Largest Imperial Collection

[DocMcNeedy]

I'm keeping them alive and on the road you cranky old f#ck.

 

[Moseman]

Wow. Who can collect the most Imperials....

More proof of how the growth of a dedicated forum gets diluted. I'm outta here. Thread ignored. I can't hear you.

Aww, Stan, just fun, and we are grossly conspicuous in our consumption!

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

Here in the Netherlands is a guy with more than 30 Imperials...
Don,t think he,s here on the forum.

yes I can confirm that there was a collection with 39 Imperials in the netherlands owned by C. d. G.

But he gave 11 Imperials away (=Crown models) and got only one 61 Imperial Convertible additionally so he should be at 29 Imperials right now. Ranging from 1957-1975.

I have seen most part of the collection

Carsten

 

[ImpJay]

29 Imperials right now. Ranging from 1957-1975.

How many of those are Fuselages?

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

How many of those are Fuselages?

five.
1969-1973 LeBarons, all 4-door Hardtops

IIRC all of them factory export cars and belonged to the managment of Phillips a well known dutch company.

Carsten

 

[DocMcNeedy]

My dream is to set up a museum consisting exclusively of Imperials. You can never have too many.

The only flaw that would worry me about the "Museum scenario" is the quiet deterioration from non-usage. However, I agree that they are physical "works of art" and preservation is important.

 

[bigmoparjeff]

Back in the mid eighties there was a guy near me that definitely had more than 50 Imperials, and possibly closer to 100. The majority were 1967 and '68, along with many '64-'66's. My neighbor at the time had told me about the place and I drove by it one time to check it out. There was a thin tree line along the road, and many of the '67's and '68's were backed up to the tree line, so as you drove by it was just one Imperial after another for quite a good distance. As expected, the owner of the cars was a nut job that would threaten bodily harm to anyone who entered the property, so I never bothered to investigate any further. Even though the place was only 10 minutes from my house, it was on a stretch of road that I hardly ever needed to drive on, so I didn't keep a close eye on the property, and eventually all the cars disappeared. I'm sure the township eventually cracked down on the guy as more homes were being built in that area. I never heard any chatter on what happened to the cars or the owner, but I have better connections these days and might be able to find out more.

Jeff

 

[Imperialist]

If we are talking about including parts cars or operating a commercial enterprise, Lowell Howe in California had to be the all-time King. I bought a number of parts from him years ago. A real gentleman. R.I.P. In posing this question initially, though, I was wondering about anyone who has actual running, driving cars, so salvage yards wouldn't count.

Doc McNeedy is spot on regarding the museum silent deterioration issue. There is a way to address this, though. I have been lucky enough to see 2 private car collections of upwards of 30 cars in my town owned by guys with big money and they have "curators" to keep the cars in running order at all times. The owner can then call up and say "I want to drive the Phantom V or the Gullwing or the 600 Laundalet " and he has them ready. The one curator guy referred to himself as the "modern day stable boy for the rich". Somebody made a fortune selling them trickle chargers and those pricey Optima batteries.

To me, part of the fun and challenge is keeping them up myself, to the limit of my ability. I would be happy at 6 since I collect only 64s and 69s. I would like to have a nice 4 door LeBaron, a Coupe, and a convertible of each year. I'm getting there!

 

[ImpJay]

You guys are sick bashtads.

I´m half way at my goal, which is to have one of either hardtops from the Fuselage era, though maybe then I´d have room for yet another and...

 

[DocMcNeedy]

Just so it's clear to any members that are in an oxycontin prostatic fog today...I acquired my miniscule 72-73 collection for personal satisfaction and enjoyment. However, I am forward thinking about the next caretakers after I'm gone. I will definitely sell them if they sit. Proof would be my Chebbie collection. Fortunately, I'm healthy and can drive them from April into early December. Im rotating them all the time. Lee has gotten alot of attention lately because her new carb is getting attention and tweaked alot. The coupe and green one are in the shop.They get regular maintenance and all have been upgraded to some degree since I got each one. More some than others. They are stored in a new, dry facility. I dont hear about A, B or E body collectors getting any grief about having more than a few.

 

[DocMcNeedy]

Now here's a nice collection.
With help and credit to FB group 55-75 member Michael Carley.
*I just made it into a poster.

 

[ImpJay]

Now here's a nice collection.
With help and credit to FB group 55-75 member Michael Carley.
*I just made it into a poster.


View attachment 295726

Are the owners of other Imps in that poster familiar?

The 69-70 and 73 belong to OIC members, the 71 is currently in Brazil and the 72 belongs to @Patrick Slegers. The 75 looks like to be in a factory promotional pic.

 

[DocMcNeedy]

Are the owners of other Imps in that poster familiar?

The 69-70 and 73 belong to OIC members, the 71 is currently in Brazil and the 72 belongs to @Patrick Slegers. The 75 looks like to be in a factory promotional pic.

As far as I know these are a hodgepodge of various and independent owners.

 

[crv]

Now here's a nice collection.
With help and credit to FB group 55-75 member Michael Carley.
*I just made it into a poster.


View attachment 295726

That's what I mean by 'museum', at least one from each year. No reason why they would need to sit and deteriorate, over here we can drive pretty much all year round, no snow, no salt, no problems.

 

[Imperialist]

Well done! I would hang that poster.
The ‘64 is the “Mad Men” car.

 

[Finn Yorker]

five.
1969-1973 LeBarons, all 4-door Hardtops

IIRC all of them factory export cars and belonged to the managment of Phillips a well known dutch company.

Carsten

This is getting interesting, do you know more about these cars?

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

This is getting interesting, do you know more about these cars?

I have seen some of them.
I remember the 69 being beige, the 70 is black with a gold interieur and the 71 is dark green. Right now I do not remember the details on the 72&73s.
Hope that helps

Carsten

 

[barnfind]

the 70 is black with a gold interieur
Hope that helps

Carsten

That sounds interesting, would love to see pics of it

 

[cantflip]

One up from the bottom right 1974 in Avocado (unconcerned with factory color name) was in Gesswien's inventory... IDK, it probably still is.

I have 2 1/2, counting the 76 NYB as 1/2... 2 3/4 counting the parts hoard. Of course I'm just a lowly working stiff, not a dentist

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

That sounds interesting, would love to see pics of it

unfortunately I do not have quick access to the pics I saw it more than 10 years ago and pics are stored on an old computer