The seller of this 1959 Imperial Custom states, “I would leave it alone as it’s original and looks great” And after reviewing the listing, I’d have to agree. This car is about as original as they come – it has had some partial respray in places but it has obviously been well cared for throughout its life. Any Chrysler Corporation automobile from this era has head stylist Virgil Exner’s fingerprints all over it and they are always a treat to rediscover. This Imperial is located in Calimesa, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $12,100 with five bids tendered so far.
While this Imperial’s model is not disclosed as a Custom model, the VIN decodes to that trim level. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and is often comparative as in there is a tendency to compare cars of similar eras based on looks and then decide what you like and what you don’t. That may have been the case with this Imperial as it was probably more controversial in 1959 than it is today. The passage of time, and the comparison of what rolls off of assembly lines these days, makes this Imperial pretty outstanding looking. The seller advises, “This car is mostly original and has only had some very professional respray on the sides that was blended very nicely to just make the car look more beautiful. The car has no rust or damage. Very solid car and the doors close with a solid bank vault shut“. Appearance-wise, that appears to be the case. The only corrosion noted is around the bottom edge of the trunk-mounted toilet seat (I’ll probably get grief for calling it that but that’s what it reminds me of and that would have been the one thing that I would have deleted if I’d been in charge). Nevertheless, the rust appears to be minor and on the surface. The extensive stainless trim, chrome bumpers, and all of the glass look good.
Power is provided by a 350 gross HP, 413 CI V8 powerplant connected to what else but a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission. The listing claims, rebuilt carburetor, new tires, rewired as needed, rebuilt starter, a new water pump, fully tuned, rebuilt power brake booster, new brake shoes, new wheel cylinders, cleaned gas tank, radiator flushed and sealed, new belts, new hoses, and a rebuilt generator. The seller adds, “Car starts right up and runs and drives beautifully, smooth idle, smooth running“.
The interior is in spectacular condition, perhaps owing to 58K mile recording and proper storage. The resplendent red leather upholstery actually looks as if it has been recently replaced – it shows that well. But that’s not all, the dash, instrument panel, carpet, and door panels are just perfect. The only demerit given is for a non-photographed, quarter-size hole in the headliner. This is an A/C equipped Imperial and the unit works but doesn’t cool so there is a suspected freon leak.
So Virgil Exner at his most flamboyant, most restrained, or somewhere in between? I don’t know and it doesn’t matter; I like this Imperial, how about you?
OMG this is a beautiful appearing car…all I would need is a drool cup.
I always said when i retire , i wanted to buy a BEAUTIFUL 1950,s criuser like this to drive to the beach. WOW ,THIS is a real Beauty.
Looks amazing and in great condition. I never like this design when I was younger, I always thought that they looked kind of goofy, but not anymore, I must have matured a bit, lol. Also, appears to be a fair price to this point, as long as the shill bidders stay away.
Hoping no shill bidders. What would be a fair price for it?
Hagerty has a #2 Excellent Condition car at $22700 and a #3 Good Condition car at $12600. It is currently bid to $17800, so it looks to be in that ball park.
Imperials from this era; late 50s to mid 60s – all magnificent.
Looks sweet as is. can u imagine what it would cost to have the chrome replated?? Good luck and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
Huge tq motor awesome cars.. this one looks amazing. 2.91 gear std or 331 opt. Leave original ? I dare say yes
This is a base level Imperial Custom, not an Imperial Crown — even the seller doesn’t claim it’s a Crown. The Crown had small gold crowns atop each of those eagle emblems above the headlights and small gold crowns on the taillight trim rings. This car has neither. The Crown was the middle Imperial series with the LeBaron being the top series and the Custom the base level.
Fantastic cars. When I was kid in ’59, my dad test drove a Crown Imperial demonstrator for a weekend once. Being a demo, that car had every factory option including swivel seats, dual A/C, cruise and the rare Silver Crest landau roof. He ended up buying a ’60 but I always thought the ’59 was the one to have.
The seller didn’t claim anything but you are correct. I misread the third digit of the VIN, seeing a “3”, but it’s actually a “1” or a Custom so I have updated the post.
JO
Thanks for update, Jim. No disrespect meant. I was puzzled as to where the Crown description came from and appreciate the explanation.
Thx for pointing out my error.
JO
I dare say, these look better than the ’59 Cadillacs. Both outside and inside. The Imperial looks like a car, flamboyant but still a car. The Cadillac looks like a rocket launcher.
Oh, I bet this thing floats. I’ve always loved big luxury cars, even when I was young and all my friends wanted Mustangs and Camaros (nothing wrong with those). Those seats look amazing.
I agree Terrry, I like this better than the Caddy. The Caddy had a weird rear grille and this looks better, even with the toilet seat.
About the “toilet seat”..the trunk’s surface is so large and flat they needed something to fill it up with, though I think stainless steel moulding strips ala Chevy Nomad might have worked better.
Good suggestion!
JO
Gotta love that KENNEDY bumper sticker.
