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!