My First Love

As I write that title, my thoughts go back to the Diana Ross/Lionel Richie classic "Endless Love." And that connects well with the idea of the first car I ever fell in love with.

I must have been about 14 or 15. My father and I would drive up to Altoona on Saturday mornings to play raquetball. On old Route 220, before the bypass was built, we would pass this old gas station. While the gas pumps no longer worked, there were cars parked out front for sale. It wasn't like a used car lot you typically find today where a number of late model cars and trucks are lined up detailed to the hilt. These cars were definitely "fixer uppers" of many vintages. But one particular car caught my eye.

It was a 1961 Imperial. The faded red paint on this huge four-door sedan only made me want it more. And the condition of the paint made the stainless steel inserts on the roof shine even brighter. Next to the tire bulge on the trunk was a rust spot about the size of a quarter, but other than that, the car was clean on the outside. It was in very good shape for its age.

On the inside, the entire interior needed put back together. While all of the parts seemed to be there, many of the interior panels were detatched from the doors. I wanted this car!

Since I was only a teenager and not of driving age, I had virtually no money. I asked my father to check into the price of this car, but it really didn't matter. The $1,600 price tag was way outside of my reach. And even if I could scrape together that kind of dough, where would I get the money to fill it with gas so that I could pilot this land yacht around?

This beast, and I say that with love and affection toward it, just had a wonderful stance and look. Long and wide, the car carried Chrysler's "forward look" into its waning years.

For those who don't know this wonderfully ostentatious car, let me describe it. Four free-standing headlights flank a chrome grille that measures almost as far across as many current subcompact cars. Above the grille, the bodywork flares out over the headlights creating a winglike look. The smooth hood sweeps back meeting the vast windshield and large greenhouse. Just above the door openings and creating an aircraft-style look to the doors, strips of stainless steel wrap over the roof just a few inches but enough for that distinctive look that only the Imperial had.

Two huge doors with flush mounted handles stretch across an enourmous 129-inch long wheelbase. The bodywork

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