After a long retirement in Palm Springs, California and some time in Ontario, Canada, this 1965 Imperial LeBaron found its way to Pennsylvania in 2024, where it serves a new and appreciative master. A long search for a well-kept and highly original all-black LeBaron of this vintage finally bore fruit when auto enthusiast Gene Epstein caught wind of this sub-20,000 mile classic north of the border. A deal was struck and a team of experts dug in to make it sparkle. While this Second Generation Imperial continued the platform introduced in 1957 with Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” styling, the 1964 facelift came from former Lincoln designer Elwood Engel, bringing more traditional elegance to these later Second Gen Imperials. Thanks to Wikipedia for some details.
After 100 leather samples, Epstein blessed these hides for a front seat re-upholstery. A first attempt –replacing only the worn pieces– proved impossible, ushering in perfect all-new leather. I forgot to ask Gene if he treated the upholstery with Tahitian Coconut and Whale Oils as described in the factory brochure at ImperialClub. Epstein drives this car regularly, and his wife suggested it may ride better than the incredible low-mile 1970 Lincoln Continental we featured in 2024. One nightmare on the way involved locating replacements for plastic serpentine seatbelt fixtures at the center door pillars.
The original carpeting responded to a good cleaning and soldiers on after sixty years of service. Everything works now and looks fantastic. That took some effort. Gene’s decades in the automotive business yield the contacts and know-how to “do it right,” and you’ll gain some tips and laughs reading his book, “Lemon Juice…” Gene’s a stand-up guy, too, giving back to the community to improve the lives of many.
The Imperial’s 413 cid (6.8L) V8 makes 340 HP and a buttery 470 lb-ft of torque, all without turbos, superchargers, or direct injection. Air conditioning, cruise control, and auto-dimming headlights add practical luxury, and you can forget about computers jerking the steering wheel away from you or needlessly applying the brakes with a cement truck tailgating your bumper. The engine compartment received a sympathetic refurbishment with a priority on returning original items to cosmetic and operational perfection.
Copious wire brushing and other steps made way for fresh paint, preserving the undercarriage on this driver-quality refurbishment. After an HVAC overhaul, this beauty thwarts nature like new.
The Imperial boasted “100 year-old walnut” in ’65. Add 60 years in situ and we predict 200 within reach. Having a temperature gauge bests my 2006 BMW 750Li, which has none (unless you engage a secret menu every time you start the car). Just as I recently bought a 1986 Chrysler Fifth Avenue to replace my 750, Gene’s spotless Imperial replaces a modern German car that never hit the mark like this LeBaron. Somewhere between 1965 and today, luxury gave way to marketing one-upmanship and became diluted by performance and technology, a gilded lily approach that makes modern high-rollers better for country club boasts than a smooth and quiet drive. Do you think it’s crazy to favor this Imperial’s old-school luxury over modern techno-yachts?
I once read an article that in all the TV shows 1960s-1970s, the bad guys drove Imperials. What a great, classic, elegant car. Totally envious…
I was about to comment on that myself!
They were driven by high level government muckety-mucks on “The Time Tunnel.” and didn’t Eddie Albert drive a convertible on “Green Acres”? These are handsome and photogenic cars.
“Oliver” (Eddie Albert) drove a Lincoln convertible
I’m confused. Where is the link to the auction site? Plenty of old marketing materials and a Wiki page but where is the seller’s site.
…I’m just as confused!!! Is it up for sale or what??? Much thanks!!! Bill
This car is not for sale.
It’s just a nice story of one man’s search for the car of his dreams.
BF will do that from time to time, and many of us I’m sure appreciate it.
Absolutely stunning Imperial, and their Lincoln is beautiful too. Great story here too Todd. I like hearing about people who actually find truly great cars that have survived for decades and are able to spruce them up and preserve them. I’m totally with PRA4SNW. I enjoy write ups like this.
The Green Hornet wasn’t a bad guy, & his customized Imperial is awesome!
I believe it was also an Imperial used in the show The Time Tunnel, when the agents drove into the secret location.
In the movie “Fantastic Voyage” with Raquel Welsh they used 2 1964 Imperials and 2 1965 Imperials in a motorcade and one of the ’64s was totalled by a 1950 Cadillac
No ’50 Caddy could ever total a ’64 Imperial in a fair fight…
Aha, it was customized. Probably to remove the bad guy mojo…
Was Mr. Drysdale the bad guy or the good guy?
-He was always trying to help.
True, he was trying to help, but he also was working in the bank’s best interests, which weren’t necessarily the same as the Clampetts’ best interests, or even what they wanted.
