O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle March 20

Growin up, I never really thought a lot about or admied Imperials, no doubt because I came from a "GM" family - my grandfather drove Cadillacs and by dad and uncles Pontiacs, Olds and Buicks.  

I have only this sole Imperial, which is just a lovely 50s/60s car, that goes on the layout when I update it to the early 60s rather that the early 50s.  

Richard, as I understand it, the difference between a normal Airflow and an Imperial was that the Imperial had the eight cylinder engine and (optional) longer wheelbases?  Were there other differences.  I have this IXO Airflow which looks to be identical to the one you pictured.  

My one Chrysler model is the Brooklin Airflow.  I only owned one Chrysler badged

car (Plymouth, and Dodge, yes).  It was a 1998 Concorde, and everything I detest, four doors and Model T transmission.  As promised by my cousin's husband, who had looked at them, talked to his buddy with a transmission shop, who said Chrysler had the worst automatic in the industry (then), and bought a Buick, the transmission failed.  (this I discovered after the purchase) I got a really good deal on it, much less $ than a five speed manual Accord coupe I should have bought, which explains the error.  It was otherwise comfortable and, except for a stuck power window, and the need to pull the right front wheel to get to the battery, trouble free.  I thought it was the best styled car then available, windshield forward.  Of course, that styling changed soon, and became generic, since Detroit is not a believer in the old axiom, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". (dunno if they have fixed their transmissions, which were broke)

I looked at a very early 1924 Chrysler coupe with hydraulic brakes for sale in the old

Indy 500 grounds vintage car show, but could not find the owner.  Chrysler was first of the Big Three with hydraulic brakes, but to me, most of their cars were generic in style and mechanics all the way to 1955, excepting the Airflow.  It's lack of success probably

quashed further stying ventures.  Chrysler, including Imperial,  had no "LaSalle" V-8's, or several makes' V-12's, much less the V-16's of Marmon and Cadillac.  They used their own side valve 6's and straight 8's, which could have been bought from Lycoming or Continental, whose engines were used by a number of small mfrs. (most of whom were killed off in the Depression).  I would like more 1/43rd models of closed Chryslers, without custom bodies, and as seen on streets, 1940 and prior.  Maybe one

Imperial, say, for the funeral home.

I've mentioned it before, but the 1955 Imperial is my favorite car of all time, followed closely by anything Corvair

What is the price on the USA Models 1955 Imperial?

I own a 1962 Corvair Monza coupe, but the 1955 Imperial might be permanently out of reach for me...

Jeff C

The 1955 Imperial has gotten expensive

Route 66 sells them for $250.00. I've had mine for a long time and paid a lot less.

http://store.route66modelcarst...com/early1950s1.html

Lee

Airflow Imperials were Chrysler's top model trim and were available in all Airflow bodes. all long wheelbase Airflows were Imperials, and all were 8 cyclinders.

For 1937 they also offered Airstream Imperials. The Chrysler Airstream was a more conventional design, as Airflows were selling poorly

Spence, the funeral home is not built yet, but I am thinking about modeling it on that

original town "hardware store" that had been a furniture factory, that had made coffins, that somebody built and posted on here.  Like that building, other small towns had "funeral homes" coupled with furniture stores, and other businesses.   I just have that 1937 Studebaker hearse in my adobe chapel's cemetery, with a coffin, now, and with a horse drawn hearse with it.  (not even a LaSalle hearse, which I should have, and some are out there, I think, but not for my preferred 1937)  I am after an "old mining camp" image.  Seems like Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette, which is running a current series of buildings in the preserved Bodie, Calif. ghost town,

had an article on a similar dual use building in a previous issue.

Beautiful model, Lee.