The year 1963 was the end of an era for Chrysler Corporation’s Imperial brand. The flamboyant styling of ChryCo’s head designer, Virgil Exner, was coming to an end and would be replaced in ’64 by an entirely new, squared-off approach, courtesy of Elwood Engel. Today’s find, a 1963 Imperial Crown four-door hardtop is a fitting send-off to the Exner era. Located in Green Valley, Arizona, the seller opines that it’s “5,000 lbs. of rolling sculpture“. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $7,995 with two bids tendered as of this writing.
Imperial came in three trim levels in ’63, Custom, Crown, and LeBaron. The Crown trim level made the scene in two and four-door hardtop body styles, referred to as a “Southampton” and a two-door convertible. Total Crown four-door production fell just shy of 7K units while total Imperial production racked up 14K copies in ’63 and placed fourteenth in the domestic production race.
The seller of this Southampton states that his Imperial is an older restoration, refinished in the proper hue and wearing re-chromed bits. The body is claimed to be straight and rust-free and it certainly shows well. The finish has great depth and consistency. Two notable features of this Imperial are the independent chrome-plated headlight pods and that toilet seat thingee on the trunk lid. This is a purposeful-looking car, and while it is an Exner design, some of his more ouvert styling impulses seem to have been tamed.
Power is provided by a 340 gross HP 413, CI V8 engine working via a push button actuated TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The seller adds that at “122,400 miles, the engine never opened, runs like a Swiss watch“. The transmission has been rebuilt and items like the fluids have been changed while many suspension components have been replaced along with various brake parts,
The interior is a real work of art – it’s hard to fathom that it’s 60 years young and has experienced 122K miles of use. I think the most remarkable aspect of it is how clean it appears. That steering tiller is way out there and is certainly a memorable piece. While the power seats, windows, mirrors, and lights are all operative, the AM radio is on the fritz as is the A/C – the parts are all there, however.
The seller closes out with, “This car is a labor of love, but needs to be taken to the next level by someone else. She is currently a daily driver, but could be promoted to a trailer queen“. A couple of thoughts on that statement – this is an exceptionally fine Imperial though it seems a little over the top for a daily driver. At the same time, I’m not much on promoting a car to trailer queen (or king if you prefer) status – that seems to be too narrow a fate and a preclusion from enjoying the finer motoring aspects of this luxury cruiser. My suggestion? Buy it, drive it when the circumstances are right, and just enjoy it. In other words, leave it as is (well, fix the A/C maybe). That’s my thought, what’s yours?
Like most of Virgil’s designs it’s either love it or hate it. To me it’s a car that is so out there that make it so cool. The drivers center complete with the square steering wheel is really out there as well. Imagine going to a showroom in 63 and seeing that dash. Right out of a space ship. What other car is in the square wheel club? I can think of the Austin Allegro. It’s a great car trivia question. Who can name others?
“Square Wheels”, 60-61 Plymouth. 60 Imperial offered the Square as an option. 61-63 Imperial it was standard. I have had all of the wheels NOS and all the cars as well. Fun stuff.
Pretty sure the elliptical steering wheel (Chrysler’s term) was standard on the ’60 Imp. My folks bought one new in ’60 with that wheel and AFAIK they didn’t pay extra for it. Also, if you look at the ’60 brochure there’s no indication the wheel is not standard equipment or that there is a square steering wheel option.
Not square but my best friend had a 1963 Dodge 440 with a wide oval steering wheel.
C8 Corvette.
No doubt about it, a gorgeous car in outstanding condition. Love the color and the chrome really sparkles. I really like the dash, it’s just spectacular! Of course, you can either love or hate the Exner styling, but you have to admit, his styling was unique. Whoever ends up with this beauty will have a few items that need attention, but the work and expense will be well worth it.
From my historical research I have to agree. Exner was quite the designer; even Elwood Engel admired his skills.
This year of Imp is the last facelift of the ’61 design, Exner’s last big hurrah before he was scapegoated and fired for the disastrous ’62 Dodge and Plymouth offerings. Although those cars had touches of his, he protested against the shrinkage that William Newberg directed for those cars in his short time as king of the corporation. But, politics is politics, even in corporations. Newberg did get his in the end.
One thing I like about Imps is their use of curved side glass, which Ex pioneered on the ’57 Imperial. That is his longest-lasting styling legacy. People may not think about that, but they do make a difference in how a car looks.
I always loved the freestanding headlamps,to me that was art.But i always despised the faux spare tire hump on the trunk,it’s the only thing marring a truely classy vehicle.
