"Once we scaled it down, it remained 100% Imperial."--Murray Pfaff
1959 Imperial Speedster
Owned and Customized by: Murray Pfaff, Royal Oak, Michigan
Mopar Power
- Engine: A 6.1L Hemi crate engine, with an Aeromotive-equipped EFI system, high-amp alternator from Ohio Generator, a Milodon oil pan, owner-modified intake with engraved ribs and fabbed "intake blades," K&N air filter, and ceramic-coated Mopar headers and Flowmaster "Hushpower" mufflers in a custom polished exhaust system built by Steve Langdon (who also fabricated the custom valve covers from original 392 Hemi covers and the '59s front fender letters).
- Transmission: A-518 overdrive automatic (modified by Phoenix Transmission Products), with a 25,00 stall converter and '60 Imperial pushbutton shifter, with cable from Imperial Services, Frankenmuth, Michigan.
- Rearend: '09 Viper ACR-S rear end with a 3.07-geared, GKN Visco-Lok limited-slip-equipped Dana 44.
Sure Grip
- Suspension: (Front) Ridetech adjustable coilovers with Schwartz Performance sway bar (Rear) '09 Viper independent.
- Brakes: Raybestos NASCAR Super Speedway discs, with 4-piston monoblock calipers and an SSBC master cylinder/proportioning valve.
- Wheels and Tires: Orange-painted Dayton "Triple Cross" knock-off wire wheels (17 x 8 inches front, 18 x 10 inches rear) wear Goodyear F1 GS-D3 tires (225/45R17 front, 275/40R18 rear)
High Impact
- Body: Original'59 Imperial Crown four-door sedan converted into a roadster by Murray, with much help from Steve Langdon (who made a telescoping body jig for it), Steve Germond (metal shaping and fabricating), Tom Gardner (mechanical and electrical engineering), Mike Brimm (panel fit and paint prep), Chuck Yee (bodywork), and Kevin Howell (Computer-aided design of emblems, engine bullet, and other items). Chrome plating by Librandi's Plating, Middletown, PA, and custom "Crown" emblems by Con2r, Beaverton, OR. Taillight lenses were hand-made by George Laurie, and the custom polycarbonate windscreen was made by Pro Glass, Bristol, IL.
- Frame: A Schwartz Performance "G-Machine" steel tube frame replaced the way-long OEM one.
- Paint: Mike Brimm and PPG's Jeff Matauch sprayed on the Envirobase paint (in Jaguar Topaz, Lamborghini Atlas Orange and Volvo Java shades) at PPG's Technical Training Center, Wixom, MI.
- Interior: Pat Russell at PJ's Trim Shop in Hemlock, Michigan stitched the Rolls-Royce hides while Murray made the door panels, custom console/"waterfall and steering wheel center section. Seats are Celica GTS buckets, New Vintage Instruments in Ferndale, MI made the Murray-designed gauges, Alpine supplied the sound system, Vintage Air supplied the HVAC, and the steering wheel rim is from a'60 Imperial.