This is turning into more of a moral discussion than automotive…
Drysdale was a self serving, scheming conniver who was always angling to get a piece of the Clampett fortune. Brilliantly portrayed by an obsequious Raymond Bailey.
The way i read it is it was a long search and it has been made as nice as it gets and it is not for sale. Just a credit too a beautiful car. I might be wrong but that is how i took the story. Old school classics every time for me. I can think of lots of old classic cars i want…but i cannot think of one new car or truck that i would by. Thanks.
Terrific comments on the car, guys!
Beautiful looking Chrysler, but is it for sale? Don’t see a link to click on. Thanks. 🐻🇺🇸
…And Angel 😇, shall we go to lunch sometime? I know some
Mexican and Italian places here in Melbourne that’ll knock your socks off! We’d take the black beauty here and REALLY give ’em
something to talk about!
That’s excellent, Todd! I love the line about “computers jerking the steering wheel away from you or needlessly applying the brakes with a cement truck tailgating your bumper.” That’s gold!
I hate that about my new car, it’s so ridiculous. Just drive the car and quit #$%ing around with your #%^ phone for once in your #$% life! (sorry, fake cussing and rage at inattentive drivers pretending to care about driving when they clearly have zero interest in it)
The original wood on the dash was around when the Civil War ended? That’s crazy to think about. Nice work as always!
Scotty – You must also live in Florida!
Thanks, Scotty. I usually give those systems a chance then end up disabling them after a while. Real Cruise Control is hard to come by these days. All those new features are basically for the people you describe who value phone fondling above not killing someone. People think I’m joking when I say, “Lock that thing in the trunk if you can’t keep your hands off it,” but I am not. To echo tompdx, Florida (and Ohio) are the worst I’ve seen, but incredibly selfish drivers are everywhere. Happy motoring!
When our Miata broke a timing belt in Exmore,VA,while
on a trip to New England,I went back to Norfolk & got a rental
car.It was a KIA K4,which I’ve never heard of.I drove up to Allentown,-
PA without a cruise control,as I couldn’t figure out how to work it.I had
to go to a dealer and have a salesman show me how it worked.It had
“Adaptive cruise control” that would slow the car down whenever I got
behind someone.
Instructions were in the owner’s manual under something like
“Driver Assistance”,or something stupid like that.
WHY do they make stuff like that so difficult?
That said,these are works of art & elegance.
Consider me on that band wagon!! I am like what Todd said. Try it once and then spend 48 minutes on a Google Search going through 16.768 menu screans to find out how to turn the blasted thing off. My Border Collie Ellie nudges me ( violently at times) when she wants me to pet her. ( Pet me….. Pet me now….. PET ME!!!!) Anyways, my wife and I joke about the self correcting wheel jerking around like Ellie nudging me!! ( Steer me….. Steer me now….. STEER ME!!!). I call it the Ellie Steer system lol. Great stuff here folks, enjoying the comments and the story as well.
Glad to see it’s not for sale!! I would keep it till I croak if I was him!!
Highly original?
Those behind the glass headlights look like they’ve been replaced with modern headlights, before LEDS.
My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe has the same headlights.
If only a Green Hornet edition was an option.
Now here’s luxury for you! That floaty ride, pillowy seats, and a really good stereo for my ears. And boy, do I want one. My back
deserves it! I always thought these cars were very sharp. Even
though they never beat Cadillac in the sales race, they always delivered and underrated and understated form of luxury and they delivered it in spades! And yes, you saw them in The Time Tunnel and Fantastic Voyage too.
Although my 12 year old self was
both watching and crushing on
Racquel Welch and Suzanne Pleshette as well. But fast forward to today. I can just see my SIL driving one on Palm Bay
Road here in Melbourne as the
traffic parts like the Red Sea as they scramble to get the hell out of the way! If I had the dough, THIS would be the car we’d be riding in. Forget about those over
tech’ed tin cans, slide behind the wheel of something substantial and elegant. Here is a car that can take a hit 🎯 and protect you
and your family. And if you MUST
have tech, there are lighter sockets where you can plug in your phone to use GPS. And yes,
this would be the car my niece would be driving when her young man comes calling. Safety and class all the way. And I could be the perfect doting Uncle when I
hand her my keys 🗝️ and tell them to have a good time.
1966 Imperial Crown, white, loaded. My father’s last car, bought used but less than a year old. I have distinct memories of riding in that practically new car. The wood trim was real, the leather smelled like – leather.