Any fans of classic movies here at Barn Finds? If so, you may have noticed that Chrysler Corporation provided cars to many old movies; after all, it was an inexpensive and effective way to promote your lineup. Invariably, movie stars and starlets drove Imperials, far more than you’d expect given their relatively modest sales. Barn Finds reader Barney found this 1967 Imperial Crown Coupe on craigslist in the San Francisco Bay area with an asking price of $9,950, and it immediately brought John Boorman’s Point Blank to mind. A moody, surreal revenge movie starring Lee Marvin, Point Blank has a rather famous scene involving a doomed ’67 Imperial Convertible and a shady car salesman. Luckily for Imperial fans everywhere, this coupe has had a much happier fate over the last 58 years, and it looks like a fairly clean original with a couple immediate needs.
Most pressing among those immediate needs is a front brake hose (or two, the ad is a little unclear on the subject). If you’ve ever used a flare wrench, however, you know that once a car needs brake hoses, it probably needs a few other things, and given the leaky lid on the master cylinder, it may behoove the new owner to take a close look at the brake hydraulics. Once that’s done, you’ll be cruising behind one of Chrysler Corporation’s hall-of-fame engines, the big 350-horsepower 440. This one has air conditioning (Does it work? Who knows.), and Chrysler engineers did mechanics a giant favor by nestling the compressor atop the engine where it doesn’t obscure access to other maintenance items such as spark plugs.
The odometer reading on this Imperial is 22,000, so you’re most likely looking at a 122,000-mile car.
The other problem the new owner will have to deal with immediately is the driver’s door glass, and that might be a little tougher to procure than brake parts. Where it went is a mystery, but that’s an issue that I’d normally shrug off to my later chagrin. It might be best to start calling junkyards before you call the Imperial’s owner, and the Imperial Club has posted this table of glass codes, in case it helps. Otherwise, the interior is in excellent condition, with limited cracking and crazing in the upholstery and “no cracks in [the] dash,” and the radio and antenna still work.
This handsome Imperial might not be a movie star itself, but it’s in good original condition, with “no rust” and a “super straight body.” The paint does have sun fade and some scratches, but being a white car, it should be easy to touch up, or you can simply polish it as well as you can and leave it as-is. Dealer filmstrips for the Imperial always explained that if salesman could just get prospects behind the wheel, they’d want an Imperial. I can believe it; I wouldn’t mind driving it home right now. But I’d be more careful than Lee Marvin was.
Great looking car at a nice price. Jay Leno likes his!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMtsCfYZlog
Another INCOMPARABLE Imperial, a Certified LAND YACHT AND a true Bon Marche! AND in my City by the Bay. Who could ask for anything more? ME! 😔 NO longer able to fly (health).Sure wishacould!
Mr. Toth has obviously never changed spark plugs on a ’67 Imperial. A car of this quality and price range needing a brake hose? From experience, I’d wager if this car was in storage for any length of time, those pesky fixed-caliper four pistion K/H disc brakes need a complete overhaul, likely including booster and master cylinder. And if a “mechanic” installed those nasty yellow plug wires, that person needs to find another profession…
Ha ha, you’re right, Thad. I have worked on a big-block Chrysler or two, however, and compared to luxury cars like my ’63 Thunderbird, the Imperial looks like it has plenty of access under the hood. But I also know that sometimes, there’s just something in the way that makes no sense at all.
I just looked and, as you might expect, remanufactured front calipers are out of stock at Rock Auto. It looks like there are some enterprising people making conversion kits to use GM calipers, so I guess that’s an option, but it’s not going to be an afternoon job either way.
I recently bought a pair of remanufactured calipers for a ’67 Imperial convertible. They are certainly available but not cheap, at a place called MoparMall. https://www.moparmall.com/MoPar-2880640-2880641-Disc-Brake-Caliper-p/862-24x.htm
And your point is ? As an owner of a 1968 Crown Coupe for 50,000 care free miles changing plugs or doing brake work was never a problem.
Most should consider seeking out the many NOS Mopar providers if your thinking of owning any of them…..Ebay is your friend.
If one is lucky enough to enjoy a ’68 Imperial for 50,000 care free miles with no spark plug changes or brake work, consider yourself very fortunate. I personally love 1960-73 Imperials having owned 14 (so far) during my lifetime…
Budd, not K/H brakes. Must be getting old…
I judge these cars on whether or not all lighters work.
Another beautiful, Imperial listed here this week. Yes, you’re probably looking at an entire brake job, calipers, hoses, MC and booster and rebuilding rear drums if that’s what this came with. I just found a one man hydraulic vac pump for bleeding brakes, and it works! Cant imagine trying to drive this anywhere in San Fran with scary brakes. Glad it’s on the wrong coast for me, because she’s tempting.
A lot of power with that drivetrain set up. Price is right and I think it will be saved!
Center from armrest suggests this Imperial doesn’t have the swivel seat option.
front, not “from” derp.
I had this car in a gold 4 door. Great car, and great fuel bill. Good thing that it has a huge fuel tank. Sold it to a guy to pull his Airstream. I miss the ride and power. Don’t miss the fuel bill.
a lot of these cars gave up their motors for other mopars in the early 80s. i know i took 1 out of this style car and put it in a charger.
A deserving recipient. I did the same thing.
I had a 67 w swivel seat dark blue w, a lighter blue top. Bought it after rolling my 67 LTD three times. Paid 1300.00 in 1973. Walked away from the wreck.