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wkerfoot · 03-15-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GolfStream

I'm the Javier who had the hitch manufactured for the 1968 Imperial. Hello everyone! It tastes great and is less filling.

With the weight distributing hitch (must have) and the receiver bolted into two spots along the uniframe, the Imperial pulls better than my back up tow vehicle (an '06 4Runner).

That said, My 19 foot Bambi International is well under the tow capacity of the Imperial with the tow package and i wouldn't try to pull anything heavier than that. The car still has that sixties luxury car ride slopiness and the steering will never have the road feel and tightness of a modern car. (All of this makes the car just not as safe as a newer tow vehicle with abs, etc and so forth.) But i believe, because I'm not playing Tim Taylor with my rig, i have a very safe, and extremely cool ride.

In case you were wondering:

Bambi - a photoset on Flickr

My car is a strong #2- driver and it is important to me to keep the rig as safe as possible. Once i have the (reese dual cam) sway control and the heavier springs, sway control bars on the car, and higher gear ratio upgrades made, i'll be confident on mountain roads.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

But to anyone else considering towing with a vintage car, GO FOR IT. The airstream alone is somewhat of an odity, but it doubles when some passes you to see that fine vintage convertible at the lead.

Cheers,

Javier

Javier,

Welcome, I see that my directions worked. The car looks fantastic and I see that you found fender mirrors also.

Bill

commander31 · 03-15-2007, 05:27 PM

Okay...a couple comments and a couple questions too.... Bill, I am glad you piped in, i have a favor to ask of you....

I am also to be included in the "Vintage TV" group here that want's to pull my Vintage AS with a vehicle with a little character.....

I have a 1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car with the 460 4V engine and my intention is to outfit this rig to pull my 1969 23' Safari. A friend in Clearwater FL who has a vintage Lincoln Parts and Service business just sold me a "Reese Style" Class 3 hitch assembly for my TC. It just arrived here at the "Oleo Ranch" (one of your cheaper spreads...hehe..

) on Monday. Hmmm...I'm more than a little confused on the mounting locations...

In regards to "beefiness" this hitch looks like it could pull a house off a foundation... but I may be missing a couple brackets or something where the forward two mounting points are. Something is just not gelling here... ???

I am supposed to meet with a good friend of mine tomorrow, who happens to be one of the best fabricators i have ever met, and he will give me his opinion on how to mount this hitch.
Bill...would it be at all possible to see a couple pix of what exactly your hitch looks like underneath your 77 TC??? I would really like to see if it is a comparable product.....

What is the opinion of you guys on Welding vs. Bolting?? Or how about a combination of both??

This big "TownHouse" has a MONSTER frame under it, prolly heavier than todays F-350 SD, so frame integrity is not an issue....

Also, where would I procure a set of the original style fender mirrors????

On another tack....I have spoken to many guys in the past who towed large trailers with Unit Body Cars, back in the day, and by and large have had no significant problems....so you guys querying about Vintage Chryslers or 58 thru 69 Continentals, shouldn't worry.... A good hitch mounted properly, and you're "good to go"....

Rodger "with a D".... You sound like an ex Chrysler exec.....do you possibly know Fred Hudson, who was the head of the Imperial Studio in the Exner years from '57 to '60???? he is a dear friend of mine, almost 85, still has his own independent marine design business in Miami, and i have a portfolio of his work from back then, with several proposed Imperial designs.... Cool stuff!!!

Road Ruler · 03-15-2007, 05:38 PM

Good day Scott... The original style fender mount mirrors would look authentic but I think the Mckesh mirrors would work better overall.

Here is a pic of a heavy duty modified hitch that is bolted and welded. This design is flex free.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...edReciever.jpg

mistral blue · 03-15-2007, 09:02 PM

Any suggestions on what would be a good match with Vintage Thunder (the '77 Argosy 24 in the avatar)? Thanks.

wkerfoot · 03-15-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistral blue

Any suggestions on what would be a good match with Vintage Thunder (the '77 Argosy 24 in the avatar)? Thanks.

A 1977 full size car of any kind, although I am partial to the Ford and Chrysler line or 1977 Dodge Pickup.

Bill

overlander63 · 03-15-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistral blue

Any suggestions on what would be a good match with Vintage Thunder (the '77 Argosy 24 in the avatar)? Thanks.

Gee, my Dakota pulled it pretty well...

Ford's F150 would do well, 1977 was the last year of the parking lights over the headlights.

mistral blue · 03-15-2007, 09:28 PM

Pickup not an option -- kids need to come along and I can't have em jumping out of the bed.

