The Imperial Speedster

It sounds like something out of Darth Vader's fleet, but the chopped windshield and low-slung appearance of the Imperial Speedster may remind someone of Luke Skywalker's Land Speeder.  Whatever image or emotion this incredible car evokes, it is sure to draw some reaction from anyone who lays eyes on it.  The Speedster is the brainchild of Murray Pfaff of Pfaff Designs, but the Speedster is more than just an exercise in cutting-edge styling and design.  This car was built to be driven and Pfaff has been doing quite a bit that.

OPTIMA Jim caught up with the Imperial Speedster back when the Hot Rod magazine Power Tour made a stop at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it has seen plenty of miles since then. In August, the Speedster showed up in Louisville for the NSRA National where it was on display in the Mother's booth. Murray met with editors from both Lowrider and Street Rodding International(Australian) magazine, who took candid shots for upcoming issues.  How is that for crossing genres?  Street Rodding International will be featuring the studio shots by Tom Fedrigo of the Speedster in next year’s Annual publication.

Next up was the Woodward Dream Cruise, which included a solid week of cruising and included being photographed for Canadian Hot Rod magazine.  On Friday and Saturday, the Imperial was prominently displayed in the Chrysler's corporate display.  On Saturday morning, Pfaff played rock star, signing more than 300 posters and talking to admirers of the car.  Later that afternoon freakish 70 mph winds and driving rain rolled in, but dealing with such adversity is part of the risk involved in driving a rolling work of art and the Speedster held up fine.  Fortunately, the storm rolled through and that evening the Speedster appeared at the 11th annual Murray’s Hot Rod Bash fundraiser to benefit the Michigan Animal Rescue League.

More recently, photographer Mike Yoksich shot the car for a feature in Mopar Muscle magazine and there are also plans in the works with DUB, Auto Trader, and some additional, international publications. The Speedster is now spending time on the West coast, in anticipation of the Muscle Cars At The Mansion event, in Beverly Hills (yes, it is that mansion and no, there isn't room for you to hide in the trunk).

Once the Speedster's visit to the house that Heff built is over, it will be spending time in Los Angeles, before heading over to Vegas for the SEMA show, where it will be featured in PPG Paint’s display, alongside a very black and slammed custom 1957 Imperial LeBaron sedan. Immediately following SEMA the Imperial Speedster will be joining us in Pahrump for the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, as Murray will once again be heading up the judging duties for our event.

Between autocrossing, cruising and car shows, the Imperial Speedster has had a very busy summer and we're glad Murray has an OPTIMA YELLOWTOP along for the ride!