I don’t know about this car being all original. In the image of dashboard the upholstery looks too good for 68K miles and 63 years. Especially when compared with the bottom of door card on the driver’s side. The seller should have pulled the car out into the daylight to take more and better pictures. The car deserves it and so do potential bidders.
It’s odd the AC system has been completely rebuilt but the Freon leaked out. The rebuild must not have been recent. A new owner should repair the rust at the bottom of the toilet seat’s trim.
What is strange is the interior is of a “Crown” model but the vin as stated before is of a “Custom” model. I own a ’59 Imperial Custom Coupe South Hampton Silvercrest Landau Roof car for 34 years and has many options.
It is pretty amazing, that back bumper always reminded me of the guy with the billiard balls in his mouth. To be clear, people not from that era look at this car and think everybody drove behemoths like this. It’s just not true. Maybe in affluent areas, but in the good old “lunch pail” midwest, we never saw cars like this. The 1st car I remember riding in was my old mans ’59 or ’60 DeSoto. It was similar in many ways, but was no Imperial. That “squeezebox” power brake booster always creeped me out, but sure helped bring this tank ( 5100 lbs) to a halt. It was the car to have for most famous people around the world. Here’s your chance to rub elbows with them for a paltry $12g’s.
If I am correct, I believe the picture you are talking about is from the Rolling Stones “Exile on Main Street” album cover, and I agree, it does remind me of this bumper. I was going to post the picture, but then decided that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea, lol.
My favorite Stones album (image is in the upper left).
JO
@Jim ODonnell, yep, that’s the one! I have to agree with you, that’s one of my favorite Stones album too. You defintly have good taste in music!
I’ve heard of an Imperial Crown and a Imperial LeBaron but have never heard of a Imperial Custom. Maybe this is as it looks like it has deleted chrome all over the place. The toilet seat is a mystery though, as it was an option on the Imperials.
The Imperial Custom was the Imperial equivalent of a Cad Series 62. The ‘entry level’ car. The interior in THIS car is NOT a Custom Interior. There was no all-vinyl interior option and leather was NA on a Custom. The Custom name was not used until 58.
Like a 58 Buick, I would hate to be the in the rear seat and see that grille coming towards me with failed brakes. Or maybe like Christine, and be center punched.
Looking at the front, ‘Christine’ was the first thing to come to mind.
My great uncle Walter had one like this. I was 9 and it scared me.
M617 … is well a “Custom” model but this name was never seen on the car !
The Imperial Crown (and not Crown Imperial which is the Ghia limo) has a VIN beginning with M637 and LeBaron with M657 , see my site http://www.ch300imp.com/59imp_us.htm
Bidding has reached $17,600.00 with 2 days left.
My dad had a 57 coupe, white w blue material interior, beautiful car, all the options in the world, transmission blew in 67, got replaced by a 65 Catalina
There are a couple of comments concerning this being a Crown interior, and I agree. However it also appears to be a swivel seat interior. I’ve owned 2 1959 sedans with swivel seats, a Chrysler Windsor and a Desoto Firedome. Both cars had interiors like the next higher model. The Chrysler had a Saratoga interior, the Desoto a Fireflite interior.
I’ve always wondered why these two mostly original, 1-owner cars, had the more deluxe interior. Now that I’ve seen this Imperial, with a matching bright red headliner and door panels, I’m thinking that a swivel seat interior package may have meant the car came with the next higher trim level. I’m unable to find any photos of other similar 1959 Mopar sedans with swivel seats. What do you 1959 Chrysler guys think?
Bill, as stated before I presently own a ’59 Imperial Custom Coupe and it is loaded to include the swivel bucket seats. They are vinyl with cloth inserts and I have owned the car for 34 years.
Pete, I have no doubt your car is correct. My comment is concerning sedans with swivels, as they tend to be fairly rare. My theory is the car could have been ordered this way, or there could have been a mistake when the order was filled out.
As a long-time Mopar guy, I have bought several cars & trucks that I ordered new equipped with variations said to “not be available”, like my ’73 Dodge van with stickshift and cruise control. [There was a hand-written note that the fuse for the cruise was not installed, because if the clutch pedal was depressed the engine would over rev!]
In 1965 I was wandering thru the back lot of my local Chrysler-Plymouth dealer to see the new 1966 cars, when I saw a green Plymouth sedan with a blue Dodge interior, including the dashboard. A long-time friend in the Packard Club worked for Chrysler starting about when this Imperial was built, and he has always said if it was possible to mix things like interiors, as long as the order cards said to build it that way, and it was possible, it would be done.
I had a 1965 Imperial Ghia limousine, #9 of 10 built, and it was ordered with the 413 Police Interceptor engine, instead of the normal 4-bbl 413.
I used to own a 1956 Packard Clipper Custom series 2-door hardtop, with a 1956 Packard 400 full leather interior, ordered that way when new.
I’m not saying you are wrong, but I’m pointing out the possibility this car could have been built this way. We’ll probably never know.