Chrysler Imperial E80
With the excitement of a new car behind me, it was time to face the realities of getting started on an unplanned project. Having nowhere for it to live, previous owner Rod kindly agreed to keep Annabel for a couple of months while I sorted something out.
My wife Kim and I only have a single-car garage (which I’m sure was designed for an Austin 7), occupied by my 911. My father’s large lockup was already full to the brim, so there were no options there either. Fortunately, my friend Charles had just completed a large shed on his farm, which only stored his MGB GT and a tractor. He was quick to offer Annabel a temporary home until I can get a big shed built at home. Now we had a plan!
Early on a Saturday morning, I picked up a very large hire trailer with my 1974 Transit and headed for Rod’s place. The Transit is the perfect vehicle for the job, having lots of interior space for parts, and being an Australian Ford Transit, it is powered by a 4.1-litre Falcon six-cylinder, uprated to produce 160bhp and 250lb ft – plenty for towing a heavy load.
I arrived at Rod’s just after 8am with four second-hand 18-inch tyres and four new tubes on hand. As Rod and I fitted them, it became obvious that I have a lot to learn about dual splitting wheel rims and the hydraulic external contracting brakes.
Everything always takes longer than you plan! At about 10.30am, we had the chassis back on its wheels. Rod’s son, Richard, dropped in to help us lift the body on, which was a bit of a struggle with three of us, but we managed.
We filled the Chrysler body with panels; the Transit carried the bonnet, radiator, headlights and sundry items. By midday we had everything loaded and tied down ready for me to make the two-hour trip to Charles’ farm, where the next phase will begin.