Imperials of this era were their own marque (as was pointed out to me in a previous post by knowledgeable readers) separate from Chrysler, and this 1957 is an example of the first year Imperials were on a different platform from other Mopars. This solid but dented garage find is located in Arlington Heights, Illinois and is offered here on eBay with a buy-it-now of $6,000. The seller gives a very complete description of the car and seems to know a lot about them. The car has been a California car most of it’s life and was taken off the road in 1980. The sale includes a lot of spare and replacement parts including a carcass of a similar car. In addition to the photos in the ad, you can view a slideshow of more pictures here. Interested in putting this one back on the road after 35 years?
Not quite Christine, but be careful Arnie Cunningham….
Yeah!!! : )
No thanks. There are to many questions here. The car needs body work and the interior needs to be replaced. My big concern is the engine and transmission. The seller said the engine will not turn and there is rust in one cylinder. That leaves the rest of the drivetrain in question. This would be a good car for someone that wants a big project but the price needs to be right.
Prime example of Virgil Exner’s brilliance. So much steel in this it would probably survive a nuclear blast. To this day, early Imperials (especially the ’64-’66) are banned from demo derbys.
I worked in new car get ready at a Chrysler dealer in 1957 and these sleds were trouble even before they were delivered.
Yeah, but just look at that front end! LOL : )
This guy would have to be the eternal optimist. All the damage will “just pull out”. Everything is “an easy fix”. Gee it’s almost in showroom condition. Luckily it’s got photos, or you would think you could almost drive home in it.
I always wondered why Steven King picked a Fury as the car in Christine. After reading some comments here and at other sites, I now know – these were very troublesome, mean cars even when new.
P.S.: I love the comment after these surviving a nuclear blast. But they can’t survive a single Northeast winter.
That grill was very intricate made of all aluminum. It was extruded and likely very costly to replace and produce.
Back about 1970 I was wandering around an apartment high rise building known as 4000 Massachusetts Avenue, in Washington DC, a very upscale building [still is]. Because the occupants were often wealthy & elderly, there were always a few upper value older vehicles in the cavernous parking garage, but one stood out like no other:
A 1959 Imperial Southampton coupe with the optional Silvercrest stainless steel roof panel, dark maroon body with [if memory is correct] a red interior. This car had all the options including factory A/C & swivel seats. Now here is where it gets interesting. It had 159 miles showing on the odometer. Yes, 159 miles. The original whitewall tires were now brown with age, but still held air, and the building management guys kept the tires inflated. It was driven for a few days, then parked, never to be driven again.
The back story I found fascinating; The owner also owned the penthouse [or one of the penthouses, was never sure if there were more]. The owner was said to be a very wealthy European who came to DC in 1959, bought the car & furnished penthouse, AND NEVER RETURNED AGAIN. The monthly costs for the penthouse & car space were paid every month. I asked the general manager of the building about buying the car, and he said many people had tried over the years, but the owner would not sell. He said the penthouse was still as it was in 1959, everything covered in thick layers of dust [I never saw the penthouse].
The car was still there in the mid 1980s, then one visit I discovered the car was gone. I was told that the owner died, and the car was removed & scrapped! Probably did the same with the furnishings. To my knowledge it’s never surfaced.
Sorry, but while I revere Virgil Exner, this was one of his less severe lapses in judgment and should have never left the drawing boards. Thank gawd it never shared bodies with other cars in its family.