Trucks and vans, or work vehicles had a
completely different set of safety, and emissions standards, which
is why truck did not have collapsing bumpers, head restraints, and a
plethora of other Federally mandated features that Imperials, or lesser cars
had to have. Only when trucks started to become something more than a
utilitarian vehicle found mostly outside of cites, or were for commercial
purposes, did the manufactures start making them more appealing to the eye,
with upgraded interiors, bed liners, etc... To this day, if a vehicle
is designated as a truck it does not have to meet the CAFE standards that
cars do. Subaru just tried to get the Forester, and the Outback
designated as trucks to avoid fuel, and safety standards applied to
cars. It was a public relations
nightmare for such a popular family series of cars. Subaru pulled
back, and fast.
I think you can still buy a work van
without head restraints. I had to Rent a Chevy 15 passenger van
today for our Philanthropy staff to host a donor fieldtrip that had no
restraints on the two front seats, nor any other seat for that
matter.
I do get a lot of crap from
some people at
work about my Imperial. "Not very environmentally friendly now is it,
Bill?" I just smile and say it has been on the road for 39 years, and
it is made out of a material known
as "Steel". If I so chose
to, I can sit, lay, or even stand on the hood, or trunk
of the car without causing a couple thousand $$ worth of damage.
If something wears out, or even breaks, I have it
rebuilt. It's what is called
"Mechanical". No silicone chip, no
computer, it has a "Carburetor", It
is also has a V-8 engine, measured in size by cubic inches, rather than
how many 1 liter cola bottles fit under the hood, and yes it
gets 8 mpg, 6 if I'm doing anything over 70 mph over one of the
several mountain passes we have here. And, last year when we had our
staff retreat, and carpools were being formed, and people kept emailing they
had room for one or two more riders, it was May, and the weather was
getting nice, my car was full up in less than 10 seconds after sending out
the email I was driving Doris to the retreat. Passed many a Civic,
Accord, Camry, Prius, etc.. Top down, 6 passengers, waving to
co-workers as I/we flew by over Stevens (?) Pass. That night I gave
rides to 3 different groups of co-workers, lobbyists, State Director, Gov't
Relations, board members, the big guns from around the
state, all around Leavenworth, WA. A Bavarian style town.
Of course some
of these people at work (none just mentioned) are the same people who
are strict vegetarians, not that that is a bad thing (my mom turned
vegetarian about 12 years ago. Pity. She made the best Chicken
in wine sauce), but I do like a good steak, and am not going to take any
guff over it. To each his/her own, but one day, our office manager
came in the lunchroom and said "Bill, that's so gross to sit here and watch
you eat flesh". I took a big bite, chewed, swallowed, wiped my mouth,
smiled, and nice as pie, said to her, "Well Cyndi, I always thought
vegetarians were skinny?" That was the end of THAT conversation.
Point is, well, who know just what the point is, but it was a good
story. Oh, something like some of us walk to the beat of a different
drummer, and if that tune is being played out of a state of the art 4 watt
AM radio in a car made 40 years ago, so be it.
Wouldn't it be interesting it Imperial
ever made a luxury truck? Escalades, and Navigators, or that stupid
Lincoln Briarwood (?) At least Imperial would add a little class to
the Pimp niche market.
Bill Ulman
Seattle, WA
'66 Imperial Crown Convertible Coupe -
Doris Day - with factory installed smog pump mandated for all cars sold in
California starting in 1965. Said so right on the window
sticker. My car was sold new in San Rafael, CA, just across the Golden
Gate Bridge in Marin County. California led the way. They had
to. They had the worst air quality, at least in S.
California.
Interesting!~
I owned a 76 Dodge maxivan (ok-I used it to go to Imperial meets!)
which did NOT have a cat converter. I bought it used that way. First
time I went for inspection the mechanic said it couldn't be passed
because it lacked a converter. He said all vehicles from 1975 had to have
them-
I found another mechanic who didn't look underneath., as I couldn't
convince the first guy the van didn't have one when made. -Is it possible
this is one of the vehicles that was factory free of a converter?
TED
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