Oh, Chrysler, where have you gone? It seems the eternal question that is never answered, at least by the division’s current head honcho, an individual who seems to know how to talk endlessly in circles. A minivan now consisting of their entire lineup? Heresy! OK, now that that is out of my system, take a gander at this 1967 Imperial Crown as discovered by Sam61; this is what the real ChryCo used to produce. It’s a beauty and has a lot going for it, so let’s dig in with a review. Frankfort, Kentucky, is where you’ll find this stately hardtop, and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $11,900.
Chrysler’s luxury division, the Imperial, matched wits, style, and luxury with Cadillac and Lincoln back in the day, even though their sales volumes were moderate by comparison. Caddy ran the table with 200K units in ’67, and Lincoln managed 46K. Imperial? Well, only 18K but it was an excellent 18K spread across three trim levels, LeBaron, Crown, and the basic model, if there’s anything basic about an Imperial, known as Imperial Sedan. The Crown edition was available in three body styles, a two or four-door hardtop, and a convertible – which has to have one of the longest two-door quarter panels ever devised.
A claimed three-owner California car, this four-door hardtop is in magnificent condition! The seller states, “Paint is fair, no known rust on exterior.” Maybe close up it is, but at a distance, via the listing images, the Silver Mist finish still presents well, the chrome bits shine, the stainless trim appears to be all there and accounted for, the black vinyl roof covering shows as being unfazed by time or weather exposure, and the original impressive wheel covers are still in place.
Inside, the black upholstery, vinyl standard, leather as an option, is unmarred, and the headliner has not succumbed to stalactite mode – it’s up there where it should be. A/C was an option on Imperial, and it’s not said if this car is so equipped (there’s no actual underhood image included). I’m looking for interior A/C vents, but see none. The seller mentions that the walnut trim has become brittle.
Power was a given with Imperials, and in this case, there was no choice, just one available engine, a 350 gross HP, 440 CI “RB” V8. As mentioned above, there’s no included image, but there is a pictorial of the engine being rebuilt by Jasper – a company better known for racing powerplants. The lack of an underhood image, or a description of running/driving characteristics, is perplexing. The seller also states that he believes the 38 K-mile recording is accurate, but then that leads to a question of why the engine would need a complete redo in the first place. A Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission was the only game in town for Imperial.
I definitely have questions about the engine business with this Imperial (and why the resonators are hanging so low) – I’d like to see the motor in its engine room environment and get more info. on the need for the rebuild. Beyond that, this Imperial is a perfect representative of what the old ChryCo was and shows how it held its own with other top-drawer luxury automobiles of the time. I like it, how about you?
Love the Imperial Crown 👑 model J.O.
Fast with Class ✨️
Beautiful lines. All mid 60’s Chryslers were very handsomely designed, they’re one of my favorites, but the Imperial, was even a step above that. I never understood why they didn’t sell more. This one is just beautiful.
@Driveinstile
I have to agree with you, the mid sixties to the ’73s were gorgeous cars and should have sold better.
This is one fine Imperial. Great color, good condition but does it have air? We’ve become so spoiled all our transportation must have air.
Love to have this in a convertible. 1968 was the last year for a convertible Imperial of any model.
Redesigned in 1969 I had a ’71 two door LeBaron. Redesigned again in 1972 and basically just a Chrysler after the ’73 model year.
Well, Well, Hello Angel! It’s nice to see you here where you belong! Now descend the stairs in your red gown ! In answer to your AC question, I don’t think it was standard, but almost all 68 Imperials had it. Whether it works would be a good question. I’m still dreaming of a 61 LeBaron, but liked all UNTIL the 69 Fuselage. To me they looked LARGE, but NOT in charge. But like a mosquito bite, To Itch his (or her) own.
Never had the zing of a Caddy or Lincoln, not sure why. Not to take anything away from the Imperial, wonderful cars, but seems Chrysler just didn’t have the luxury status, and were more known for their cheaper cars for the masses. Lincoln and Caddy were well established luxury cars, this was more a fancy Plymouth or Dodge to most. I was surprised to see, the Caddy was actually the cheaper at about $5500, where as these and Lincoln were over $6. Splitting hairs which was better, in 1967, it was clear to the world, we knew how to make a luxury cruiser.
