Automotive
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1982 Chrysler Imperial For Sale
Many thanks for stopping by, but it is sold.
Happy that an enthusiast purchased it.Due to downsizing, I no longer have a garage space to store my 1982 Imperial. Currently it is being stored under a carport with a car cover on it. It’s started and driven regularly to ensure it runs smoothly. Simply stated, the car deserves a better existence and more frequent use. It is a definite head turner and a well-preserved survivor given the history of the 81-83 Imperial line. This car was converted to carburetor by one of the previous two owners, but I do not believe it was a true factory conversion as the dashboard DOES NOT have the asterisk between the ODO and MILES indicator. The asterisk is typically seen on dealer installed EFI to carb conversions as the dashboard was replaced as part of the retrofit.
Enclosed are details of my original purchase and other investments (parts, service, etc..) that I have made in the car. It drives very well and is extremely quiet. The car is on its second paint job and the hood was later repainted because of bubbles that had appeared in the finish. Insulation was installed to prevent future heat transfer, I’ve since had no issues. The two front seats were recovered as the driver’s seat had a split in a seam. I procured the equivalent of OEM leather from SMS Auto Fabrics that was specifically dyed and treated with the special “opalesque” finish used in the Imperial. The leather alone took 8 months to acquire and was almost $600. I’ve had the carburetor rebuilt once after installing a new TOMCO carb in 2104. It was rebuilt and cleaned in June, 2021.
As for the car, here’s a quick inventory of the vehicle:
- Headlamp doors operate (I replaced the original interior door cover with the 1981 chrome version as I think they are more attractive)
- Headliner was replaced in 2014.
- Painted in 2014. I did not pinstripe it because I wanted them hand-painted and couldn’t find a proper artist.
- A/C converted in 2014.
- Some sections of the bumper have been replaced due to the finish bubbling/flaking.
- The original radio was replaced with a working unit. I have never tried the cassette tape.
- The radiator and water pump were replaced in 2018.
- New tires were placed on the vehicle in 2018.
- Power locks work.
- Power windows work.
- Power seats work (all directions – see video).
- Power antenna works with original radio.
- Power mirrors are finicky and temperamental. I set and forget them because the movement is slow.
- The Cartier emblems in the exterior lighted columns and steering wheel are intact.
- The hood ornament was replaced with an OEM Cartier as the original was badly chipped from road wear.
- The wiper blades will park, but need some manual assistance to completely disappear.
- Intermittent wipers settings work.
- The steering wheel had some cracks that were repaired by a fabrication shop, but have reappeared.
- The radio antenna routes to the secondary stereo. The dash unit simply has a speaker mounted in the middle of the dash for stylistic effect.
- There is a Pioneer Bluetooth receiver with 2 6×9 speakers in the rear and 2 tweeters in the front.
- The original aluminum rims were quite weathered, so I bought a set on eBay and then had them restored. Some of the middle caps, originally clear/white, were missing so I replaced them with 4 of the red jeweled caps.
- Since this vehicle is so long, I added a rear view back-up camera that engages when you place the car in reverse.
- All fender chrome is in excellent condition as it was all replaced with OEM. Since installation, one strip has a small “ding” in it.
- Speaking of dings. I tried to capture a photo of one that’s on the passenger side under the back window on the upper part of the body. It did not photograph well. I have not had it repaired as I do not have a PDR person I trust available. The hood has a vaguely noticeable dip 1/3 of the way down from the driver’s side, towards the middle of the hood. I only mention it because I notice it when cleaning the car.
- The car has a coat of ceramic wax on it and the paint repels water very well. Incidentally, the car has been stored in a garage since I acquired it in 2012.
- The fuel gauge can be temperamental, not changing during driving, but showing the accurate level at restart.
- The Imperial shifts smoothy, brakes quickly and accelerates as expected, very leisurely. The steering is light/airy.
- The black rubber on the rear bumper has a nick in it. A fabricator could likely fix it, I just have not looked into it.
- Top of the dashboard has some slight discoloration due to age but is not cracked anywhere. See photos.
- The lower fascia of rear bumper has some “feathering” in the paint as it likely didn’t have enough flexing agent when painted. Not noticeable to naked eye. See photos.
- Cruise control is inoperable because of change from EFI to carb,
- The sale includes a number of assorted spare parts salvaged from 2 Imperials on a pick/pull lot in Seguin, Texas. They are too numerous to mention individually, but are a valuable asset that comes with the sale.
- There are 2 areas on the passenger side, lower body where some rust remediation is going be required, eventually.
- Currently insured by Berkeley Classic with an $11,000 replacement valuation.
- Vanity mirrors actually work.
- Cornering lamps function.
- New Texas inspection sticker, so it obviously passes that testing regiment.
$9,000.00 See accompanying documentation for repair/replacement history.
99,329 Miles (reasonably assured this is quite accurate given the lack of an asterisk on dash.)
A gallery of full sized, non-compressed images and videos of the Imperial are located here.
This is a very stunning, rare car with a gorgeous and comfortable interior.
