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?
This car looks great. But it should have an original air cleaner on it. It’s funny, it doesn’t have a “litter bag”, but instead has a wastebasket!
Rex, are we sure this wastebasket isn’t catching a leaky heater core?
No it doesn’t because the heather core has been bypassed for that reason. You know cars 😉
Original air cleaner comes with the car. Once you buy it you can modify it to fit carburetor
Tub it with a blown hemi=perfect.
The funny little air cleaner fits their “new” aftermarket carburator. The original won’t fit. I ran into that on my ‘67 Firebird. They installed a Holly 4bbl, but a Carter 2bbl was original. I replaced with original because I felt the same. I’m no race car driver.
Although not on my “want” list, what an interesting, unique, eye-catching car. Just look at all of those styling features— not only the fins and rocket taillights, but the spare tire hump, the hooded headlights, the roof trim, the deep-set instruments. It’s even a two-door. Looks to be in great condition. I remember those full-width floor mats.
Certainly a car I’d make a point of examining at a show.
Great job Adam.
“the option to fly in and drive it home.” Oh what a lovely trip that would be…
Amen to Terry. What a trip.
God bless the author and congratulations, but why would you have to order a vehicle in grayish silver? Have you looked on lots & websites lately?
Because it was 1960.
Absolutely beautiful Adam!!!
This is stunning. Absolutely stunning. Normally I’d like to see a more period common brighter color, this grey really suits this Imperial nicely, and as Bob mentioned already, there’s a lot going on here with the styling, yet it all works, and I’d never get tired of looking at it.
Great write up Adam!! I enjoyed it.
Nice Mopar. I too like the fly in, drive home idea except I’d need two bank accounts to get this thing from California to central Pennsylvania!
28k.car my eye! If it’s an original
low mileage car, then why on earth would you strip it down to bare metal and repaint it and replate the chrome? Methinks there’s a flipper afoot here with a
a severe case of Barrett Jackson
Syndrome here. Or, the guy’s smoked waaay too much dream
inducing weed and is in no shape
to make an informed decision at
this time. Whatever it is, it reminds me of the ’58 Crown I had as a kid. Mine was a dark maroon with a white interior with
black cloth inserts. It also had the last of 392 hemis in it. I got it
cleaned up, got it running, and then sold it back to the widow of
a friend of Dad’s that regretted selling the car and wanted it back. Yeah, I took a loss on it, but the look in her eyes made it all worthwhile. Can’t wait for Angel to see it. She told me once
that she thought the tailfins were
taller than a ’59 Cadillac and I think she’s right. I can only imagine driving this car back to
Florida. My niece and SIL may not like it, but I sure do!
There are lots of reasons why a low-mileage car would have to get a repaint and re-chrome. Maybe it had an old fender-bender that had a mis-matched or poor repaint that was cracking. Maybe the rear end was sticking out of the garage for 40 years. Maybe it had a plastic cover on it, which can ruin the paint in a wet climate. Just because it has had a repaint and re-plated chrome doesn’t mean it is a 100,000+ mile car.
@Ken – You’re a saint and a hero…if you ask you.
Why rubbish someone else’s beautiful car, then go on to pump up your own tires. Poor form.
right about the repaint issue, but it has such a clean interior I have to believe…
You might as well drive a spaceship as to pull up in that sweet dinosaur…
The 4-door version of this car in “Powdered Bronze,” bought new by my dad, was our family car for most of the ’60s. Can attest that it’s a great highway cruiser as we took it on many long-distance trips. 80 mph all day long was not a problem for the 413.
This car appears to have every factory option except dual A/C.
would look perfect floating through clouds. Should only drive this car if have a pair of Florsheim Imperial Wing-tip shoes, definitely not for the Croc wearing guys.
That’s when Florsheim made great shoes. Now they’re garbage.
that sure is some wild trim on that roof. the air cleaner and the fuel filter really look out of place. for a car with low miles as claimed it should have factory components.
That 413 is too nice for that type aftermarket air cleaner for sure. But Factory, OEM air cleaners for this one are pretty pricey. Not sure who makes a reasonable reproduction.
The original comes with the car.
Without a doubt, this was one of my favorite acquisitions! A 1960 One-Family-Owned Imperial with a large box of provenance from day one.
Rode like a dream, looked great, 75k original miles, and it was actually picked up by a local car museum where I get to visit it once in a while! (https://dezerlandpark.com/orlando-auto-museum)
Jim, I wish I had seen this post about 10 days ago. I’m sure I saw the car at Dezerland when we were there in late August. There was a whole room full of Exner Imperials, and I loved it!
Drive home? Would be a tad bit cautious until that radiator checks out.
Simply Stunning!! Given the condition, the price seems very reasonable! Hard to imagine you could have this or a new Toyota for the same price…no comparison!!
Good Lord, she’s beautiful. And a 2 Dr Crown Southampton as well. All options on this luxury land yacht. This was Virgil Exner at his best. I’m glad it’s on the wrong coast, although I couldn’t pay the entry price anyway. Where will you find another one like it? That 413 engine is a work of art.
My father’s 1960 Imperial was a white, four door Crown, but still a beautiful and unforgettable car. He bought it used, less than a year old.
Exner was always a controversial character. Comparing his “Forward” styling to the austerity of the early 50s designs, his work was fresh and innovative. Some would call him a “serious” designer, with clear disruptive intent. Retrospectively, there is more tongue-in-cheek humor and playfulness in this audaciousness, which even his biography skimmed.
As period-pieces, his designs are collectible sculpture. Perhaps the last gasp of something akin to post-modernist architecture. Full of whimsy and wonder. But the modernist automobile architecture that prevailed by 1961 created much more balanced and functional cars, where clean and “resolved” designs had a nice 10 year run.
Love this car or hate it. But there will be no more like it… perhaps our loss.
I KNOOOWWWWWW…….
Exner tastefully revised the 1951 Mopars’ noses, then did the same for the rears in 1953: some of the nicest-looking cars ever made, in my view — especially the 1953 Chrysler New Yorker, But then he went nuts with his “Forward Look”, creating some of the most hideous “I wouldn’t be seen dead in that” designs — including this one (sorry). Mostly the right condition on definitely the wrong car, for me. If if it were near me and I could afford it, I would take a hard pass on it, because it’s UGLY!
You either get it or you don’t.
My thoughts exactly.
This is a nice car…. No doubt…. according to Ebay the car is priced way above perfection! It isn’t and it’s a nice start! The interior is Good… front drivers seat is starting to crack! I hate white leather! If the heater core has been bypassed and gas tank has not been replaced, some hoses in the engine compartment not replaced….. ect! I’ve had 3 Crown Coupes One was restored years ago and sold last summer and was just as nice as this one! The car won’t sell anywhere close to what he’s asking!
Nicely put, Robert. I would not want this car at any price, because I hate the whole “Forward Look”, and that front end is almost as freakish as the 1961 DeSoto… but that’s me. The 1955 Dodge is about the only decent-looking thing that Virgil Exner did after 1954 I.M.H.O..
I really enjoyed my 1960 Imperial, a 4 door and not a Southhampton.
It was a 1-family-owned vehicle with tons of provenance. Great original condition with 75k on the clock. It now resides in an Orlando Auto Museum, where I get to visit it occasionally!