I am the opposite: bangin’ body but a face only a mother could love! To each their own right. :-)
As for the faux spare, to me it looks like a redesign of the ’50s continental kits but styled into the car rather than an add on. Gives the expansive decklid some character. Cheers.
Love it, all of it.
Yes! I refuse to consider one without the other.
Yup, I believe that deck lid is available without the toilet seat. If I purchased this car the toilet seat deck lid would be gone as soon as possible replaced by a smooth one painted to match…..
With these headlights, it needs the 55 imperial tail lights to complete the look! I loved them as a kid, neighbor had one with a Hemi. He had some really neat cars… next was a 57 Pontiac Bonneville convert with fuel injection.
Here in Omaha we had a spin-off of the Shriners called “The Imps”. All members drove identical Imperial convertibles. My grandfather was a member. In `63, the color choice was baby blue with metallic blue leather–it’s the first car I remember him having. Nothing better to ride in on a sunny summer day!
Being a fellow Arizonan, Green Valley is a retirement community of age 55+ residents.
This guys idea of daily driver is likely to the grocery store twice a week!
Nice land yacht that you might look real close at the older restoration only because folks in AZ are mostly from somewhere else…
Small as the rear-lighting profile is, I would be apprehensive taking it even to the grocery store. That I think is the biggest problem with those cars, at least until ’67.
Must be a treat to go cruising down the road in this powerful sedan. 😎
I’d think so, too. However, those tiny taillights could give one some trouble, especially with the distracted-driving fad these days. To complicate matters, I don’t see any way to improve the rear visibility without sullying the look.
Seller also has that car listed locally on Facebook for 25,900… beyond the High watermark in my opinion!!
Gorgeous car. Love that toilet seat trunk lid
Fantastic color in great shape. Electroluminescent dash lightning called panelescence in Imperial speak. Very good original upholstery. Not an easy car to maintain but a rewarding one. Styling was so cool both then and now. GLWTS!
I love this dinosaur!
I also, would love to cruise this tank around. It’s beautiful. Good color good Chrome.
Love the car. Hate it when the a/c is non-working. Fix it.
I’d fix the A/C and get the radio repaired, wax that beautiful blue paint and tons of chrome and enjoy it!!!! Big Chryslers with big blocks rock!!!
I’m not much of a fan of the free standing head lights but I love the firm fitting tailored look of the 61-63 Imperial grills. Ex should have treated the headlamps in a similar fashion. Imo Imperials we’re always fine cars. Caddy seems to have gotten a death grip on the American luxury conscience and Lincoln never really made the grade till 61 when they introduced a fine luxury car and used the basic overall exterior design as a template for a decade or so afterwards. “Ain’t it funny how time slips away”?
When I was a kid my Ma had a 63 Imp. When the parents went out, leaving the Imp home with me, I’d grab the keys and before I took it for a joy ride I’d note exactly how and where it was parked and take night time cruises, before they returned. The good thing about a 15 year old kid behind the wheel of a cabin cruiser like this is the cops never suspected I had no license and I could cruise right past them.
I still think it’s strange all three series have the same upholstery pattern. There might be an option or two in each series, I do know that LeBaron had broadcloth in a different pattern. The brochure doesn’t show much, and I’ve never seen the showroom album. I still like these over the top ’60 thru ’63 models, but I’m still craving the ’64 Crown with radio delete, no air, for sale in Fort Myers, FL. The “toilet seat” sets this one off, and was an option in ’63, as pointed out in a previous ’63 Imperial sale here.
I have to correct myself, Custom has a distinctly different interior pattern of its own, Crown and LeBaron are the same.
I had a convertible. It was a dud. I don’t like cars I have to work on everytime I use them. This made me a hard-core Lincoln and Cadillac guy. I love the styling, parts are non existent. The brakes were a pain, as were the windows and forget getting the ac working. This is a nice one, so you may be able to make it better but these can be hard to find new lovers for so if your not in it for love, the divorce could be a loss.
I had this exact model in two tone beige over bronze. Still have a pix of the wife waving from the drivers seat back in the mid Eighties. Enjoyed the heck out of it. As I am a serial car owner, I sold it for eight hundred bucks and a ten speed bike :). Next up was a ’72 BMW 2002.
Why do all my cars sell for ridiculous prices AFTER I sell them ?
These Imperials are Virgil Exner to a T….sharp lines, quirky details and just beautifully molded edges. Really an interesting design and a little cleaner than the ’60-’62 models that preceded it.
Back when America was America.at least as far as auto design went. Now its all about the toasters on wheels. Oh well.tempus fugit.