Front w/headlamp doors open 
Front, Right, Hood 
Driver’s Profile 
Rear w/tailamps on 
Hood/Fender/Window/Door 
Mirrors and chrome trim 
Refurbished wheels 
Wheel Detail 
Some bubbling in corner fender 
Interior Passenger 
Owner’s Manual 
Passenger Door Panel 
Driver’s Door Panel 
Recovered Seats w/Mark Cross embossing in place 
Real pull assists and seats 
Repurposed Frank Sinatra Console 
Headliner and Visors 
Center Stack of Dash 
Motor You arrange shipping. U SHIP is a good option or choose your own carrier.
If you want a 3rd party assessment, use Freddy Gonzalez/Closer intersection in Edinburg, Texas as center point to search for a mechanic within a 5 mile radius, please.
Serious inquiries only.
No owner financing.
No trades.
512-298-2032 -
AutoTech
There’s a lot of cool tech coming out of the 2021 CES and much of it is aimed at the automobile market, particularly devices used for driver alerts and data. I grabbed a few short videos off YouTube:
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Auto-Aficionado
Car enthusiasts, collectors, and owners are some of the easiest people to buy gifts for. Fifty bucks in the car care section at Auto Zone can go a long way towards a bad-ass gift. Seriously! I’ve given car wash gift certificates as a gift for years, but something that is a great consideration for your other half, parent, or bestie is a full-on car detail. I do not mean the half-assed Genie car wash 1 hour job. I am referring to a craftsman’s detail. Someone who knows about paint detoxification, the cleaning of yellowed headlamp lenses, refurbishing plastics and seals and reconditioning seats. While not inexpensive, a heavy duty refurb can make an aging car look phenomenal. In the Austin area, I recommend Motoring Concierge. They can make a worn out vehicle look pretty damned good. You can look at their facebook feed to see examples.
Also, if your rims are all scratched from curb rash, they can be reconditioned to look like new in as little as a few hours. Call your car dealer for the inside scoop on who they use internally. Most of the time the body shop or used car manager knows a quality service provider.
Additionally, talk to your local body shop. If you have any scratches that are not so deep that they stop your fingernail when being dragged over it, they can be buffed out with compound. I have done this myself, but I would recommend a professional.
Lastly, if you have dings from doors, hail, or rocks, have them take out by a paintless dent repair specialist. I have used DDS for years. Call and ask for Charlie and tell him I sent you.
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Mangifting
Not sure what to get your dad or buddy for Christmas?
Think outside of the gift box and consider something more utilitarian.Topping my list is a flexible bit extender. Many times I find myself working on my car and a socket set just won’t quite get into a spot that I need to tighten a screw or bolt, this handy device is perfect for those hard to reach spots.
A hex bit set is great for those who tinker with technology and devices with super tiny hex screws.
Lastly, a quick-change bit holder. If you mess around with tools, bits are a royal pain to contend with. A bit holder makes swapping out bits super easy.
Good luck finding the perfect “dad gift.”
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Chronicling Cars
After some wine consumption with my sister, we decided to chronicle all the cars we’ve owned. We were both surprised at the number of cars we’ve owned and the vast range in vehicle type. Turns out, I am a Ford and Chrysler guy; the Ford prevalence was surprising.
I decided to rebuild the list in a catalog on Pinterest.
Update… I got another Caddy. Admittedly, the dealership left me less than happy with my last one, but we had a heart to heart and I came back to GM/Cadillac.
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2015 F1 Washout. Mud and Mechanics.
Turn off traction control and slip on your rubber boots because you’ll need some tenacity to traverse the COTA parking lots and grounds. It was a mess! Pacific hurricanes rarely effect Texas weather, but this year is the exception. Torrential rain is forecast for Saturday and if Friday was any indicator, the crowd might need to bring a life boat.
The parking lots are all but marshlands and bayous. The mud is like quicksand for ties. My poor little ATS almost had to be rescued, but some quick thinking got it out of the mud and back on the side-road.
So after braving the elements and arriving at our SkyBox, we walked into a huge mess! Garbage was strewn throughout the floor, tables and chairs were overturned and water was everywhere. Because of the storms, the food had been taken away, the vendors had closed their doors, and the crowd had all but disappeared. When the storms finally passed, the track actually dried out a little. It was dry enough for the Porsche qualifying race and the original F1 cars to get out on the track. It was fun to watch, but under less than ideal circumstances.
Unfortunately, bad planning added to the mess. When I went to purchase some food (since the box food was gone), I was told that the kitchen {Thirty Four Chophouse} was out of chicken fingers (after I paid for them). How do you run out of chicken fingers when you’ve supposedly prepped for a huge crowd? I’m still scratching my head on that one. They tried to save face by offering two hot dogs as an accommodation. Hardly comparable, but a noble offer nonetheless. Since I was cold, wet, and hungry, I took the bait.
Without the crowds, hustle, and fanfare, the event seemed lifeless. The rain will continue, so F1 2015 will likely be a wash out. It is unfortunate, but that’s just Texas weather for you.







