If your aim was making the neighbors envious in 1964, buying a new 1964 Imperial Crown Convertible was an effective way to do it. Unfortunately, only 922 new owners chose that path to personal glory, making this a pretty rare example of a luxury car that cost over $6,000 new (and went up from there). This nice driver is being marketed here on eBay in Pawling, New York, with an asking price of $25,500 or best offer. It’s part of a collection being represented by an eBay seller, and Barn Finder T.J. did his usual good job in finding it and sending it our way.
You’ve probably noticed that this Imperial is not a show car, but rather a driver that the owner “used…with [the] top down on nice days.” As such, the engine compartment could use some detailing if the new owner is a stickler about such things. Based on other photographs of 1964 Imperials, it looks like the engine should be painted blue, but it appears that this one has been painted black at one point or another. Regardless, the seller says that it’s the original 340-horsepower 413 big-block matched to the original push-button TorqueFlite. Somebody has converted it to a dual-circuit master cylinder, and it’s recently had a tune up and a new carburetor installed (in addition to new tires and brakes). I think I’d put heater hoses on my to-do list if I were buying the car.
The convertible’s standard interior was trimmed in “top-grain leather upholstery,” which seems to hold up fairly well in Imperials, but it definitely has its share of cracks. Power steering, power brakes, and power windows were all standard in Crown Convertibles; air conditioning was an option that this car doesn’t have, which isn’t too surprising considering that it’s a convertible located in New York State. The passenger seat reclined, and the headrests were standard equipment. The eBay ad mentions that the power top works, but the top itself is nearing the point where a replacement might be desirable; if you keep the top down like the current owner has, however, it doesn’t really matter all that much. An outfit named “Convertible Top Guys” has replacements available, priced between $670.95 and $1107.95, but that doesn’t include (obviously) installation.
The trunk is still trimmed with its original cardboard and holds the “parade boot,” along with some other spare knick-knacks. Like the engine compartment, the trunk could use some detailing if the new owner wants to show the car off at events.
From this view, we can see the dingy-looking top, the brand new tires, and the serious-looking dual exhaust system, which certainly emits a nice burble from the big 413. There aren’t any undercarriage pictures, but the seller says it’s solid but “shows like an original car.” There’s a “make offer” option, so what do you think a fair offer would be on this big, rare Mopar?
I am always amazed at the low production numbers of these Imperials. Clearly, Imperial could not have been profitable for Chrysler. but I guess they couldn’t just give up and let GM and Ford have all the luxury market.
I’d be curious to see what the car sells for. Hagerty shows it in the 20+K ballpark, but I wonder is that buyer is out there. I just bought my sedan 3 months ago for 6K, and it’s as nice as the subject car, maybe nicer.
Another great find, TJ, and a good write-up as well, Aaron.
Such a beautiful car, this is practically everything I could want in a luxury car, except for affordable maintenance and an acceptable garage to perform said maintenance, so just a fantasy for me.
Oh, well, glwts.
That is one gorgeous Imperial, Rex, I am very envious, and at $6k you practically stole it.
What a color combo. I love green. Give us some specs, Rex.
Thanks Tim.
The green is Moss Gold, but is a repaint that is close, but not exact. But good enough. California car then Texas then Orlando where I got it. Hadn’t run in about 10 years. No brakes when I got it. I spent a couple of months recommissioning it and now it runs/drives/stops great. AC is the next big project.
The interior was re-done in vinyl to the original patterns, and was done very well. I am presently repairing some of the brittle plastic interior trim pieces, of which replacements are unobtanium or just as brittle. The vinyl roof is a replacement, which was padded (not factory correct) and in green (also not factory correct) but I think it looks great and nobody would know except an Imperial expert. It’s a really nice car and is amazingly quiet on the road.
Oh, and I re-did the “100-year-old Walnut” accents on the doors and the dash. The factory veneers are literally paper thin, and there is no way to re-finish them. As usual, I re-did them with Wilsonart plastic laminate, and I would challenge even the Imperial expert to tell the difference!
I think someone here should write up Rex’s Imperial. Its absolutely beautiful. And well worth all the work you put into it to get it back on the road after 10 years.
i completely agree with you! I, too love these ’64-’66 Imperials for their engineering, build quality, and their exclusive style. Someone should put Rex’s car on BF.
Thanks Driveinstile,
I imagine the assembled car buffs have seen plenty of my cars over the years. But I do appreciate the support to be sure.
I’m grateful to have my “compound” to store the cars and work on them, but more than that a supportive wife who loves old cars and only complains when I sell one! Here we are on the Eiffel Tower last fall, drinking Champagne. Not bad for a guy who grew up in a cornfield in rural Ohio. Cheers from Tampa fellas!
You don’t mention the year, but by the hubcaps and backup lights integrated into the taillight configuration, it’s a ’65
This car was designed by Elwood Engel who was instrumental in the design of the 1961 Lincoln Continental before moving over to Chrysler and replacing Virgil Exner. You can see some of the Continental styling cues in the Imperial Crown.
It’s hard to believe that the pinnacle of Chrysler products of the era didn’t come standard with air but here we are! Beautiful car!
At this point in time AC was a fairly expensive option, pushing $500 at least. Where I lived it was still something of a novelty, even in homes. Remember, 10 years earlier heaters were still an option on some cars.
Beautiful car. In the first photo the styling from the A pillar to the rear
reminds me of my 1964 Dodge Dart convertible.
interesting to see its still wearing the REEDMAN LANGHORN PA badge on the trunk lid
Beautiful design, but for 25 K, it’s a real mess, don’t you think? I know it’s an Imperial, not a Chrysler, but I can’t help but look at this land yacht and hear “Love Shack.”
$25K – not gonna happen. The mkt talks.
You’re probably right. However these cars don’t turn up every day. The 64-66 Imperials were the only ones that didn’t look like Chryslers or Exner’s excesses. It doesn’t seem to be clapped out and at 60 years old is a presentable survivor. There’s a 63 that seems to be broadly in the same shape on Hemmings for 36k. Unfortunately no engine or interior photos were available. I’ve said this before about “overpriced” cars like this. If you want one what are you going to do, wait for years for another one to turn up?
All nice, but not a convertible. Different price point i guess.
Where was this car when I was
drawing one for my neighbor lady
15 years ago? Kudos to the seller
for providing a lot of photos for me to use to make Imperials in the future. Hers was a very dark
green LeBaron 2-door HT and boy, did I have the devil’s own time finding good photos to use as patterns to make that print. Had to settle for some really bad
pics taken by a flipper in Canada.
And most of what I did was guesswork as to how the trim was made, the interior shots, etc.
Hey Rex, your car would make a
great pattern for prints too! Closest I ever got to owning one
came when I had the 1/25 scale
model of this car in the late ’60s
made by AMT. And as for the seller’s price, I’ll have some of whatever he’s smokin.
Regardless of the the asking price the car itself is a really neat example of when Chrysler ( excuse me, Imperial ) was at the zenith of design IMO. I can see cruising into C&C with the top down being a couple of tons of fun. As to the lack of A/C in a luxury car like this; well it was more rare than we might think it was as we motor about in our current vehicles. The first A/C car I had was a 1985 Buick. I was in the lap of luxury at last. GLWTS.