Doris used to be light pale blue, not gray, and the white pearlescent interior is the original interior, at least most of it.
Hi Neal! First off, thanks for the reply as ell as the info! The '66 convertible
I have used to be owned by BILL ULMAN up in Seattle. He has an article about him
and the car (Doris) on the website. Go to the page that has the YEAR-by-YEAR
listings for the Imperials and click on '1966'. Then, look for the part that
says "Bill Ulman's Convertible", while you are there you can also check the same
page for photo's of "Chris Hawkins' LeBaron" as well. I am buying the car from
Chris and it should be here in southern California (he is in Atlanta) by Labor
Day if all goes well.
The convertible I have is currently a BLUE color, as shown in the photo on the
'1966' website article. The previous owner told me the guy he got the car from
repainted it from the original color. It was either a very light blue color or a
light grey....the small places where I can still see the old color make it hard
to tell just what that old color was!! Currently the 'pearlescent white' seats
and white vinyl door panels that are in the car may or may not be the original
ones or even the original colors! Two owners back, the guy removed the interior
to do some work and apparently messed things up to the point that he sold the
car to another guy (Jeff CArter) who did restorations on Imperials. He then
eventually traded the car to Bill Ulman for another Imperial. Jeff Carter may or
may not have put the same interior back into the car or got one from another car
someplace. Right now the whole interior REALLY needs to be completely
replaced....seats rebuilt, new leather, etc. as its all falling apart real
quickly! Although I really like the look of the 'pearlescent white' for the
seats, I know that this color leather is VERY expensive and, while I am not
trying to make a 'factory original' out of the car or a 'trailer queen' either,
I would prefer NOT to spend all the $$$ on the pearlescent leather if it
originally came in a different color leather. Currently it has a 'medium' (?)
blue carpet in the car so I guess its even possible that the car came with some
sort of 'blue' leather inside.....I think there was a sort of pearlescent-blue
leather also , wasn't there????...or am I imagining that I heard something about
this kind of leather someplace?
I was thinking that MAYBE there is a code someplace on the car, on a plate
affixed someplace that tells me just what color interior actually came with the
car. I have even considered changing the color, since its not the original color
and, I was told, is actually a FORD color(!). My favorite colors are the DEEP
PLUM and RUBY that was available in '66. The LeBAron I am getting from Chris
Hawkins is the Deep Plum (but was originally GOLD) and I would love to have a
matching LeBaron/Convertible both in the Plum color.....but the paint on the
convertible, while certainly not perfect, is still pretty good...or at least
good enough to not need me to run out and spend thousands of $$$$ on getting her
repainted just now. First, I want to get the mechanics and the interior all
fixed up and then I'll think about the exterior paint.
Do the dealer-sample books you have give any indication about a NUMBER or CODE
for the interior that I can check or look for of the body plates???
I wqill look over what I can find on the car and see just what I can come up
with.
Thanks again for your help!!! I appreciate all the help and info I can get!!
Dan Melnik
---- Neal Herman <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
=============
I have the dealer sample book for 1966, with large paint chips, upholstery,
vinyl top and convertible top samples. There was only one white, which
would have been leather with a pearlescent finish. The door panels and top
were vinyl, and would not have that finish. I have the original
pearlescent-finish leather in my '66 Crown, so as long as your seats have
the pattern of those in this convertible once owned by Chris Hawkins,
http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1966/Hawkins/66convert/index.htm , I'd say
you are fine. You neglected to mention what color the car is, though white
seats were available with all paint colors. Black carpet & dash was
offered with all paint colors except the three blues (Powder Blue, Crystal
Blue, and Regal Blue). Blue carpet and dash was offered with those blues
plus Silver Mist, Formal Black, and Persian White.
Hope that helps. I have the paint codes and trim codes, if you want
something more exact.
Neal Herman
1959 Imperial Crown
1966 Imperial Crown
et al.
> [Original Message]
> From: <dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 8/21/2006 7:57:11 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Q icw 'original' interior (codes?)
>
> Hi All.....I am still trying to put together a complete history regarding
my '66 Convertible and there is one thing (at least!) that really confuses
me. Several owners back the interior was removed (reason unklnown) and the
next owner, while starting a 'restoration' on the car, put in another
interior, which is the current 'pearlescent white' now in the vehicle. The
door panels and convert. top are WHITE. Is there any way that I can find
out just what color interior (WHITE vs. PEARLESCENT WHITE) this car had in
it from the factory? I am looking into replacing the complete interior but
would like to do the 'factory original' thing instead of guessing at what
was there in the first place!?
> Any hints are greatly appreciated. Feel free to email me direct at:
"dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx"
> Thanks all!!!
> Dan Melnik
>
>
>
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