Imported from the USA - Smashed in the UK

[ukbangerdan]

Since the debut of #474 Matty Threkeld's 1964 Chrysler Imperial (see thread : we-crash.proboards.com/thread/50290/1964-chrysler-imperial) here in the UK, drivers & spectators anticipated if/when we would see that particular car or more like it grace the tracks in future. Luckily we haven't had to wait that long. Driver #668 Wayne 'Helmet' Goldsmith had this is stunningly prepared 1962(?) Imperial yesterday at the annual 'Blockbuster' banger racing event, an event which has been synonymous with great cars arriving to race. This particular car was actually imported from the USA by it's driver purely to be used as a banger.
(photos taken from a banger internet forum, not my own)




I'll update this thread with more photos of the car once the various photographers from the event upload their photos. I believe Wayne is a member on this forum so hopefully he'll be able to answer any questions on the car itself.
If anyone has any Imperials currently for sale, we'd be very interested in seeing some photos and info, i think Wayne has now been bitten by the imperial bug so to speak & is already building up a stock of them to race over here.

[ukbangerdan]

few more photos from the track's photographer

[88x]

bet that was a pretty penny to have shipped. sweet car tho!

[ron17t]

What did he do to the rear end? Looks like some kind of coil/strut suspension? He needs to get a real bumper on the front- they'll take as hard a bumper as you can find.

[7hemagician]

Did that get converted to front wheel drive

[ukbangerdan]

It has a Jaguar XJ rear end, Wayne had got a growing stock of Imperials coming from the US so this first one is a bit of testing the water before extending the build on the cars mechanically. Drivers can only run stock bumpers which can only be secured by bolts not welds.

[x909x]

He needs the focus on getting some 67-73 than.

[Luke Wells]

Just out of curiosity, what does it cost to ship an Imperial from the U.S. to the U.K.?

[aoldfart]

Do the bolts/nuts/washers have to be stock, or can you up-grade them to a harder steel? I try and replace all my bumper bolts with bigger gr.8 bolts/nuts and washers. Where I run, you can't weld the bumper eighter. But with the gr.8 stuff, I can keep them from falling off.

Steve

[fordpowerforever]

Aug 26, 2014 12:26:57 GMT -5 x909x said:

He needs the focus on getting some 67-73 than.

if you watch some banger racing, you would want the ass end of a full frame not a subber...

[aoldfart]

Another thing you may be able to do, is get rid of the stock bumper brackets, and replace them with thicker flat bar. They'll bend, but not snap like that old spring steel.
I would go with full frame for banger also. Unless you're allowed to do some work on the rear frame/trunk. And then I'd still go for 66 and older.

Steve

[yousoldout]

or learn how to hide welds...

US Imps imported to Europe to wreck in a 1-n-done in some sort of racing I dont comprehend...

Well, that ends the debate on overbuilt derby cars and derbiers spending $$$ on "protectors"

Experimenting with a car shipped across the pond LOL!!!!!!!! Because more are coming LOL!!!!!!!

Please sticky this thread....I couldn't find a MINT 98-02 Ford to 'experiment' with if I really wanted one....let alone a MINT Imp that I wanted to experiment with

[Killerclown123]

I know a guy who buys a bunch of cars that that would be best to smash up and then ships them to other countries. Couple years ago 67 imp with a blown motor, bought it FOR $700. Sold it to somebody in Saudi Aurabia for $2700 with no work done except to take it to the shipping yard. 66 imp to another part of the Middle East. Galaxies, all big mopars, and anything big all shipped to Sweden, Germany, and then Middle East. I've been wondering if it's the terrorist to mess with our supply. Quite of bit of competition to buy these already an then on top of it it getting shipped. You guys really just love this sport

[7hemagician]

And why would you put a jaguar rear end in?

[ukbangerdan]

wow wasn't expecting such a response, thanks for the input hopefully this will answer a few questions:

These are the rules regarding bumpers:

"Only the original standard steel bumper can be used. If a front bumper is fitted, a maximum of three additional
bolts may also be fitted to secure it in place. No wrap around bumpers allowed. Plastic bumpers must be
removed. All cars with deep impact style bumpers must have the bumper and retaining irons removed before racing e.g.;
Volvo 2 series and Saab, you may fit a flat plate 75mm x 3mm in its place. This may be folded back a maximum of 3” with a maximum of 2 bolts per side. The bolts must go THROUGH the
chassis and not UP the chassis"

Regarding the rear end, the Jag rear end as well as Ford 9" rear ends are the most popular swaps on American cars. Purely down to the fact drivers use them week in week out and favour them over most other things; much like you guys would favour something American over something foreign.

Axle & engine rules:

"You may replace the standard engine with any engine provided it is the same or smaller cc"

"Suspension components must remain standard, lowering is allowed by cutting, heating or changing of springs only - All suspension mounts must be in the original position - Back axles ONLY can be interchanged with car & light commercial type but the ride height must remain the same"

The car will be running again in a couple of weeks, how many events it will do before it is scrap is anyone's guess!