This 1959 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron sedan represents the height of late-1950s American luxury, a time when Chrysler’s Imperial line stood apart from the rest of the company’s offerings as a true flagship. Listed on eBay, this example is finished in a formal black exterior with a matching black interior and shows 81,778 miles on the odometer. Thanks for the tip, Curvette!
For 1959, the Imperial LeBaron was positioned as Chrysler’s top-tier sedan, emphasizing size, presence, and refinement. Built on its own platform rather than sharing architecture with other Chrysler models, the Imperial was intended to compete directly with Cadillac and Lincoln. The long, wide body and bold styling cues of this era reflect that ambition clearly, even without diving into trim details or options.
According to the listing, this LeBaron is powered by a 6.8-liter V8 paired with an automatic transmission. No claims are made about recent service, mechanical condition, or driving behavior, so it should be approached as a classic luxury car being offered largely on its presentation and specifications rather than a detailed mechanical history. The mileage listed appears consistent with a car that has seen use over many decades, but no assertions are made about originality or documentation.
This Imperial is being sold by a dealer and carries a placeholder VIN, which is common with older vehicles that predate standardized VIN formats. Buyers interested in this car will want to confirm all identifying details directly with the seller, as well as the current title status, which is not specified beyond the listing format.
What stands out most here is the simplicity of the presentation: a black 1959 Imperial LeBaron sedan with its big V8, automatic transmission, and unmistakable late-’50s Chrysler presence. Cars like this appeal to a specific kind of enthusiast—someone drawn to oversized American luxury sedans, dramatic styling, and the idea of preserving or recommissioning a vehicle that once represented the pinnacle of Chrysler engineering.
With fewer and fewer Imperials surviving compared to their Cadillac counterparts, especially in relatively complete condition, examples like this continue to attract interest from collectors who appreciate their understated rarity. Whether the next owner chooses to maintain it as-is, restore it further, or simply enjoy it as a rolling piece of 1950s design, this 1959 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron offers a chance to own a true luxury sedan from one of Detroit’s most ambitious eras. Would you keep it original, or bring it back to full showroom glory?
Nice car, but Ugh.
Another listing from the ‘dealer with nothing to say’ about their cars. Epitome of lazy?
Behind a plastic chain,,,look carefully children, be careful as you pass, move along, move along,,,you know, it’s difficult to realize just how big these cars are, until seeing them in person. Clearly meant to dominate the roadway, but there was a reason, bigger meant safer, and theoretically, this was the biggest, and therefore the safest car, until two of these hit each other, that is. For us that still refuse to accept the metric system ( see avatar), this is a 413 ci, about 325 HP. I kid about the 409 as a truck motor, these were used extensively for medium, ( and the poor schmoe) and heavy duty gas jobs.
Unbelievable car, I mean, nothing really compares to it, and never will, yet, a DOLLAR???? 1 bid of a dollar? I’m sure it’s a long ways from the undisclosed 5 figures they are surely asking, need any more proof? I don’t. Behind a plastic chain, folks,,,
In some photos (with the plastic chain) it appears the car is in some kind of Imperial museum, or at least in the Imperial wing of a car museum. In other photos, the venue has changed.
You would think that museum provenance would be a selling point worth mentioning. Is salesmanship dead?
Mr. Haney of green acres was a true salesman.
The dealer has it listed for $44,000 on their website.
This is the 7th time the dealer has listed it on eBay, 3 times with its current BIN price, 3 times for auction. The high bids have been approximately $2,3k, $10k and $17k.
It takes about 30 seconds to research active and past/completed listings from a seller, I don’t know why more people don’t do so.
Steve R
The old man from Pawn Stars loved these.
This black beauty belongs in a museum or could service a classy funeral palor as a family car. All ’61 and older Imperials used the heavy-weight cast iron torqueflight automatic pushbutton transmission. The aluminum 727 torquflight was introduced in the ’62 Imperials. All ’61 and older 413 Chrysler engines used an 8 bolt crank flange similar to the later 426 Hemi except the holes are not threaded, ’62 & up used the normal big block 6 bolt crank flange. Love that black beauty…