" New" 61 Custom 2dr. Southampton

["Rob Kidd" <rlkidd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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    Well after near 3 months of patient anxiety of buying this 61 2dr from Ebay - waiting on a clear title- lining up a shipper from Montana- playing middleman between the seller and the shipper to finally arrange a time for them to meet,the Imp was finally delivered last Thursday 10:45 PM in the cold sleet of an Ohio night. I was called a half hour before delivery- I was pacing the floor like an expectant father again, got the last details of cleaning out the garage done to welcome our new addition to the family!

We had to push it off of the transport, since it doesn't run, push it in the garage with the Jeep, and finally look over what I had lost a lot of sleep over!   (still loosing sleep tinkering around on it late nights!)

       At first glance, I wondered what the heck did I get myself into now? But after studying it over, I had got just what I antisipated- A solid body car, with clean Western chrome. It will need complete interior, paint + some body dent work, braking system rebuild, possibly engine + trans rebuild. But I feel it will be in top shape when done.

       So far, I have gave it's first wash job in 32 years + cleaned the chrome- scrubbed the rotten bias ply tires. Wow- what a difference! Needed to improve it's looks for Easter company coming over this weekend- "so they don't laugh at me too hard!" And I feel better looking at the car now. Oh well, I am still proud of our new 43 year old baby!

       I did "gut" the trunk and interior to get the stinky stuff out of there, and to wash down the floorboards. All VERY solid! It is amazing how solid the Western cars are compared to Ohio daily drivers.

       What I could use from some 61 owners, some photos of original trunk carpet and trim.

                                                  photos of original cloth+ vinyl interior styles used.

                                                  best place to find NOS cloth & vinyl materials+ rear package shelf+ windlace+ carpet+ headliner

       The car is Ice Blue with a blue inside- kind of a metallic sheen to the vinyl inside.( 901 trim code)

Thanks for any help Rob Kidd rlkidd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

                                     65 Crown Convertible

                                     " New" 61 Custom 2dr. Southampton