Re: IML: 57 Imperial in England

[Ian Beeby <ibeeby@xxxxxxx>]

The worst problem that I find driving in UK with an older car is that people will drive very close in an attempt to identify the make of the car - and if they cannot see or just don't know where to look they can get too close.  This seems to apply just as much if one is on the motorway at 70+ miles per hour or in the town at 20+!

By far the worst European country to drive in is Belgium in my experience (they say that their licence details are red for good reason) and in Belgium it is not mirrors that you need but a fortune teller and a good Bible.

Petrol prices in UK are astonishing, but more because we seem as a nation to be prepared to give our money to the government to waste than because of the price of oil.  One saving factor is, however, that as the oil price rises by 30% we hardly notice any difference at the pumps (maybe 5%) due to the heavy tax load.

Happy motoring:-)

Ian

On 20 Oct 2004, at 16:06, acorn2 wrote:

> i dont find driving? on [?our side of the road ]? in a left hand drive car too scary after? previously owning a 58 cadillac . the mirrors on the imperial leave alot to be desired. what is really scary here about owning a car like the imperial is the price of gas. at nearly $?6??a gallon we have to carry a big? wad of notes and make sure the bank balance is healthy, sometimes we have to drive on fumes ,BUT? ITS WORTH IT.??annette has taken??the name? LADY MARMALADE,?to heart?
>  thanks? k/a?
> <x-tad-bigger>----- Original Message -----</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>From:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Hugh & Therese</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>To:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Sent:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> Wednesday, October 20, 2004 6:42 AM</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Subject:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> IML: 57 Imperial in England</x-tad-bigger>
>
> Ken,
> ?
> Driving a 57?Imperial on the wrong side of the road in England is quite a mind boggling proposition.? Before I left the UK in 1991, I used to own a Citroen 2CV.? I rarely saw older cars on the roads where I lived.? I don't quite know what happened, but I ended up being entranced by a 58 four door hard top, so I can relate to the attraction.? Interestingly, my car also has fifteen inch wheels.? I'm not sure what, if any, the benefits are of the larger size wheel.? I had an opportunity to acquire a set of correct fourteen inch wheels but decided against it.? As I understand it, the actual circumference of the tire is the same, with less sidewall.? My car had Lincoln hubcaps on it when I found it.? I have substituted 67 / 68 Imperial hubcaps.? They look OK to me and the turbine style matches the front grille very well, in my opinion.
> ?
> Good luck with "Lady Marmalade."? I wonder how many people on this predominantly American list even know what this comestible is.? It was never to my taste though my mother loved it.
> ?
> Hugh
> ?
> Our car is a 1957 Crown Southampton 4-door hard top, recently imported from UTAH - we collected it from Bristol docks a couple of weeks ago.? On arriving at the docks we were told it was a 'non-runner' and that a trailer was required to transport it home.? A couple of hours later, with battery charges and fuel we were on our way.? As far as we are aware the car is a one owner from new, purchased in December 03 from an estate sale.? The mileage is 48,000 and hopefully that is the correct mileage.? Some work needs doing to get into good shape, although it looks pretty good at the moment.? The colour of it is like a metallic bronze and my wife calls it 'marmalade'.? It is in pretty good shape at the moment, there doesn't appear to have anything missing but the 15in wheels that someone has put on look a bit out of place and may be changed at a later date.? It has however failed the Ministry of Transport Inspection.? All the front suspension bushes were totally worn out so we have ordered new ones.? What we do need to try and locate are wiper-blade retainers and the rubber wiper blades.? Ours are in such poor shape, we dare not use them in case the metal catches the screen.? If anyone can help us to locate some new ones it would be very much appreciated.? We hope to spend some happy hours in the garage during the winter getting her ready for the summer cruises.
> ?
> Ken & Annette
-- 

Ian Beeby

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