Chic’s Auto Parts: Imperial cars & parts. Chic Kramer, 7656 East Arbory Court, Laurel, MD., 20707 (301)-206-5361
NOS and used parts. Murray Park, 4369 S. Township Road 151, Tiffin, Ohio, 44883. Phone 419-448-0293 or fax 419-443-1082. Mastercard & Visa.

Exhaust Systems: Aluminized steel or type 409 stainless for most Chrysler products from 1914 to 1974. Most mufflers available. Sorry, no ‘Y’ pipes. All parts guaranteed for fit & workmanship. Parts can be picked up to save shipping costs. Installation arranged. For price & delivery, Jim Fortin (dba Talermade Exhaust), 95 Weston St. #1, Brockton, MA. 02301-3334. Phone 12 to 11 PM 508-586-4855. Email: HET1@aol.com
Emblems Restored or reproduced. Free catalog. Mention this ad in ITCH and take 10% off your next order. EMBLEMAGIC Co., 8367 Shepard Rd., Macedonia, Ohio, 44056 (216)-467-8755.

From the Membership:

From Bill Bundy of Indiana:

Though I have always like Chrysler styling of the 40’s and 50’s, most people did not and this had a drastic affect on Imperial sales, which was not re-styled until 1955. In 1957 Exner came out with an Imperial design that rewarded Chrysler with the best Imperial sales up to that time, even taking second place from Lincoln, but still far behind Cadillac. It was very unfortunate that workmanship and quality wasn’t good in 1957; these cars had problems and the unhappy and disappointed customers bought something else during the following years.

It is difficult and sometimes impossible to figure out why the public reacts as they do. As an example, why is the 1957 Chevy considered the car that symbolized the 1950’s even though more Fords were sold in 1957? The same thing is true of 1959 and 1960 Cadillacs, at least with the Eldorado models, in that these cars are still considered by many to be the ultimate example of luxury and prestige.

Sometimes things happen that are not related to automobiles that have a bearing on people’s desires for certain types. As an example of this is the 1949 and 1950 Mercury; they are popular today only because James Dean drove a Mercury in the movie “Rebel Without A Cause.”

We also tend to fool ourselves when comparing different cars, such as Cadillacs and Imperials. The average Cadillac for a given year is close to the same asking price of an Imperial, but we tend to think of all Cadillacs going for what Eldorados bring, and this isn’t comparing apples to apples.

At the present time my wife and I own six very fine examples of 1968 Imperials, but only two of these cars were in excellent condition when purchased. The other four required much time, money, and effort to bring them back to a good operating condition and a like-new appearance.

Beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder, and in my eyes these cars are still beautiful with a style that never appears to be dated. I also feel these cars offer luxury and features not found on more modern vehicles, so I am perfectly contented to continue driving these thirty year old beauties.

Well, this is much longer than I intended but feel I have only scratched the surface of this subject. I look forward to what other club members have to say concerning this.

From Bob Mittnight of New York;

I have found a pair of seat belt buckles with an Imperial emblem in an indented area. I would like to get the rest of a seat belt kit to install these in my `63 Imperial. Is there some company that supplies this?

Dear Bob;

Nice to hear from you again. Here's some information on your 1963 seat belts: For the mounting hardware, you can try Murray Park or Chic Kramer. Possibly the sources listed below can also help with the hardware -- I think Ford used the same hardware on their belts of the early 60’s.

3 Seat belt sources:

ACP, PO Box 2651, Columbia, MD., 21045. 50’s style with lift buckle.

Andover, P. O. Box 3143, Laurel, MD., 20709. 410-381-6700. Fax 410-381-6703.

Dan’s Classic, Oregon, phone 503-234-6674.

Deist Safety, 1 Sonora Ave, Glendale CA 91201, 818-240-7866.

Fasttrack Restorations (Delaware), 302-653-4379. www.fasttracksupply.com

Ssnake Oyl Products, Rt. 2, Box 269-6, Hawkins, TX., 75765. 1-800-284-7777.

How I Did It:

“Trunk Torsion Bars on the 300C” by Keith Boonstra.

One of the troubles on my beast has been a trunk lid that won’t stay up. I guess all the years of being closed has weakened the torsion bars (see picture).
So I got out my trusty service manual and read the section on droopy decks. It said I should check the position of the trunk lid anchor and if they weren’t already at the max position, I should move it. And they showed me the tool to do it. Which I didn’t have. So I used my big screwdriver and my long suffering wife to make the attempt.
After I got out of the hospital, I decided to have the torsion bar tool made by a local machine shop. It works wonders, and I will make it available to anyone upon request. However, my trunk lid still won’t stay up even with the torsion bar anchors at max. So, I sold the car and solved my problem.


Needed for the Next Newsletter
Send us your wonderings, your wanderings, your wish lists, and your dazzlers.
Particularly, we are compiling information on tire wear and would like to hear from you.

Stories from Members

Stonington Maine In the L With Doug

The far right coast, on the upper edge is a beautiful place to live. There aren't very many people, and it is pretty easy to not keep up with the Jones's. And there are drives to take that take your breath away. The coast of Maine just after a Canadian high has blown in sparkles. Then is the perfect time to go cruising.

Coastal cruising usually means that a sailor is talking. And that is true—this coast is one of the best in the world for a cruising sailor. But there are Land Yachts, you know. A '65 Chrysler is one of the better land yachts. One bright Sunday, she and I went down east to Stonington, on Deer Isle.

First I must cross the Penobscot River at the Narrows. The new bridge is spectacular, as you can see from the west side parking area. The old bridge was spectacular, but not cared for, and began to fall apart. The new bridge was built in one quick hurry, and came in ahead of schedule and under budget.

On the other side of the river is the Blue Hill Peninsula, with hundreds of acres of blueberry barrens, and a few villages with not very many people. On the southeast corner of this peninsula sits Naskeag—a fisherman's harbor, down where Blue Hill bay meets the Eggemoggin Reach. There's not much fishing on Sundays, so the L could sit on the town wharf and add to the view of the bay, the islands, the reach, and a few fishing boats.

But to get to Stonington, I had to cross the Deer Isle Bridge, a suspension bridge built in the 1930's. Its design is strange, and there really is a real hump at the top. It moves a fair amount in a breeze, and trucks need to space themselves. I crossed it before stopping to get a picture.

Stonington has always been both a fishing town and a granite town. One island nearby the village still quarries some granite; most of the town buildings are built on granite foundations.

Those ledges you see behind the Chrysler out in the harbor are all granite domes, and they extend south to Isle a Haut—part of Acadia National Park.

Indeed all the islands in these photos are granite domes that aren't submerged.

The drive back to Northport wends its way up Caterpillar Hill, and the last photos were taken from the crest, looking back down the peninsula to the Eggemoggin Reach—that water you see; one of the best cruising grounds in the world—for boats.

Come visit. We'll go cruising, and maybe stop at Ida's Diner for chili.

Doug Mayer