Large convertible is what I'm thinking. I just don't know what's a unibody what isn't. Lincoln's went with suicide doors for a reason. wheelbase. engine size. and that always fungible torque#. What I don't know in this area is amazing.

I'm looking for something that will do the job well. I feel undersized with an '03 Tahoe. 5.3 liter.

Can I find a really cool '77 convertible that will tow Vintage Thunder like it wasn't there?

mistral blue · 03-15-2007, 09:34 PM

Next door neighbor has a 61 Suburban that needs a lot of work. Kind of a pastel red.

wkerfoot · 03-15-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistral blue

Pickup not an option -- kids need to come along and I can't have em jumping out of the bed.

Large convertible is what I'm thinking. I just don't know what's a unibody what isn't. Lincoln's went with suicide doors for a reason. wheelbase. engine size. and that always fungible torque#. What I don't know in this area is amazing.

I'm looking for something that will do the job well. I feel undersized with an '03 Tahoe. 5.3 liter.

Can I find a really cool '77 convertible that will tow Vintage Thunder like it wasn't there?

In 1972, with the new body style, Dodge debuted the Club Cab, additional 1/2 cab with seats on the side. Other manufacturers followed sometime later. Crew cabs have always been made, but some are ugly.

I read that Lincoln went with suicide doors because of the heavy rear doors and with no center pillar which went all the way to the roof on the sedan and of course of the convertible, there was no way to hang the door and expect it to say attached. Lincoln was unibody from about 1959 through the 1969 model year (Scott will know for sure, he is our resident Lincoln expert). With the body style change in 1970 to the one Scott and I have, Lincoln went to body on frame. Rodger with a D is our resident Chrysler expert and he has explained in post 312 what to expect with a Chrysler.

Convertibles disappeared at some time, due, I believe to safety concerns, and have only recently reappeared. I don't think that you will find a 1977 convertible, but I have been wrong before, someone with more knowledge can chime in on that.

I don't care what anyone says, short of a Kenworth, Peterbuilt, Freightliner or other such tow vehicle, you will know its back there, you are towing over 5,000 pounds or almost doubling the weight of the tow vehicle.

The 1960's and 1970's cars will give you a smooth, cloud like ride and the large engines have plenty of torque right at about 60 MPH. With these engines you will find that the transmission seldom downshifts because of the flat torque curve.

Bill

commander31 · 03-15-2007, 10:07 PM

Mistral Blue....

If you have your heart set on a vintage convertible.....

1977 was the year GM made their huge downsize.... across the board....even Cadillac...I think i would shy away from them.

My pick would be a 75-76 Chevy Caprice Classic Convt. with a 454 engine....
Check these out on ebay...300090828980 and also 300091904294

Or maybe a 75-76 Pontiac Grand Ville Convt with a 455.
Check these out on ebay... 250094836752 and also 140095495440

Both VERY sharp looking cars, and would pull your trailer like it was not even back there!! They are both large "body-on-frame" cars, and quite solid.

Ford was completely out of the convertible business by 77....even though a few Mark Vs and Thunderbirds were customized as convertibles by Beverly Hills Conversions, and Hotton Enterprises.

commander31 · 03-15-2007, 10:32 PM

Well, as one last addendum to what my fellow 1977 Lincoln TownHouse owner Bill K. said.....

Yes, the Lincolns were all unit bodied (FoMoCo called it unitized construction) from the 1958 model year until the all new 1970 models came out, being an all new "from the ground up" design from the pen of Arnott (Buzz) Grisinger. Buzz decided to go back to conventional body-on-frame construction.

Actually, the 1961-1969 Lincoln "suicide door" configuration was as much a aesthetic design, as function....it would have been possible to attach the doors at the center (or "B" pillar) on a sedan, as they were all a pillared design (with only six true pillarless hardtops built in 61) But in a 4 door convertible design, it would have been impractical, integrity wise.

Keep in mind that the production 1961 Lincoln Continental began life as a concept Thunderbird in the small, basement "Advanced Design Studio" headed up by the legendary Elwood Engel, who was asked by then Ford President Bob McNamara (later, JFK's Sec of Defense) to "turn it in to a Lincoln" and Elwood thought the center opening doors were as novel, as they were quite "continental".

After winning the Industrial Design Excellence award for the 1961 Continental, Engel was lured away from Ford to Chrysler in late 61 where he promptly took the top job in Design there, and immediately began designing the all new Imperial Crown for '64.... Rumor has it with the insiders at Ford back in the day that this car was a duplicate to Elwood's original proposal for the 1964 Continental, but somehow, he snuck his entire portfolio out the gates with him on his last day at Ford. Hmmm......

