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1957 Chrysler Imperial Le Baron - The Imperial Charter
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F A C T S & F I G U R E S
Ben Exworthy
Seattle, Washington
1957 Chrysler Imperial Le Baron | | CHASSIS | | Frame | Stock, modified by Retro Rods Inc. (Monroe, WA) | | Wheelbase | 129” | | Modifications | Front stub and crossmember by Jim Meyer Racing (Lincoln City, OR) | | Chassis plumbing | Stainless | | Rearend / Ratio | Ford 9”; gusseted housing; limited-slip differential; 35-spline axles | | Rear suspension | four-link by Art Morrison (Fife, WA); Shockwave air spring/dampers by Air Ride Technology (Jasper, IN) | | Rear brakes | Ford Racing 11” disc | | Front suspension | Jim Meyer crossmember and tubular control arms with Ford Fox-body
rack-and-pinion steering, second-gen Camaro spindles, and Air Ride Technologies Shockwave air springs | | Front brakes | GM 12” disc | | Wheel make, size | Billet Specialties custom, 20x7 and 20x8 | | Tire make, size | Hankook Ventus Sport K104, 245/40ZR20 | | ENGINE | | Make | Chrysler | | Displacement | 392ci | | Machining / Assembly | Mike Reeves (Mount Vernon, WA) | | Water pump | aluminum big-block GM style with adapters by Hot Heads Research & Racing (Lowgap, NC) | | Radiator | custom aluminum with shroud and electric fan by Be Cool (Essexville, MI) | | Alternator | 100-amp GM, polished | | Valve covers | Chrysler Imperial | | Manifold / Induction | Weiand Drag Star | | Exhaust / Mufflers | 3” stainless / Stainless Specialties | | Other engine facts | steel accessory drive brackets hand fabricated by Retro Rods Inc. | | TRANSMISSION | | Make | 4L60E | | Shifter | Retrotek SmartShift (Corona, CA) | | Trans mods | CompuShift by HGM Automotive Electronics (Torrance, CA) | | Driveshaft | Greg Holk, Best Driveline (Everett, WA) | | BODY | | Body style / Material | Chrysler Imperial Le Baron sedan | | Body mods | cowl raised | | Hood | split, arched, and reversed | | Grille | hand-made from steel stock by Retro Rods Inc | | Bodywork | Sig Schott, Retro Rods Inc. | | Paint type / Color | PPG Concept base/clear urethane / 9300 Black | | Painter | Sig Schott | | Other body items | sterling silver hood ornament hand cast by Raymond Geschke, Emblem Magic, casts these from sterling silver | | INTERIOR | | Dashboard | leather, by Hoglunds Top Shop (Everett, WA) | | Wiring | Ron Francis (Chester, PA) installed by Sig Schott | | Steering wheel | restoration by Dennis Crooks, Quality Restorations Inc. (San Diego, CA) | | Upholsterer | Hoglund's Top Shop | | Material / Color | leather and '58 Pontiac brocade / black and charcoal | | Carpet | cut-pile wool | | Other interior items | embossed crown motif for rear armrest and trunk header panel |
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