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.
He did unload the ‘ofer farm’.;)
My favorite rerun.
They were all very good episodes, but since I am an electrician, my favorite was the one with the generator and the plugs on the wall.
I wonder if Barn Finds will ever have a “ Hoyt Clagwell” tractor?
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
As Steve R points out, this is a very interesting seller, and caution is needed. They have a zero rating, yet they have 39 cars up for auction, most of them with very little to no bidding. Even at a zero rating, it is still unusual to see no action at all.
Unfortunately, the pink bunny rabbit VW Bug is not listed.
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…
The gun set taillights knocked it out of the park for me. ‘Grey Poupon’ linked to R.R. commercials– this car would have been perfect for promoting ‘Imperial’ margarine.
It’s not a Chrysler, it’s simply an Imperial LeBaron. You’ve inadvertently illustrated one of Chrysler’s biggest challenges with the Imperial brand.
Used to see these cars roaming around my hometown as a kid growing up in the late ’50s early ’60s. Some were owned by doctors, lawyers, bankers and the like. While others were owned by
mobsters that used our town (Bloomington Illinois) as a hideout when things got too hot for them in Chicago. In fact, the
Greenwood mobile home park was where they all hid out when it
was one of those motor courts
with the little cabins before they
tore them down to put up the trailer park in the early ’50s. After
that, they bought regular houses
they used as vacation homes for
their “family” business. You could pick ’em out of a crowd really easy as many of them dressed like the gangsters I saw
on The Untouchables Friday nights on ABC. In fact, I mowed
the lawn for one of them when I
was ten years old. I’d ride past his house to see if he and his friends were there. And if they were, I”d stop by and he’d tell me
when to cut the grass. When I saw the Imperial, it was time to go to work. Mowed that lawn for
five summers before he sold the
house and I started growing up and playing music 🎵🎶. He payed me well and he tipped good too. That’s how I got my first guitar. Because of him, this fat old blind man always had money. Seeing this car reminds
me of those wonderful times so long ago. Didn’t know for sure if he was a mobster at first, but as I grew up, the pieces all fell in place. Never saw him again after
1971. Great car, even greater
memories.
I totally understand and identify with you on all points Ken. Thanks for stirring up the dust of my mind and helping me see some of my youth.
Where in FLA are you located Ken?
I much rather have a Cadillac Seville on the other side
Too few details given for the ask price. No mention about whether it’s starting, running or driving, or stopping, just in a museum setting behind a plastic chain. You’d have to be looking for this year and model for it to be worth your time.
Just not a huge fan of overwrought late 1950s Chrysler styling. It’s not quite “shave its butt and drive it in reverse ” bad but not far off. A period piece for sure.
It looks like Classic Car Depot LLC is also Orlando Auto Museum, which accounts for the apparent difference in picture locations. There isn’t any info about the car on the website either other than the specs and he wants folks to email or call only. Even if I was interested I wouldn’t. I inquired about a Toyota pickup a dealer in Seattle had a few months ago and the listing was short on some vital information but he wouldn’t tell me via his own website mail, all he did was say call him. No thank you. I prefer building relationships and friendships and making contacts, not hearing a sales pitch from some guy who’s just trying to get me to open my wallet.
@Rex Kars:
The Melbourne/Palm Bay area
about 90 minutes from Orlando.
We also have the Muscle Car Museum here in Melbourne too.
Wanna go check it out, but not enough money or time for that.
Between family business and working for McDonald’s part time,
I haven’t much time to rest and
recreate. But being 71 with a strong work ethic, I wouldn’t have
it any other way.
Thanks Ken. My wife teaches ballet at a school in Melbourne. Next time I’m down that way I’ll look you up.
Ended at $5,600.
Reserve Not Met.
22 bids.
As Steve R. pointed out, it’s been run through EBay so many times that buyers aren’t wasting their time bidding on it anymore.