IML: 1956 Imperial Wagon History

[Henry Hopkins <hhrp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We owned the wagon in the late 90s when a friend sold it to us.  It was 
then a dark metallic gray and in excellent driving condition, a #3.  The 
person who had it constructed is a longtime collector of full classics, 
for the most part, with quite a few non-classic 50s cars as well.  The 
collection  is  rarely available for viewing, as in, mostly never.  
However, the collector completed the modifications, I am guessing maybe 
in the 80s, but have no official word on that.  The car had a 300 engine 
in it, and the power steering had been removed.  It drove beautifully.  
Right after we bought it, I drove it up the Healdsburg from here in 
Richmond(San Francisco area).  What a rocket!  However the lack of power 
steering made driving a bit difficult.  We really didn't want/need/have 
space for the car at the time and purchased it to assist in disbursing 
the owner's collection as he was moving away from the Bay Area.  There 
was other interest in it and we drove it to San Luis Obispo for a 
week-end Meet Car Show, and a couple of guys from LA drove it home after 
money and papers changing hands.  Of course, now I wish we had kept it.  
Shortly after the purchase, I heard another fellow, Bradley, had 
purchased it and proceeded to have a meticulous, very, very high quality 
restoration done.  The gentleman who had it restored had beautiful cars 
in his collection, including a Duesenberg among quite a few others.  A 
few years later, we saw the car at the same annual show/club meet in San 
Luis Obispo and were stunned by the beauty and quality of the car.  
Believe it won Best in Show, if not, certainly first in class.

So, a bit more history.  Knowing now that it is not impossible to put 
power steering back into a 56 Chrysler/Imperial, we occasionally slap 
hands to foreheads and say "What were we thinking, selling that wagon?" 
but we pretty much say that about every car we've sold.  Usually it has 
something to do with needing $$ for the current or next project, sigh.

Can't be anymore specific about owners prior to us.

Henry Hopkins/Richard Palmer

richard rowlands wrote:
> Thanks Mark...  All of the cars on my web site belong to me however, 
> this 1956 Chrysler/Imperial station wagon belonged to my former boss 
> and friend, John Bradley.  John was a wonderful man with a beautiful 
> collection of cars. Mr. Bradley passed away a year and a half or so 
> ago and his cars have been dispersed.  This dealership has a few of 
> them and is now offering them for sale.  Although not a real Imperial 
> wagon, it's a very nice car and whoever ends up with it will not be 
> disappointed.  I hope it ends up in a nice home.
>
> Regards,
> Richard Rowlands
> Los Angeles CA
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Evans" <mark.a.evans@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 8:46 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: 1956 Imperial Station Wagon
>
>
> > Just curious... Is this Richard Rowland's Wagon? You can see it in 
> > the background of the shots of his immaculate 56 Newport:
> >    http://www.imperialclub.org/Yr/1956/Rowlands/11.jpg
> >
> > BTW, Richard is a real Mopar nut and a nice guy. And, he only 
> > collects the most pristine vehicles. Take a look at his website when 
> > you've got a towel to catch the drool:
> >    http://www.mopar-collection.com/
> >
> > Everything from NewYorkers to to Exner and Engel Imperials. Even a Ghia!
> >
> > --MarkE
> >
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>
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