Now, the $64,000 dollar question( remember when $64K was a lot of money) ,,does the future want a behemoth gas guzzler like this? Time will tell my friends, time will tell,,,
The full size trucks and SUV’s are absolute behemoths existing right now! I’d rather have Imperials roaming the land again. Stellantis needs to sell Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and the rights to old corporate names like Plymouth, back to Americans before it’s too late! Stellantis just sucks at every level!
But at the end of the day Dave, they are now just names that modern generations no longer even remember, let alone associating these names with real quality. No matter what new vehicle they may attach to the old name, sadly it will never have the quality of days long gone. Too often now they ruin a good name by resurrecting it and attaching it to a disposable piece of junk on wheels
You said it all, Howard but that won’t stop me from adding on. First, Imperial started off around the 30s as a top of the line Chrysler trim level. It became a separate make in 55, but everyone still called them Chrysler Imperials and did right to the end. The first generation shared way too much sheet metal with Chryslers, reinforcing the “Chrysler Imperial” meme. Exner’s faux retro from 58-63 were overly gaudy and cartoonish even by the standards of the day. By 67 Imperial was back to looking too close to Chrysler for comfort. They were never able to find the sweet spot where the car is distinctive enough to justify the price but kept corporate character. I suspect that what should be a cash cow was maybe costing them.
And they were sold in Chrysler dealerships alongside Plymouths and the noisy bored kids running around and jumping into cars while their parents desperately tried to negotiate a couple hundred bucks off of the price of a Savoy or Belvedere. Not exactly a luxury experience.
Chrysler is the black sheep. Maybe too conservative. A guy in his 30’s-40’s driving a caddy or Lincoln suicide doors was cool but Chrysler (Imperial) not too cool. No grey poop on here
Peace
Very nice car.
It is interesting that the Lincolns, Cadillacs, and Imperials of this time frame shared certain styling themes.
Elwood Engel designed the first of the fourth-gen Continentals (’61-’69). In ’61, he left Lincoln for Chrysler/Imperial, and his styling cues continued on at Highland Park.
JO
That is a very good point Jim. I remember reading that years ago, and then understanding why they look the way they do. He did a remarkable job on both the Lincoln and Chrysler cars for sure.
such low miles why engine rebuild? then a jasper to boot. why not a local engine shop?
Not many local engine shops around anymore. I get the impression the ones left build racing engines and don’t want to build an everyday engine. Jasper probably had one in stock and shipped it within a week, rather than wait in line for months to have yours rebuilt. Just a guess, though.
probably a moonshine runner – also why the dual exhaust rides so lo – (no ‘shine load to weigh the back end down).
Sure looks like a perfect cruiser especially with a up graded Jasper power plant as my Ram 1500 needed a transplant after 250 k & with a few tasteful power adders (& MDS pulled) like Holley hi ram intake , JBA headers & accel super coil packs runs with the challengers so don’t weep for a modern rebuilt 440!
My dear Ma had a 65 Imp. back in the 70’s. She was 5’2″ and needed pillows to sit on but the car was an ocean liner pulling into any parking lot. This one is a beauty and deserves it’s own storage tent. Good luck seller! If you have to keep it, no loss!
That thing is longer than the truck its parked next to and could probably tow more with a good hitch set up.my guess is they were constantly putting the cheap gas with that Ethanol crud in it and it ruined the inner seals because those older cars can’t handle it
Love these year Imperials. They were truly beautiful and powerful cars. The low resonators in the back due look a bit odd. Wish he had posted more photos, engine, underside, trunk. I basically don’t even acknowledge Chrysler as a company existing anymore. It’s a total joke of basically no cars run by Italians.
I agree with you, Jim. Chrysler hasn’t built a nice looking car since the C/Y body line ended in 1993. And they haven’t been truly Chrysler since they sold out to foreign buyers. I was at a show yesterday where there were 171 cars and trucks. I was the ONLY Chrysler in the show. There was a ’68 Dodge D100. Everything else was Ford, GM, foreign, and one 1914 Locomobile. Oh, there were souped up Challengers and Chargers, but as one man keenly observed, “Those don’t count. They’re Fiats.” Personally, the ’67 was my favourite of the sixties Imperials, had one on my shopping list before I bought this Newport Custom. That or a loaded ’75 with the plush interior. I’d still be willing to trade for the right one!