Me myself, I would like the appearance of a convertible for a TV, but from a practical standpoint...gimme a big ol' Woody Wagon with a big block V8 and a roof rack with a giant mudflap across the whole bottom of the rear bumper!!

Road Ruler · 03-16-2007, 08:03 AM

A little older than 77 but looks mighty fine!

overlander63 · 03-16-2007, 08:10 AM

I owned a 1976 Gran Torino wagon to tow my Holiday Rambler of the day. Prior to that I owned a 1973 Buick Centurion convertible with a 455 engine, it was a great road car, but massively thirsty. Here is a photo of a similar car, identical except mine was burgundy:

mistral blue · 03-16-2007, 11:18 AM

Wow. All of you have got my head spinning. I'm like a kid in a candy store looking at all of these great rides. I feel like I'm reliving my youth. I see these cars and I swear to you I can smell summer.

When I posted last night I was moments away from going night night. You are all responsible for me not going to work today! (You and the fact that my boy is sick and it's snowing and it's Friday and ...) When I said I was looking for a "good match" I left any reference to any particular year off on purpose. Every decade has their good ones and not so good ones. But what I've noticed in my short time here on the forum is that some combos go great with one another while others just sort of miss. Some combos are meant for one another. Close proximity in age between trailer and TV makes a lot of sense, but I don't necessarily think it is the main deciding factor, is it? I do see the logic however.

I have a '77 Argosy painted mistral blue. It's my pride and joy. It deserves a strong and handsome escort. If there's a perfect mate out there that can transport my family I need to find it. I just don't think a pickup fits the bill. Too many potential passengers. Everything else, however, is an option.

Thanks again for all your terrific input.

overlander63 · 03-16-2007, 12:46 PM

Since your trailer is painted a modern color, you could even acquire a tow vehicle in a matching color (I don't think Jaguars make good tow vehicles, but it would look cool).
You could get an early 1970's LTD convertible, which would also look cool.

Rodger with a D · 03-16-2007, 06:48 PM

Hola There

A guy I know in Pueblo was speaking to ne about his 1975 2 Dr. Imperial La Baron. This car has the only OEM power train. You may not preferr an prestiege car since the standard list has items never listed in an entry level vehicle or they are options on an better vehicle.

Any ole way with no teasing or the like, this is an vehicle made to cruz from your place to where-ever with any era trailer hooked up behind it.

If you have any questions, email me and not the PM thing since I only check it when I remember to.

Rodger & Gabby

safari57 · 03-16-2007, 08:07 PM

Or there's this in the TV for sale section:

My buddies 66 Impala 9 passenger wagon. It tows extremely well. See the details in there. I know he's negotiable on the price. He had to start somewhere and the entire car has been rebuilt end to end.

commander31 · 03-16-2007, 09:32 PM

Oh that's awesome....

Those "telltale" large flags on the fenders must say 396, yes???

I LOVED when Ford and Chevy put the special emblems on the fenders when you got the optional "Big Horse" motors.....

What an awesome ride....

There was a 68 Caprice Wagon on ebay a year or so ago, Black, Woodgrain, Red interior, 427 Automatic, every option....even the ultra rare hideaway headlights.... I believe it went for almost $20k. If I could afford something as cool as that, i would have to look no further for the ultimate "AS hauler"

hahaha!!!!

mistral blue · 03-16-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safari57

Or there's this in the TV for sale section:

My buddies 66 Impala 9 passenger wagon. It tows extremely well. See the details in there. I know he's negotiable on the price. He had to start somewhere and the entire car has been rebuilt end to end.

It's so far away though.

Is there any particular reason why it doesn't have a/c?

safari57 · 03-16-2007, 10:27 PM

Yes, it is a long ways away for sure. And a bit of a hassle to get it there. But there's other cars similar to it for sale all over the States if you check around. This one is nice because it's all been rebuilt and it's kind of neat/rare with the 9 passenger set up but you may not even need that.

As for why no A/C the factory unit was never installed when the car was rebuilt. The current owners were intending to use an aftermarket unit which is far more efficient than the original, and smaller in the engine bay.

As to why it's for sale, they realized that with their 35 Ford (hotrodded) and 54 Ford wagon in addition to their daily drivers, they had a lot of vehicles to maintain. Of the two wagons they've had the '54 for almost 15 years and continue to really enjoy it, so that means the 66 goes. I'm sad to see it go as I'd love to own it but of course I also have way too many cars, according to my wife at least, and for the moment she's the primary driver in the family.

Barry