Imperial Display

["Hugh, 58 Imperial" <imperial58@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mr. Hopkins, you did us all proud, sir.  Well done.

Hugh


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Henry Hopkins" <hhrp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 8:01 PM
Subject: IML: Imperial Display


> Tuesday, August 14th, was the day for the first Carmel-By-the-Sea 
> Concours on the Avenue, a major event put on by Doug Freedman, a major 
> event promoter.  Tuesday, of course, was early in the week of all the 
> major events leading to the Pebble Beach Concours on Sunday, the 19th.  
> We were fortunate to learn of this event and entered my 60 Imperial cvt, 
> and our 60 Chrysler 300F hardtop.  The Imperial was placed in the 
> American Luxury Class and the F in the Muscle Car Class.
> 
> Also in the class with my car was a 1957 Imperial Southampton 2 door 
> hdtp owned by William M. O'Brien, and a 1959 IMperial Crown Convertible 
> owned by William Madden of Asheville, North Carolina.  The restoration 
> had just been completed, black with a tan interior.  Really an 
> outstanding restoration and a real crowd favorite.  Timo Tinskanen was 
> responsible for the resto. and he was there at the show.  So, THREE 
> beautiful Imperials displayed at a really impressive show.  I was very 
> proud to see Imperials getting the praise and the exposure they 
> deserve.   A 53 Cad El dorado cvt,, a 55 Cad El dorado cvt, a 49 bright 
> red Packard cvt, another beautifully restored car,  a black 47 Cadillac 
> Sedanette(fastback) that was so fresh and original looking, and it was 
> billed as being an original, unrestored car, and a 1959 Oldsmobile four 
> door hdtop with 22,000 original miles and it is amazingly "as new". 
> 
> As it turned out, the 59 Imperial received first in class honors and my 
> 60 cvt received the third place awards.  Awards were large, medium, and 
> small engraved circular trays from Tiffany's.  This is to inform not 
> brag, though I was very, very happy to get an award at all competing 
> with cars in that class.  My car is now a three year old restoration and 
> it is no longer a trailer queen.  I drive it to shows now so there is 
> wear here and there.  Second went to the 59 Olds which also received the 
> Best Original trophy.
> 
> Later I was really bowled over when my car received one of the "major 
> awards" and I got to drive up across the platform to receive the 
> trophy.  Now, get this--the award was for "the automobile that best 
> represents the era when American cars turned heads around the world" and 
> named the Erik T. Bethel American Excellence Award.  I didn't meet nor 
> do I know who Erik T. Bethel is but most likely a major sponsor of the 
> event.
> 
> So, everyone, all of us as proud Imperial Owners, we own and drive cars 
> that we know are "head turners", but it certainly is great news to have 
> this recognized by judges at a major concours.  Aren't you proud?  I 
> am,  certainly because my car was chosen for the award, but really 
> moreso that our wonderful, eccentric, wildly beautiful, etc., etc cars 
> are recognized and receiving well deserved praise for the great cars 
> they are!!!!!
> 
> We plan to show cars there next year if get accepted.  Hope so.  The 
> show is Tuesday, August 12th, 2008, in Carmel by the Sea, right in the 
> middle of town on Ocean Avenue stretching about 6 blocks or so.  If 
> you're around that part of  California around then, plan on seeing the 
> show.  It covered cars form the 40s, 50s, 60s(American Family 
> Favorites), American Sport--Corvette, British and European Family 
> Favorites, British and European Luxury Class, British Sport, German 
> Sport, Historic Race, Hot rod, Micro Car, and a few more, so definitely 
> something for most everyone.  Also a class celebrating the 50th 
> Anniversary of 1957 Cars which included a Mercury Colony Park wagon, and 
> a Pontiac Chieftain  4 dr wagon(not a Safari)
> 
> Yes, I have rambled on and many of you gave up reading long ago., but I 
> wanted to give a sense of what kind of special, grand show it was 
> especially since Imperials were so prominently featured and recognized.
> 
> Henry Hopkins
> 
>