28k Mile 1960 Imperial Crown Southampton

If you prefer your classics luxurious and immaculate, you may be irresistibly drawn to this 1960 Imperial Crown Southampton. Its presentation is unsurprising because it has 28,000 miles on the clock and received a bare-metal repaint in 2024. Its interior trim adds to its appeal, helping explain why it has generated considerable interest since it hit the market. The seller has listed the Imperial here on eBay in La Crescenta, California. They have received no bids in an auction that opened at $32,000, but there is a BIN of $38,500 for those viewing this Imperial as an automotive must-have.

Cars like this 1960 Imperial Crown Southampton defined Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” design philosophy that dominated American vehicle styling in the late 1950s. It was a brief period when fins were king, but they disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived. Exner believed in the aerodynamic advantages and resisted calls to eliminate them from his drawings and styling proposals. This Imperial may have rolled off the line in 1960, but there’s no denying that the fins dominate its appearance. The car is a genuine barn find that the seller located in 2022. It had been stored since 1978, but the dry environment protected it from rust. The seller treated the car to a cosmetic refresh, removing the panels, stripping the body to bare metal, and applying a fresh coat of its original Executive Gray Metallic. I absolutely love this color, as reflected in my decision to order my current daily driver in an almost identical shade. The paint looks deep enough to walk into, and the panels are laser-straight. Some trim pieces made a trip to the platers, while those that didn’t received plenty of TLC with a high-quality polish. The tinted glass is spotless, and the narrow whitewalls are subtle.

This Imperial’s interior is original, and the first owner’s choice of White leather was brave and inspired. It provides a striking contrast to the exterior shade and is undeniably classy. The upholstered surfaces look supple, sporting the type of wrinkles typical of elegantly aging leather. The dash is spotless, as is the pad. The Green mat is slightly off-putting, but it has done a sterling job of protecting the carpet. This Imperial features “Panelescent” gauge illumination, while the “squared” wheel is distinctive. Imperial loaded these cars with luxury touches, including air conditioning, power windows, power locks, automatic swivel seats, automatic headlight dimming, and a pushbutton radio.

At almost 4,900 lbs, the Crown Southampton was a heavy beast. This is understandable, because the primary focus was on luxury and comfort, not the ability to deliver a body blow to the opposition at the local drag strip. However, equipping these cars with a 413ci V8 producing 350hp and 470 ft/lbs of torque made for remarkable performance by the standards of the day. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, and power steering and power brakes were standard equipment. The seller doesn’t provide evidence to verify the mileage claim, but the car’s history makes the figure plausible. The seller completed a meticulous revival process after the car’s decades-long hibernation. They replaced the carburetor and air cleaner to improve how it runs and drives, but included the original units. Mechanically, this beauty needs nothing. It drives perfectly, giving the buyer the option to fly in and drive it home.

This 1960 Imperial Crown Southampton will appeal to enthusiasts seeking luxury and spotless presentation. It is a beautiful car that stands as a shining example of the “Forward Look” design philosophy. It also reflects the public’s fascination with the space race, courtesy of the distinctive taillights that bear an uncanny resemblance to rocket motors. The seller’s BIN looks realistic for a car of this caliber, but it might be possible to score this gem at a lower price if someone gets the bidding ball rolling. Are you tempted to do that, or will you sit back as an interested spectator?