The Norman Transcript
April 05, 2008 12:24 am
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For The Transcript
Walter Stanaszek took delivery of his new Chrysler Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton from Chicago's Balzekas Motor Sales Oct. 6, 1961.
"This was the car our family went to church in. Dad never drove it to work," his son Dr. Walter Stanaszek Jr. said. The charming University of Oklahoma professor emeritus of clinical pharmacology was behind the immense automobile's oval-shaped steering wheel one recent day.
We were zooming north at 70 mph in the Interstate 35 passing lane. The Chrysler's odometer was just turning over 24,169 actual miles.
"Back in my dad's day when everyone lived in row houses, if you wanted a status symbol, it was based on your car," he said. The 413 cubic inch motor roared as we blew past a big rig carrying storm debris. "My dad grew up poor on a farm in Indiana and only had a seventh grade education. But he worked hard, probably always had two jobs and stressed the importance of education to his kids. I consider him a great success."
"Sunday was a special day. After church my mother went home and prepared a meal like it was Christmas, every week. Then around 3 o'clock she was ready to go out. As a family we went in the Chrysler to visit relatives or friends, usually unannounced, by the way," Dr. S. said.
"My dad, his brothers and friends would compare their vehicles and enjoy the camaraderie. This car was really something. He pampered it, always washing the road salt off before putting it away and never taking it on any long trips."
The 1961 Imperial was marketed as "America's Most Carefully Built Car." Chrysler advertising frequently touted the engineering connection between their automotive and defense missile divisions. But primarily the Chrysler Imperial was portrayed as elegant, luxurious and spacious.
"What goes best with basic black?" a 1961 magazine ad queries. "A woman pictures herself against its classic simplicity with pride and assurance," the copy reads in part.
Torque Flight automatic transmission, power steering and "Auto-Pilot" or cruise control were also part of the Imperial package. Perhaps most intriguing was the optional "Highway Hi-Fi," a 16 2/3 RPM turntable mounted under the dash for listening to vinyl records while driving. RCA produced a handful of discs for this offbeat record speed but later models spun the ubiquitous 45 RPM.
During his OU career, Dr. Stanaszek and wife Mary raised three daughters in Norman. Concerned about the Imperial's safety in Chicago and with no strings attached, Pop Stanaszek handed his son the keys to the Imperial in 1973. Their daughters promptly named the sleek, midnight-black beauty with extravagant fins and aircraft-like trim, The Batmobile.
"They'd hide in the backseat when it was parked, running the power radio antenna up and down," he said fondly. Over the years, Dr. Stanaszek's own family developed traditions involving the Batmobile. It's in storage most of the year, and they begin driving it mid-December to be ready for service as limousine when going to Christmas midnight Mass together.
Also, Dr. Stanaszek drives the Batmobile to Saint Michael's Episcopal Church Christmas dinner for people to enjoy.
"It reminds me and others of simpler times in this country. Young people especially are always very interested and it generates a lot of discussion that I like."
Dr. Stanaszek's Imperial is all original including the "Executive Black" paint. She's still a fine old bat with supple leather interior and all the power windows, radio and multiple cigarette lighters still work. Only hoses, belts, tires and batteries have been replaced. Dr. Stanaszek said he also learned the value of hard work, commitment and saving from his dad who paid cash for the Batmobile in 1961.
"His ethic was much different from our current throw-away society. He took care of things and kept cars for years. Out of respect for him, I've tried to maintain it exactly as he would have wanted. I know he's looking down with joy because I haven't parted with it," he said.
Because the Batmobile was engineered at a time when fuel contained tetraethyl lead to prevent engine knock, the good doctor has to give it a little prescription every time he fills the tank with today's unleaded gasoline. The only major repair it has ever needed was after an extended period of disuse when the fuel system had to be totally cleaned out. Although the Batmobile's systems have no computer control, this one really does have Intel inside. After a neighbor foiled an attempted theft, Dr. Stanaszek installed hidden microprocessor chips in the Batmobile so its location can be determined electronically.
Dr. Stanaszek is an intelligent man, but one who occasionally throws caution to the wind. He was the first Dig My Ride owner to encourage me to drive his vehicle. The Batmobile drove like a dream, with the nimble handling of a much smaller car. As we rolled down Berry Road, the B-52s "Loveshack" lyric, "I got me a Chrysler/ it's as big as a whale and it's about to set sail/ woooo...," went through my mind. But best of all, Dr. S. gave me an "A" for driving skills when we glided gracefully into his driveway, safe and sound. "It's the professor in me, I still grade everything," he said.
Have you seen a cool car around Norman? Writer Doug Hill's always on the lookout for future Dig My Ride columns. E-mail him at Hillreviews@hotmail.com.
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