Nebraska or Bust

Blackie is a car that is not well optioned. In fact, the only option it has is the AM/FM multiplex stereo. No leather seats, no cruise control, no power door locks (power windows were standard). No nothing. It has been my intention to find the options that are missing (and that would be a bonus in a rebuild), and put them on the car in working order.

Low and behold, an email from one of the members of the Imperial club had a well optioned '73 coupe that he was parting out. Evidently, the new owners wanted to turn that '73 into a demolition derby car, and Bob couldn't bare to see such a great interior go to waste. I sent a reply email back to Bob, asking what was available as parts, since he specifically called out the interior was in great shape. He sent me pictures of a very good looking leather interior with bucket seats. He and I haggled on price, electronically shook hands, and I sent him the money, and the seats were mine. The plan then was to pick up the seats from Bob in October of 2006.

October arrives, and I am ready to pick them up. I asked my dad if he would be interested in traveling with me to Nebraska to pick these up, since I would be using his truck to do so. Evidently, he was coming along if I wanted him to or not. Not that I didn't want him along, I just wasn't sure if he would be up for a trip like that. We drive from Texas to Nebraska, and meet up with Bob. I will say this: Bob is a great guy to work with. Honest and fair. I would not hesitate to buy anything from him in the future. And he has a collection of Imperials himself, mostly for parts, but he has one project car that will be awesome when he is finished. He showed us a '66 Imperial Crown, that had just gotten a base coat of white paint. Incredible!! It will be a beautiful car when he is finished with it. He also invites us to see his acreage with Imperials, but we decline, since we need to get on the road back to Texas.

The trip back was uneventful, except for the tarp covering the seats kept giving us problems. After rearranging the seats in the bed of the truck, no more tarp problem. The seats are now in my dad's garage, waiting for my trip back to Texas in the spring of '07. I have my own truck to use this time, so it shouldn't be a problem in picking them up.

I plan to re-dye the seats myself. There is a company called Leatherique and they custom match dyes for any project that you might have in vinyl or leather. I plan to match the leather seats to the black interior. I'll keep you posted on how that turns out. The only concern I have now is that the hardward on the seats (the nuts and bolts that tie them down to the car) are complete. It might also be a good opportunity to look into replacing the carpet, as Blackies rugs are not in the best of shape.

Below are pictures of the "new" interior, they should give you an idea of what I have to work with.

Enjoy!

In The Beginning...

I have always wanted a project car as a hobby. Something to get my hands dirty, as well as to drive around and, well, show off. Not that I am a show off myself, but something to have that says "Hey, I bruised a few knuckles and emptied my wallet several times over for this".

I have always loved cars. My parents gave me a 1965 Mustang model as a small kid, and I took it to bed with me every night. I think my mom still has the first picture of a car that I drew when I was 3 years old. Interesting that I didn't follow up with any of it, like take auto shop, or try out auto design for a living. Which is probably why I want a project car.

Which leads me to the two cars you see to the right. From the mid-1920's to the mid-1970's, and for a few years in the '80s and again in the '90s, Chrysler's top of the line luxury car was the Imperial. It never sold as well as Cadillac or Lincoln, but it definately was not a "lesser" car compared to either of those marques. Leather interior, 440 cu in engine with a 4 bbl carb, 8 track tape player, optional 4 wheel anti-lock brakes (an industry first), tilt-o-scope steering wheel, vinyl roof and hidden headlights are hallmarks of the 1969-1973 Imperials, with the "fuselage" styling. At 19 1/2 feet long, these are cars you will not lose in a parking lot.

Check out the Online Imperial Club for more information on these incredible pieces of American Iron.

Which again leads me to Blackie, the one in the top picture on the right. I first spotted that one on the club's website. It was owned by a guy in San Diego. I have no idea why it caught my eye (maybe its the F**k You front grille), but I knew then I wanted one, specifically a 1973 model.
Not a few months later (four, to be exact) the very car I lusted after on the Imperial website was up for sale on eBay. In March of 2006, I became the proud owner of a 2 door hardtop, with unknown mileage, but had been well taken care of when it was in San Diego. I paid too much for it, but what the hell, it was mine, and my project. It was in great shape mechanically, and I drove it from San Diego to DC in 5 days, with no problems what so ever.

The other car on the right, Ol' Red, is along the same lines. It was another 2 door hardtop I spotted on eBay, but this time, the seller put it in as a "buy me now" item. I called, made him an offer he couldn't refuse, and it was mine. In January of '07, my dad and a bud of his drove to the dealership where the car was located and picked it up. I have yet to see the car in person, I only have photos from the dealer from whom I bought it. Dad tells me the gas tank has old gasoline in it, as the engine will not stay ignited when started. The roof liner is shredded, and it looks like the leather seats are moldy. I know how to take care of the last two items. Dad is looking into taking the gas tank off the car, and flushing it.

I am a relative newbie to blogging, but I have every intention of keeping this blog updated as often as possible. Especially when major doings are in the works. If anything, maybe some can learn from my up and downs as I move through these projects. If you've got questions or comments, please feel free to let me know.

Enjoy!