@Wardww
Just think, in 60 years Gen Z (if they servive) will be in their 80s and pretty sure if they have any opinions at all they will say that the 2020 anything SUV was such a cool and great car compared to the flying junk they now have. 😂
I used to think the sun rose and set on Cadillac till I bought my first Imperial, a 65 Crown. Demo derby guys snatching up Imperials like crazy and the 65 was too nice to get destroyed. I discovered the awesome ride of the torsion bar suspension and tremendous build quality. Since then, I have owned at least one of every year from 55-75. The 67 and 68’s are my favorites and I still own a 68 convertible.
Beautiful 67 Imperial, and I agree with the author. Why would it need an engine rebuild at only 38K miles. That and no engine pics is a real letdown. I’m also surprised a luxury car like this would come without factory AC as well. I don’t mind 4 doors as long as they’re hardtops.
I had a ’67 Imperial Crown like this one. Mine was a light gold with the short abbreviated vinyl top. Penty of power, it could fry the tires for a block! No matter how you drove it 10MPG. I sold it to a guy in Wisconsin who pulled his Airsteam with it.
Jasper engins have been around for many years. Long before their Nascar connection. They also rebuild transmissions. The first Jasper engine I sold was when I was in high school when I worked at a NAPA store in 1968. I have used their products for years and NEVER had an issue. Between Jasper engines and the local coffin/casket company they pretty much keep the town of Jasper Indiana going. Great people to deal with! I seriously doubt the low mileage claim on this car and I also seriously doubt a performance upgraded engine. My Imperial Crown had leather and A/C and I would not purchase one without A/C. I loved mine, but the fuel bill kept me in the poor house, so since I was getting married I sold the Imp. And bought a 1965 Baracuda.
My grandfather got a 67′ Imperial in December 1966 as a Christmas gift from his boss,fully optioned with every bell and whistle,it was white with red interior.These cars are a very smooth ride and they are excellent highway cruisers,i remember riding with my grandfather in it often when i was growing up in the 80s..wouldn’t hardly notice 80 or 90mph it would do it effortlessly.This one looks great and the price is fair…
I had a ’69 Cutlass S with a 350 2bbl. My high school buddy’s parents bought an Imperial just like this because his dad had crippling arthritis in his knees and the Chrysler offered better ingress/egress than the Olds 98 of that era. My friend knew more than I did as it turned out since I accepted his challenge to a race.
The 440 smoked the little Cutlass before we’d gone an eighth of a mile. I was chagrined, embarrassed, and thoroughly chastened. And I got a lifelong respect for the 440s.
Oh yeah the 440 or really even the 383 and 340 w Torq-flites were wicked combos.
I don’t remember where I heard/read this, but every head honcho bad guy in the TV/Movies from the 1960’s -1970’s had an Imperial…
“current head honcho, an individual who seems to know how to talk endlessly in circles”. Jim, are you sure you are referring to the “Chrysler” head honcho?
Beautiful looking car. This is my favourite year for the Imperial. My other favourite years for the Imperial are 1962 and 1955-56 models. I hope this goes to a good owner. 🙂
I disagree with the junk comment. In 2012 I purchased a new 300 S and drove it for about 90K plus miles before having to sell it to my son. When I owned it i was driving on an off-ramp of I-75 in Michigan in the winter and unbeknown to me the road had been covered in snow ahead of me (Semi-next to me blocked my vision) so when I tried to round the corner, my 300 went off my lane down into the ravine up onto the lane in the opposite direction and then I drove it back through the ravine and back into my lane at around 35mph without any damages to the suspension, the alignment, or anything and once the snow dislodged from under the car while driving there were no side effects, other than my heart beat rising during the experience. The next incident was I was rear ended sitting at a stop light by a 4-door Honda, the guy never touched his brakes and hit me doing about 40-45mph. The results? I pulled the rear bumper facia off that had been damaged and was dragging and drove the 300 home and was not physically injured. The Honda? Limped around the corner into a gas station with anti-freeze gushing everywhere before it died looked to be totaled. The next day no symptoms of whiplash or even a headache. I would take a 300 albeit with AWD any day.
While this car is a beautiful classic design on the outside the dashboard looks drab by comparison, which is likely to be why the Cadillacs and Lincolns outsold them so dramatically. Lets face it, if you’re going to drop significant coin on the vehicle of your dreams you want the interior to be as alluring as the exterior, unless you’re making the purchase based solely on the drivetrain and the driving experience! Just my opinion of course.