Oh, you want a collector car with a bustle back trunk and a connection to a major celebrity? Well, this 1981 Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra edition is likely your only choice, a fitting tribute to ‘ol blue eyes himself. The Imperial in question is being re-listed due to a deadbeat bidder, and the seller has done some work since then to sell the Imperial as a running, driving car. The big question is, is the original cassette collection included? Find it here on eBay with bidding over $2K and no reserve.
The backdrop of an airplane hangar is fitting, considering Chrysler thought it would nab the jet-set with this swoopy Imperial. Unfortunately, quality control issues plagued the car from the onset, significant ones that impacted driveability. The Imperial here has had some of those trouble spots addressed, with a replacement carburetor to eliminate the troublesome fuel injection. This is actually the factory recommended approach, as Chrysler offered owners retrofit kits when the car was new.
The Frank Sinatra edition got you Glacier Blue paint and an interior covered in rich, luxurious velour. That’s right – despite the model’s intention of being a high-liner, there’s no leather to be found. The cassette collection was the big story inside the cabin, locked away behind that piece of faux wood trim beneath the radio controls. Who knows if the tape collection is still behind the door, but lots of collectors would be looking for it if they were considering a Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra edition for purchase.
The Imperial featured lots of high-zoot options, including this generous moonroof. Despite the Sinatra connection, this generation of the Imperial was far from a success for Chrysler. The initial running issues gave it a bad name from the start, and while I can’t see myself ever wanting one, a nicely preserved Sinatra edition with its EFI removed like this car is probably where I’d start. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Frank for the find.
Sometimes, when compared to modern monochrome jellybeans, cars up to even the early 90’s can look like luxurious coachbuilt specimens to me. Not this one. Chrysler and Ol’ Blue Eyes connection and all, it falls completely flat.
IMHO, this is the best looking Imperial I’d ever seen. Way better than what’s being sold today.
Nice car, looks comfy, and with a factory sunroof. Bidding up to $4649 when I just looked. That surprises me, I don’t see much of a demand for these. I hope it finds a good home.
Nice classy lookin Chrysler!
You can bet ol’ Frank never came within a thousand miles or more of this thing, it might just as well be the King Henry the VIII edition. It’s just a sorry invention of the Sales & Marketing Division in their desperate attempt to be relevant.
Actually, Ol’ Frank owned one. It was given to him by Lee Iacocca, who was a friend of his. His vehicle probably got recalled too. Hopefully it didn’t leave him stranded!
Frank smiled and said, “Gee thanks Lee”, drove it straight to a Caddy dealership, and traded it in for something he’d care to be seen in.
I’ve got to know if Frank actually had to bring it to the Chrysler dealer himself and then wait for one repair after another. Drinking that cheap dealership coffee, nibbling on vending machine Cheez-Its, and getting a little pissed. Maybe I’ll do some research on this.
Frank was given one by Iacocca. It famously stalled going over some railroad tracks because it still had the EFI system. Frank gave the car back. That’s what happened.
Growing up, the owner of the jewelry store in town drove an Imperial. I always liked the arse end styling on these, likewise the Continental and Seville models with the bustle back trunks. Maybe it was the uniqueness of them back in the day or the luxury image, but to my young eyes they seemed pretty slick.
Why is there no engine photos especially when it is the carburetor conversion. Does it look like a nice quality job or done by Hillbilly Garage. And what about the other electronic items that formerly worked with the electronic system. No mention if those things work or not. Stay away until full disclosure is done.
Hillbilly Garage? I took a little offense to that.
It’s the Rat Pack carb conversion
You will know if the conversion was done by a Chrysler dealership/shop if there is a * displaying on the dash by the odometer. No * means it was done by an unauthorized Chrysler dealer and probably done incorrectly.
I own a recently restore 1983 Mirada, also a Chrysler J model. Have a soft spot for these in my heart.
