Karl AKA Stroget is an active curator at HobbyDB of many of the 1/43 model car brands. He has been adding model cars to the DB since 2014; some of his favorites are Alfa Romeo and obsolete Tekno from Denmark!
By Tom Dirnberger
Until now, the two door 1956 Imperial has not been available in any scale. Recently released, a 1:43 scale resin model of the Southampton two door hardtop is now available from GLM. [Editor’s Note: Imperial was the flagship model of Chrysler Corporation, priced higher than Cadillac.]
The models are available in three factory correct color combinations: West Point Gray Metallic over Desert Rose, Satin Gray over Mediterranean Blue Metallic (each limited to 80 numbered pieces), and Surf Green Metallic over Mint Green ( limited to 60 numbered pieces) All are mounted on the familiar GLM leather look base with serial placard.
The Story of This Model
Back in about 1989, I was the founder of True Dimensions, Ltd. Our first model was a 1:43 example of the 1954 Kaiser Darrin. I did a great amount of research to determine what colors were produced by the factory. There were 435 Darrins produced by Kaiser. It was decided to offer each of the four standard colors in 435 numbered models. We never produced all of those models. Those colors were Red Sail, Pine Tint, Yellow Satin, and Champagne (white). In addition I learned that two were specially painted Cerulean Blue for family members. As these were offered for sale I also learned that Dutch Darrin had one specially painted Dunes Tan for himself.
During this process I was offered parts and a brass master of the 1956 Imperial by Gene Parrill of Precision Miniatures. I bought out the company, and he subsequently went to Motor City USA to work with Alan Novak where the Precision Miniatures name was reborn.
As a company, True Dimensions also produced some other models: a parade phaeton Darrin that had been hinted at in the book chronicling the history of Kaiser-Frazer, The Last Onslaught on Detroit.
We also converted the 1954 Dodge by Brooklin into a top down pace car long before Brooklin released theirs. In addition we refinished the 1953 Kaiser from Brooklin in a variety of correct factory colors.
We also did some contract work in 1:25th scale. My regular job demands were too great to continue this work, and we ceased operation sometime in the 90s. I was lucky enough to get a work assignment in Germany from 2008 to 2011, and while I was there I began to think about my desire to own a collector car upon my return to the States. I studied a variety of makes, but primarily looked at Mopars. After all, Chevys were a dime a dozen. Well not really, but they were plentiful. After much study and asking my brothers who were stateside to look at some vehicles, I decided that Imperial would be my choice: but which year? I liked the full wheel openings of the ’55, but the ’56 had push button drive and 12 volt electrical system’ Also, the ’56 seemed a bit more refined.
At the end of 2011, when I was about to retire I found a ’56 in California on-line, and decided it was the right project for my retired year(s). During the restoration process, I found a four door sans engine, transmission and interior. I bought it for the great amount of good chrome it had. I found it locally, but it was a New Mexico car.
At this time also, an untouched 1956 Southampton two door showed up in a local yard. I bought it to have a pattern for my project. With the restoration of the two door Southampton complete, friends began to ask what I was going to do with the pattern car. Too good to part out, it needed to be saved. A local body man had helped finish the first restoration, and he assured that it would be “easy” to make a convertible out of it. I pulled the engine after getting it loose and sent it to a mechanic to determine if it should be rebuilt.
Another local junk yard had a ’56 Chrysler New Yorker convertible that was a true basket case available. It had virtually everything needed for the conversion: top bows, tub, x-frame. Cabin sizes are the same on Imperial and New Yorker, so no crazy adjustment was needed there.
I had also rekindled my interest in model cars, and after speaking with my good friend Dale Dannefer, we decided to look into making a model of the ’56 Southampton 2 door. Although the limousine and parade phaeton had been modeled, the 2 door had not.
After a number of moves to Germany and back, I still had the Imperial brass master that I had purchased from Precision Miniatures. After evaluating it, I determined it was not accurate enough for today’s collector, actually not even good enough back in the 90s. So we needed to find a company that would produce the model for us. Many emails were sent trying to find such a company. Finally, we worked out an arrangement for the GLM model given their excellent work with the Imperial limousine, and the result is the three colors that we have available.
Availability
The model was available from three sources: Robert Budig in Berlin, Germany (sole source in Europe), Dominion Models and Dale Dannefer Automobilia (Dannefer @att.net).
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