Can you place a price on exclusivity? It seems that if the subject of this question is a 1963 Imperial Crown Convertible, it is possible. From an exclusivity perspective, the company only produced 513 examples of the Crown Convertible in the 1963 model year. That makes it a rare vehicle, and how many survive today is unclear. Our feature car is a solid survivor that would make a fantastic restoration project. Adding to its appeal, it features a freshly rebuilt engine and transmission with zero miles. If you fancy a luxury classic, you will find this Imperial located in Massillon, Ohio, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $10,000, but he leaves the option to make an offer. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this desirable project car for us.

The original Chrysler Imperial was introduced to the market in 1926. It remained part of the company’s model range until 1955, at which point Chrysler spun Imperial off as a separate brand. They aimed to compete directly with offerings from Cadillac and Lincoln with their own distinct luxury brand. This remained the case until Chrysler retired the Imperial brand at the end of 1983. Our feature car is a bit of a rarity. The owner claims that it is 1-of-513 Imperial Crown Convertibles produced during the 1963 model year. That figure gels with the numbers that I’ve seen in various resources, which appear to confirm his claim. It isn’t clear how many survive today, but this one looks like a strong candidate to be returned to its former glory. The Dark Blue paint that it currently wears is not original because it rolled off the line finished in the far lighter shade of Glacier Blue. The buyer will undoubtedly perform a cosmetic refresh on this car, but they could go deeper and reap some impressive rewards. The panels look remarkably straight, with few dents or marks worth noting. The best slice of news, in this case, is revealed when we tackle the subject of rust. The floors and underside wear a coating of surface corrosion, but there is no penetrating rust. That seems to indicate that this classic is structurally sound. Some small spots are visible in the rear quarter panels, but the next owner could easily address these with patches. When I consider the overall condition of this vehicle and its potential value, it would be worth the buyer dismantling the car and performing the restoration work to a high standard. The white power-top has seen better days and will require replacement. Most of the external trim is present and suitable for restoration, although a couple of pieces are damaged or missing, and the buyer will need to search for replacements. The wheels that the owner has fitted to this classic aren’t original. He has a set of factory wire wheels, and he includes these in the sale. It is hard to tell due to the layer of dust, but it looks like the tinted glass is in good order. Overall, this looks like it could be a straightforward and rewarding restoration project.

When the original owner purchased this Imperial, it seems that he had his eyes firmly focused on luxury. He ordered the vehicle with air conditioning, power windows, a power front seat, leather upholstery, and a factory AM radio. These items are still present, but returning this interior to its former glory is one aspect of the restoration that could consume cubic cash. One door trim appears to be missing, while the leather trim on the seats has deteriorated badly. The buyer might have to search long and hard for replacement pieces due to the relative rarity of this classic. They will also need to consider a new carpet set and possibly replacing the badly cracked wheel. The dash and pad seem to be in respectable condition, and I believe that they would both respond well to some careful cleaning. Once restored, this would be a pretty pleasant place to spend time as the miles roll under the wheels.

At nearly 19-feet in total length and tipping the scales at 4,980 lbs, the Crown Convertible is a big and heavy beast. Therefore, the company needed to equip it with a decent engine if progress was going to be anything but glacial. They came to the party with a 413ci V8 that produces 340hp. That power finds its way to the rear wheels via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. Given its luxury leanings, it is no surprise to see that this beauty is also equipped with power steering and power brakes. When you take the overall weight into account, the ¼ mile ET of 16.7 seconds looks pretty impressive. For potential buyers, the news with this classic appears to be positive. The owner pulled both the engine and transmission, and they have been treated to a rebuild. The motor has been slotted back under the hood, but the transmission is yet to be installed. Therefore, both have zero miles on them. If I were to buy this classic, I would probably pull the engine again to detail the engine bay to the highest level. The relative rarity of this car would seem to make such an approach worth the effort. Once complete, it has the potential to offer effortless wind-in-the-hair cruising.

This 1963 Imperial Crown Convertible has a lot to commend it as a project build. Returning its panels and paint to their former glory should be no more difficult than any other classic from this era. Its relative rarity means that you don’t see these on the street or in the market very often. A couple of tidy examples have recently sold for figures around $50,000, but a perfect car can potentially double that figure. For somebody searching for an affordable project build, this classic has to be worth a closer look. Are you up for the challenge?