I’m never sure right away if the steering wheel in an older car looks weird from decades of looking at the bulk of the airbag or whether they’re actually weird looking. In this case, yeah, it’s just somehow weird looking. Overall, though, the styling works except for extending the grill down to the bumper. Two to three inches of chrome or body colored steel would look better.
Give Lee credit for trying to pull Chrysler out of a tailspin. I remember these when they came out and even when new, you did not see many. I was sixteen at the time and a newly minter driver and I wanted one of these, while all my friends wanted the usual Z28s & Trans Ams. Classy car from a bygone era. If not for the electronics and such as Pete K mentioned, I might be a player for this one.
Sinatra Edition, so it drinks whiskey all day?
Now that it has the carb retrofit, yes… before that it kept spitting it out.
“I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day. ” — The Chairman of the Board
No, but there’s probably a body or two in that trunk. Driven by an “associate” of the man himself, likely.
The last of the REAL Imperials rolled off the assembly line around 1972.
This eyesore was the result of design-by-committee getting comfy with what was (probably) first-gen CAD software. Of course CAD got better…but it took dogs like this to know where not to go with future updates.BTW…DCF should show some stones and come out with a “continuation” of the Imperial.It should have the size…styling cues…road feel…and luxury touches of the Imperials from the late 60’s to the early 70’s.They would have the segment all to themselves.Not everyone wants an SUV.
Apparently they do. Automakers are out to make a profit, and will make and sell what people will buy.
I would LOVE to see a new Imperial.
Joe Piscopo, if anyone, should win this car – wonder if he ever had or drove one.
Just like you don’t need a license to have kids, I suppose you don’t need much knowledge to write or comment here. Let me start by addressing facts, than moving to the subjective.
1) Leather was offered, velour was a choice. Probably popular in the SW, a nice consideration no longer offered, but I hear people complain about to this day.
2) As was mentioned, Sinatra did own one. He called (his friend) Iacocca and offered to “help” Chrysler’s situation at the time by doing some ads. A touch of class you won’t see among what passes for celebrity today. Sinatra owned several Chrysler products of the era, including a FWD LeBaron station wagon that also appeared on eBay years back.
3) The problematic fuel injection was not the result “quality control” issues. In fact, the car had the highest initial quality-by-owner rating Popular Mechanics had ever scored (the closest thing to JD Power of the era). However the introduction of alcohol began in the era and started destroying components. That’s also documented by PM. Coupled with some legit design issues and techs who weren’t up to EFI speed and simply threw parts, Chrysler started offering carb retrofits that kept all the gadgets functional. There are unconverted examples still running, but that obviously requires some mechanical ability and resourcefulness.
4) Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but intelligent people can offer them in the context of the era. Which is to say a market full of people on bailing large, heavy cars. An oil-crisis/shock and a government mandating fuel economy standards (which failed to apply to German imports because their sales were deemed insignificant). This gave you V4/6/8 and diesel Cadillacs and not-to-pretty Mark VI’s breathing through variable-venturi carbs. Judged against those, a smaller size and EFI doesn’t seem like such an outrageous move does it?
Feel free to resume you critiques, but do so with the knowledge that to a more educated and thoughtful mind, you sound like a cliqué of bitter high-school shrews trashing the “new girl” without ever meeting her.
Nice critique. Some valid points.
However, I can’t find any reference to the German manufacturers being exempt from CAFE, EPA, nor even safety standards. Their sales volume (larger than you seem to think, btw) didn’t buy them any slack. The laws applied to all importers, ergo all the “gray market” firms in the 80s federalizing cars MB, BMW, and even Audi didn’t find it profitable enough to bring stateside (original M5, G-Wagen, Quattro Coupe, etc.)
Instead of benefitting from unequal treatment by the Feds, it’s likely the Germans had the profit margin to absorb the gas guzzler penalty — or better yet — enough prestige to pass it along to customers almost unnoticed.
