Hey Bill, Thanks for the great review! Our visit was really fun. Only by the
very nature of the IML were we able to actually hook up and have the Imperial
conversation that never got started years ago at that first meeting.
Hopefully somebody with lots of excess energy will buy that poor old Dawn Mauve
'60 Custom Sedan that we found in Auburn that day. It was out by the Green
River, an infamous place here in Washington. The car had had Senator "Scoop"
Jackson as a regular passenger in the annual Auburn City parade until his death
several years ago. I think that they tried to name our airport after him, but
as far as I know it is still called Seatac International. I'll admit that it
was difficult to actually picture anyone sitting in that car now with all of
that moldy upholstery and dirt. The elderly woman who owned the car finally
became ill and the car was moved from her warm garage to the shelter of an old
tree in the current owner's yard. I encouraged the man to offer it to the local
Technical College auto shop as a project.
I am sure that there would be pictures of that car in the local papers, and in
the historical files at Auburn City Hall with the late senator as a passenger.
That would make it a rather fun project, but too much of one for this worn out
race horse. Who knows, maybe it will appear underneath YOUR Christmas Tree!
Happy Holidays everyone!
Paul
In a message dated 12/24/2003 6:47:10 PM Eastern Standard Time,
twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>
>
> Greetings all,
>
> I wanted to let you all know that I had the opportunity last
> Sunday to be able to visit Paul Wentink here in Seattle. We had met
> briefly years ago when I was at Jeff Carter's home having one of my many
> panic stricken emergencies with my '60 red convertible. I believe I was
> at Jeff's because the hood release cable came out in my hand one
> Saturday, which was doublely bad because my power steering
> pump/reservoir was leaking at a horrific rate, and I was due to drive
> the following day in the Seattle Pride parade. While Jeff was fixing
> the cable Paul came by and we met. Never saw, or heard from him again
> until the red '60 came up as a subject a few weeks ago. Paul contacted
> me, and we talked a great length about Imperials, and the red '60
> convertible that he had actually seen when it was no more than a field
> rotted ragtop with no interior left, and spoke of other local people
> that related to Imperials. Anyway, Paul invited me down to Burien where
> he lives with his many cars. He has so many Imperials, and various
> other makes, he needs two houses and garages to keep them!
>
> I drove down Sunday last in my '66 Crown Convertible, and met
> Paul again. We spent a few hours looking over his wide assortment of
> Imperials (at least one of each style, EXCEPT a '57-'59, '67-'68,
> Fuselage, '74-'75, '81-'83, '90-'93).
>
> Paul knew of a '60 4dr Southampton for sale locally, and asked
> me if I wanted to check it out. I was game, so after I had been driving
> us around all morning in my '66, Paul brought out his beautiful '63
> Crown 4dr Southampton for the trip. This car is the one featured on the
> cover of the new calendar. Check out the cover and look at the three
> small photos on the right hand side that feature the light blue '63,
> that is the car. When we were driving to see the '60, it was such a gas
> to be in a '63 again. I had owned one as my first Imperial, and sadly
> had to sell it to pay for work on the '60 Convertible when I bought it.
> When we arrived to see the '60, my heart just sank. This old feller
> wanted $3,800.00 for a moss covered, mold & mildew eaten interior, bent
> bumpered, rusting car. He had a battery charger hooked up, and the
> engine actually started for a moment. The man actually stated that the
> car had a 318 in it so it would get better mileage! Paul politely
> thanked the man for his time, and we left.
>
> Paul was very taken with my '66, and I let him know about the
> yearly Cascade Loop tour, and that he must join this year. All in all a
> very pleasant day, and I was given a calendar to boot!
>
> I hope each of you has a very merry Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza,
> or whatever holiday you chose to/chose not to celebrate. As you give
> and receive gifts remember the gift you have already received that sits
> in your driveway or garage. I am thankful for this list, and all the
> knowledge gained from it. Thanks go to the vendors who keep old
> Imperials around for parts for the rest of us. May they always be
> bountiful. May we as a group search for and keep Imperials out of the
> hands of Derby people.
>
> I am off now in my '66 Convertible (Doris Day) sleigh, riding on
> Firestone 721's, with an original style single pot brake system that now
> works better than ever with a newly rebuilt booster to buy my cats some
> fresh catnip and smoked salmon for their Christmas gifts.
>
> Merry Christmas to one and all, and remember to keep in mind the
> true meaning of this season.
>
> Imperially yours,
>
> Bill Ulman
> Seattle, WA
>
>
>
>
>
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