Re: IML: an Fuselage cars (and coupes) under valued?

["Mark Jefferson" <imperialist67@xxxxxxxxx>]

For YEARS I was quite partial to the mid-60's ('65 - '68) C-bodies and Imperials, and bought my '67 LeBaron as it seemed to me the "ultimate _expression_" of that low, slab-sided look. As such, I was a little biased against the fuselage era cars, but I just didn't like styling from that era in general, nothing against the Imperials them specifically.   

You have to drive them (or take a long ride in one) to really appreciate them....... 

What changed my opinion was annual trips I took to Anniston in Chattanooga (great show/event by the way). Each year in the spring, I fly to Chattanooga, then ride the rest of the trip with Elijah Scott in his 1970 or 1971 LeBarons, both of which are extremely nice cars he keeps in tip-top running condition. Last year I was fortunate enough to drive one on the 2-3 hour trip to Anniston from Chattanooga. Hard to remember which one, they're both blue and SO nice. 

At any rate, the responsiveness and performance of those cars really does belie their size. I took it on a combination of highway, and twisty country roads with full confidence, almost more than when I drive my '67. Elijah took it up/down some pretty steep mountain roads outside Chattanooga with agility that surprised me. Pretty capable for a car of that size/weight. And the "quiet as a bank vault" ride, is no less than that on my '67. 

OK so the dashboard woodgrain isn't REAL claro walnut and the styling might not be as elegant to some as other Imperials, but spend some time in one and you'll come to appreciate their aircraft-like looks, and aggtressive stance. I sure did.  

As much as I enjoy attending the Anniston show every spring (highly recommended by the way, I travel all the way from Washington, DC for it!) the best part is the road trip in a in a fuselage era Imperial LeBaron. Whether comfortably ensconced in the backseat with your head against one of the C-pillar "pillows," or behind the wheel, they're really something. 

Mark (reformed fancier of fuselage Imps).

---------[ Received Mail Content ]----------

Subject : Re: IML: Fuselage cars (and coupes) under valued?

Date : Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:01:15 -0700

From : "john sadowski" <jsadowski@xxxxxxx>

To : <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



I agree about the handling. Compared to my 60, the 69 can be pushed quite a

bit on twisty country roads with surprising control. I paid $2200 for mine

12 years ago. Except for the rust problem in the roof, the rest of the car

is very solid. It is a LeBaron coupe with black leather bucket seats in very

nice condition.

John

----- Original Message -----

From: "Kenyon Wills"

To:

Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 12:31 PM

Subject: Re: IML: Fuselage cars (and coupes) under valued?





>

> --- john sadowski wrote:

>

> No matter how nice, nobody seems

>> to want to pay much for the 69-73's.

>> This is much like Lincolns of the late 60's.

>

>

> And that's the BEST part of all of this!

>

> 69-73 (some would say through 75) represent the most

> depressed of prices and yet the most highly refined of

> the full-size car engineering & execution. New shocks

> and a front end rebuild and you'll swear that you're

> driving a car that's 30% smaller!

>

> If folks here cared that much what others thought,

> well, Imperial isn't the first stop on the popularity

> parade.

>

> Aside from the seller of the white car, who cares if

> these cars aren't fetching top dollar. Unless you

> bought a 427 Cobra used in 1972 and put in storage,

> the fact that they're $500,000+ now just means that

> you'll not likely be owning one soon, and driving it

> would be a tremendous risk.

>

> Cars as "investments" is crazy talk. They really

> shouldn't be financial instruments, and I'm happy just

> not losing money on them, as you do with new cars that

> have depreciation schedules. That white one should

> make someone really happy, and represents a bargain

> for someone that wants to USE their car.

>

>

>

> Anyway, I bought a 72 coupe, and the sheetmetal

> between the back edge of the door and the rear bumper

> is absolutely incredible. Take a look at the

> brochures from that time, and I think that you'll

> agree that if nothing else, it's pretty unique and a

> nice design element from the standpoint of such a

> large surface area that you'll never likely see on

> another car again.

>

> Checked the production figures for coupes on the club

> website? Mine's one of 2000 or so. Although I've

> never seen another Fuselage Imp on the roads here in

> the Bay Area, I'm feeling even more confident that I'm

> one of only a few on the planet with one of these

> cars, AND I got it for fifteen hundred bucks!

>

>

> Almost as nice as having a car that everyone else

> agrees is rare without the headaches of insuring a

> half-million dollar car.

>

>

> Kenyon Wills

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> ____________________________________________________________________________________

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>

>

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