How did they attain that high margin and prestige image? Well, partially by not offering hopeless disasters like the Volare on which this “Imperial” was based.
Don’t cloud the issue by mentioning safety standards, I didn’t say that.
However, manufacturers selling below 400,000 units annually (in the present day) are exempted from full-CAFE standards and fines. A similar exemption existed then as well. There may have been a grey-market for some specialty cars, but it did nothing to hold back image-leader S-Class and 7-series sedans that got 12 MPG as recently as 2010. Meanwhile the D3 had to downsize and re-package because their “Cadillac” sales were part of Chevrolet sales volume. This distortion of the market is pretty well known, so I’m not going to reinvent the wheel in the comments section.
The point is, Uncle Sam created a distortion in a profitable image-leader segment, which is why all 3 domestic makes had to make further use of volume-platforms if there was to be any hope for profitability.
To pass judgment 30 and 40 years later without the surrounding context is like saying the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor for the hell of it. If you don’t understand the motive, you can’t comprehend the battle.
I just bought this car. Love them, been driving my other 81 Imperial (non FS) for about 8 years. Very dependable and about 20 mpg. Not bad mileage because it has a small block V8 though plenty of power. Both Imperials were converted factory and Govt. approved, to 2 barrel carbs. Not all Imperials of this era were converted by a factory approved fix. The way to know is if there is an asterisk(*) in front of the mileage reading on the digital odometer. This model of car is the quietest and most comfortable car I’ve been in or owned.
Congrats Danny. Looks like a beautiful car. I hope to get one at some point as I have always liked these cars since they first appeared back in ’81. Thanks for the info too on the correct conversion and how to spot it. Happy trails.
Yes congrats Danny. Where are you and what is your phone number so we can keep in touch seeing we both now own one of these rare fine Imps! glennb49@yahoo.com Beaver Dam Wi.
Congrats on your purchase Danny hope you will be showing that car at cars and coffee, etc. They do attract a lot of attention.
Thanks, very useful info. I prefer the intelligent informed inputs, and hope this car works out well for me, I’m sure it will.
very well put Carmine 440!!! these car are timeless in their good looks and advanced technology!
Carmine440 you and I need to open an 81-83 Imperial club.
People generally hate on these Imperials and it’s their right to do so. But, as you stated, there is so much misinformation on them, it makes me wonder how accurate information is on any other old car out there.
Link to my Imperial FS Edition I had a couple years back:
https://youtu.be/_MmDeQ7DCVQ
This is a rare beautiful car! Only 148 Franks were built in 81, The sun roof option was only available in 81! Making this car one of maybe 50 produced, no brake down on sun roof Franks is available that I know of. Those were the only two options available. Cloth or leather, wire caps or snow flake wheels and radios were customer choice. I own one of the other 50 twins to this car, Mine is still injected making it even rarer, It has leather and snow flakes. You even got a Mark Cross umbrella, key fob and leather caset carrying tout with the car. I just recently found this rare combination in the original box! And yes Im still looking for the collection of Old Blue Eyes casets that came with the car!
Carmine has it right; i was around in those days and remember the events as described. I prefer late 60s Imperials as opposed to this model, even though it’s unique.
I was in the market for a new car when this one came out and even though I liked the styling, I was worried whether or not Chrysler would still be around in a few years. I didn’t want to get an orphan.
Good think the car has a AAA sticker.
I agree with 440. I was raked over the coals when I tried to sell a low mile low production number pontiac. It’s actually comical too see persons especially members post erroneous and wrong info without doing research first.
…and then complain about “quality control”, lol.
Does anyone know where the original Sinatra Imperial is today? Was it retuned to Chrysler or is that VIN still out there?
Danny, well done. Enjoy it. They are great cars, and Carmine deserves a lifetime award.
Sinatra’s coincidentally disappeared the same day
Jimmy Hoffa did.
Why does the author always have to ridicule the past models? Always has that “I know better than everyone” snarky attitude to classic cars of the past.