Some cars make a huge visual statement, and I’d suggest that anything penned by Chrysler head stylist Virgil Exner dominates in the standout category. Love or hate his designs, such as this 1962 Imperial Crown, you know his work when you see it! This example is in fabulous condition, and though the listing details are light, the images tell a pretty thorough story. This outsized luxury hardtop hails from Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, where it’s listed on Facebook Marketplace for CDN $24,000 (about U.S. $17,300). Dean gets a round of applause for this discovery!
ChryCo’s Imperial brand assembled about 14K copies in ’62, putting it in fourteenth place in the great domestic auto production race. Three trim levels, Custom, Crown, and LeBaron, and three body styles, two-door hardtop, convertible, and four-door hardtop, comprised Imperial’s lineup for the year. Drilling down, this four-door Crown is one of 6,900 examples – not rare, but not common either. What can be said of this car’s condition? Well, we don’t know the mileage – the odometer conveniently doesn’t work- and we don’t know anything of its past, as in restored, original, etc. Needs? Search me fish, it doesn’t look like it needs a thing. Obviously, sound storage is part of the story here; this Imperial seems to have dodged winter weather – it’s originally an Alabama car, but I’d still like to get a gander at the underside. Takeaways? Those floating headlights are a “what’s-old-is-new” styling cue – very clever- and those iconic afterburner taillights would, unfortunately, never pass muster today.
Get a load of that interior! Impeccable red leather upholstery and not a thing out of place or showing any indication of wear from its 64 years of existence and unknown mileage. Of course, again, we don’t know if the environment is original or a redo. Seatbelts?! Who needs seatbelts…Note that oval steering wheel. It was an oddity in ’62, but we see some variations of it today in models such as the Corvette. This is an A/C equipped Imperial, but there’s no mention of its operational capability.
“Starts easy and runs smooth,” claims the seller, thanks to a 340 gross HP, 413 CI V8 engine, and its pushbutton-activated TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission. The engine compartment appears to be complete and original, though I don’t know about that red radiator tank.
I want to call this Imperial a survivor, but I don’t know enough about its past to apply that label. One thing that does seem evident, however, is its condition – it’s not to be denied. Let’s talk price; that U.S. $17,300 ask (CDN $24,000) seems very reasonable for a rig like this. Now, importation to the U.S.- there’s a matter that could get tricky. This car’s age exempts it from many requirements, but there’s still the import process (tax/duty/forms) to cover. Can anyone provide some insight on that matter?
Appears to be a well taken care of Imperial.Looks like someone cut out the center of the headliner idk.Makes me wish I hadn’t sold my 75’LeBaron a couple of yrs ago after a 36yr ownership.I enjoyed my Mopar days.
The ‘headliner’ pic is actually the upper rubber strip of the door area on the hardtop, above the side windows–
Chrysler sure has made some ugly ass cars over the years. 🤣 Who would have ever purchased this over a 62 Lincoln or Cadillac???
I’d bought several, always loved Chryslers –Pure Class !!
I’d choose the Lincoln over this, but I’m not sure about the Caddy – after the excesses of the late ’50’s, they became a bit restrained and stodgy for the old guys going to the country club. Yeah, you’d know it was a Cadillac, but there were a lot of GM cues that didn’t make it stand out above them other than the crest on the hood, wheels and trunk lid. Those who wanted to have something that would stand out in the crowd a little more might go this route.
My father, for one. Cadillac & Lincoln weren’t always at the top of everyone’s list.
What about the headliner ?? Unclear from the photo condition.
I utterly HATED Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” — absolutely everything about it!.– as well as other manufacturers’ attempts to do likewise. I truly loved, however, what Exner did with the 1953 Mopars — especially the Chrysler New Yorker (the ’53 Imperial, not so much). Of his ’55s, I liked the Dodge only — but he ruined it for ’56. And when he was mostly done with the horrid ’57-’59 Mopars, he introduced UGLY for 1960 and 1961, Then, his downsized and weird ’62s… don’t get me started.
Then, somehow, in the midst of all of that showroom and driveway hideousness, came THIS stunningly beautiful Imperial!!! THIS car is one of my absolute favourite styling exercises of all time!!! I loved it when it first came out in 1961, and I love it now. It got ruined for ’63 (and somehow we see far more of those around, than the ’62s), but then got back on the handsome track for 1964. But the 1962 Imperial: THAT was ONE MASTERPIECE! Wish I could own this one, just for the LOOK of it!
Beautiful looking car. 1962 is my favourite year for the Imperial until the 1967 model year. I hope this car goes to a good owner, someone who will enjoy driving it and to keep it running.
As a kid, my friends dad had a 61 or 62 Imperial Lebaron and riding in that was a boat!!! You didn’t make a left turn, you made a ‘left hard rudder!’ I could never understand the following: As wide as that car was, why were the lights perched on top of the rear fender? Wasn’t there enough space to fit them in along that wide lower edge? Yes, it must have been the thought of the stylist to do something different, but it just looked very funky to me….even back then. Also the funky square/rounded steering wheel was a bit odd!!
I loved these Imperials! The floating headlights and taillights were a bold move in an era of some adventurous styling. Given its size, I can imagine that it literally floats down the highway (and sucks fuel at a voracious rate!), but it has style. The interior is very nice, whether redone or not, and nothing looks horribly wrong. I’d kinda like to know why the top of the radiator is red – never seen one on an Imperial before. The price does not seem out of whack, given the exchange rate.
Here you go my Angel! It ain’t a, Caddy, but the next best thing! In my opinion, beautiful car with an ugly front end.
In my opinion, Exner was a,very talented designer that needed an assistant to tone down his designs. And the top brass at Chrysler should have done the same. Just tone down his designs. Good designs, just a little too far out there for average Joe car buyer.
Beautiful car with a BEAUTIFUL front end, Wayne! But then again, I loved the 1960 Edsel front end, too.
reminds me of Mr. Drysdale.
Remind me: is that Don Drysdale?
Mr. Drysdale was the banker on the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. All of the cars in the show were supplied by the Chrysler Corporation. He usually drove these Imperials.
Oh. I never watched the Beverly Hillbillies or Petticoat Junction: I found them to be too silly for my taste. But thanks for filling-in my cultural gap. I never was big on television, except for a few shows.
My friend had one in highschool, we always bagged on the semi rectangle steering wheel!
This is my favorite year for the Imperial, it’s got the bucket headlamps and the rocket fire taillights.
So! — I’m not the ONLY one.
The ’62 Imperial is the very first car I ever drove, at 13 years old.
This would offer an incredible..and not for a moment out of place ride..right here in the center of horse country in Lexington KY. Cushiony indeed.