|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 632
  
Location: Belford, NJ | Looking at the production figures, these seem to be quite rare cars, yet it seems as though there are a bunch out there. Are these cars really that scarce? Production figures show 1076 4dr hardtops made as an example. Why do these cars seem to show up so often in yards and for sale? |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
 
Location: bishop, ca | ....because they were well made, and were well cared for, they have survived.
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 632
Location: Belford, NJ | That's a good point, and it did cross my mind. I think these things were one of the most expensive cars, if not THE most expensive out there at the time. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1508
Location: new york | Its way true! Over the years the expensive cars , were garaged kept, had routine maintanance,not the daily grind that a lowly Plymouth going to work in all weather ,salt, rain ETC. And they likely were treasured if the owner spent $5500. for a Imperial,in 1955 not less than half the for a Plymouth Savoy. I own 3 50's luxary cars a 55 Imperial mostly preserved with 50 thou miles, a 53 Caddy sedan also all original with 2300 original miles and a 53 Caddy convertible with a high 86 thou mile's and a repaint, all of these cars have had a very pampered lives , I wish I could find a 57 Plymouth sports coupe (2dr ht) thats been kept this way! HAPPY MOTORING! Victor.. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1508
Location: new york | Hey Tuxedo, I dont think I have ever seen your car and your in belford NJ ,my friend Manny used to own the Marina Diner on 36 is that near you and do you make any shows or cruise nights in the area?I might run into you come spring! HAPPY MOTORING! Victor.. |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Wasn't Ms Belvie stored in an enclosed container, and hardly ever driven, for 50 years?
THAT barn leaked....
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 205
Location: Delray Beach, FL | 15 out of 92 1961 Imperials registered on imperialclub.com are LeBarons - so, I wouldn't consider them all that plentiful.
One thing I can guarantee - when you're ready to buy a nice '61 LeBaron, there won't be any for sale... especially with correct wheelcovers.
I think all collectibles mysteriously run in cycles... one day - nowhere to be found, next day - there are six on ebay.
I remember when I was on the hunt for a '61 Imperial Convertible. Probably a year or two went by with nothing in Hemmings or anywhere else (this was before the internet when I got my "fix" with First Class Hemmings). Then all of a sudden there were three in one issue!
This was my '61 LeBaron back in the day.... wonder where she is now.
Edited by Ex-finlover 2010-02-08 7:42 PM
 (LeBaron.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 LeBaron.jpg (44KB - 140 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1480
Location: Australia | Ex-finlover - 2010-02-08 7:36 PM
15 out of 92 1961 Imperials registered on imperialclub.com are LeBarons - so, I wouldn't consider them all that plentiful.
One thing I can guarantee - when you're ready to buy a nice '61 LeBaron, there won't be any for sale... especially with correct wheelcovers.
I think all collectibles mysteriously run in cycles... one day - nowhere to be found, next day - there are six on ebay.
I remember when I was on the hunt for a '61 Imperial Convertible. Probably a year or two went by with nothing in Hemmings or anywhere else (this was before the internet when I got my "fix" with First Class Hemmings). Then all of a sudden there were three in one issue!
This was my '61 LeBaron back in the day.... wonder where she is now.
thats funny... same here when i go to the markets, one minute there are vintage dresses everywhere for $2 each and then the next thing you know there are none anywhere... then there is 50's magazines everywhere and then there are none... everything comes in waves... its very strange how it works... adriana  |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | An axiom in collectibles, is : if you see something you like, you'd better acquire it 'now', as it will be
usually too-late, later, to get it.
Another one is: after you buy something you've longed for, for a long time, other similar/identical items will 'fall from
the sky' in front of you.
Right now, after watching the TV show "No Reservations", with Anthony Bourdain, last nite, I'm Jonesing for a mid-60's
Imperial convertible, to cruise around in, on the backroads (of which CA has relatively very few).
Tony was driving a 65 Lincoon vert, and it struck me that very few movies or TV shows feature Crappillacs in them---IMPS,
too; the Links appear to be the Bent-Lee (poor-man's version-) of the Volks Royce metaphor. They've been featured in The French Connection,
A Fish named Wanda, and on Tony's show.
Mid 60's Imps are not particularly expensive, right now, too....
Edited by d500neil 2010-02-09 2:28 PM
|
|
| |
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | POSTED for NEIL D500
Brett; this the car you were looking for?
It was seen being joyridden around the 1987 WPC Nationals.
He sold it a couple years ago, IIRC.
 (149.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
149.jpg (102KB - 129 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 632
Location: Belford, NJ | To Neil's point.... lately I've found myself "wanting" cars only because I think they are a good buy... not because I love them. I really have tried to keep all my cars to 2 doors, but something about these Imperials are just fantastic. I've been working on my Plymouth on and off for 7 years and still can't seem to see a light at the end of the tunnel, where I can take the family out for drives. My son is now 7 and daughter is almost 3 and I want to bring them up like I was, around cars. Every car that crosses the screen of my laptop that is "closer" to driving, impressive, affordable, and potentially an investment when needed, seems to just get me thinking of how I can make this happen.
Not sure what I am asking anymore even.... am I trying to talk myself out of it or talk myself into it?? |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | ..It's an irrational obsession (as opposed to a rational obsession??) , and, the mechanical features on the mid-60's Mopes are
still available across the counter at many parts shops, which makes for a lot easier-maintenance, than on/for our cars.
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Alberta Canada | Here's a painful story-A few years ago, I watched a guy pay 800 bucks for a one owner 61 Imp.It was weathered, but really solid and all he wanted it for was the 413.I had no place to store it at the time, so I had to let this guy buy it. |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | I spotted one of these 4HT just last week in a corner of an industrial yard. Looked to be quite nice. Can inquire if anyone is interested.
Mr. Go-to-guy
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 907
Location: Magra, Sweden | During my first visit to the US in 1985 I've got a ride with Gene, a friend from Boulder, CO up into the Rockies in his 61 Crown Imperial 4-d HT. He had found the car parked at a street and did actually pay more for four new White Walls and an oil change than he paid for the entire car and it was almost like new. Ordinary people we met couln't understand they've ever made such a finned rocket ship in USA in those days. |
|
| |
1961 Imperial Lebaron
