Last weekend the Southern California Imperial Club and Guests were Welcomed to the Park.
It was great fun! Travelers from San Diego, Palm Springs, Long Beach, Hollywood, Stevenson Ranch, Camarillo and a couple of neighbors enjoyed the Dinosaurs and Classic Cars. Six Imperials were on display – 1955 Crown Imperial Limousine, 1960 LeBaron 4 door Southampton, 1961 Crown 2 door hardtop, two 1964 Crowns a Convertible & a 2 door hardtop and a 1982 Frank Sinatra Edition. A 1977 Dodge Charger joined the Imperials too!
A Corner Bakery Lunch under the shade of two Brazilian Pepper Trees & a Jacaranda with Great Conversation made for a Wonderful Day.
My 1960 Imperial LeBaron gets a check out by Raphael. Under the hood a look at the 413 V8 and a demonstration of the swivel seats available on late fifties and early sixties Imperials and other Chrysler Corporation Division vehicles.
Raphael likes the Crown Imperial Limousine and waits for me to open the door for him to enter. He checks out the Limousine and I point out the ID plate #C55 1111. The number indicates it was the 111th Imperial for 1955. There were 127 Imperial Limousines made in 1955. This Imperial was originally sold to a Dealership in France one of 47 exported Limousines in that year. The seller indicated it was used in the French Embassy. If so President Eisenhower could have been driven in this car! Unfortunately, there is no documentation to confirm the French Embassy connection. However, anyone that would have been able to afford such a car and have it shipped to France at that time must have been someone of importance. The story of its restoration process to date is too long and involved to go into in this article. So, I only bored my guests with the details.
Raphael examines the divider window. I had the design from the cover of the 1955 Imperial brochure etched into the glass by a Stain Glass and Craft Gallery in Santa Monica. If the French Embassy story is true, I thought this would give the passengers the feel of a real “Embassy Limousine” during their ride!
A Fun Fact for Car Enthusiasts, this Imperial has Factory “4 Wheel Self- Energizing Disc Brakes”! Chrysler Corporation provided this feature standard on their Imperial Limousines from 1950 through 1955. As I mentioned last week, many feel “Old Cars” are “Metal Dinosaurs”. They All got along together just fine during the Picnic at the PaulsPrehistoricPark.com.
Coming in future posts more “Tracking Dinosaurs” – making Raptor Tracks and the Adventures of Mr. A. Sam, a Metal Dinosaur Sculpture in Zimbabwe!
“Dedicated to Saving Metal Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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