I have contended for some time that ChryCo’s Imperial got short shrift compared to the General’s Cadillac and Ford’s Lincoln division. The late second-gen Imperial (’64-’66) is my favorite, probably due to their understated appearance and standard big Mopar power. Today’s find is a Crown four-door hardtop, which has been sitting for a bit. Can it be brought back to its former glory? Let’s take a look and decide. Calling Carson, California home, this one-time automotive pinnacle from Highland Park is available here on craigslist for $4,400.
The seller refers to this hardtop as “a rare find,” and perhaps today it is, though it is one of 18K assembled in ’65 – Imperials were never, as fine luxury cars usually go, big volume sellers. As a matter of fact, Imperial placed only 14th in the ’65 production race. We’re told that this car has a “Straight and rust-free body,” and that appears to be the case, but the dust and faded finish don’t present it in its best light. Regardless, it does look to be complete with no missing trim or obvious damage.
With 120K miles on its life clock, the 340 gross HP, 413 CI “RB” engine is said to run, but that’s it for operational highlights. The engine compartment, complete with its original-style A/C compressor, appears to be untouched as far as modifications or missing parts go. The only game in town for a gearbox was Chrysler’s famed three-speed A-727 automatic transmission, and that’s what makes the hook-up in this car.
The interior looks like it’s seen either too much use or too much SoCal sun. The front bench seat is down to its foam in places, and what’s not visible is covered with a cloth. There’s a dash toupee riding front and center, which tells you a bit about its condition. The front door windlace is also deteriorated, but the instrument panel still looks bright and unclouded. The angled panel for the headlight and windshield wiper switches gives a nice ergonomic touch. Also, check out the front door release handles – they look like the throttle control for a motorboat.
So, a good restoration candidate? You bet! The tough stuff is sound, what this Imperial will need is a paint job, new front seat upholstery (at least – and yes those items can be pricey), and perhaps some minor mechanical refurbishment. A Chrysler “RB” engine is tough as nails, and if the 413 residing in this car’s engine room hasn’t been abused and adequately maintained, the mileage wouldn’t scare me off. At $4,400, my thought is this example, from an esteemed and bygone luxury marque, definitely needs to be saved, wouldn’t you agree?
These are a piece of artwork!This color doesn’t do it
justice.I also think that those glass headlight covers look
cool.
Black!
Sweet mother of God, why can’t this Imp for 4400 be in Tampa??
Close, but no donut, Milburn Drysdale had a ’62, a ’63, and a ’67. The Imperial always seemed to live in the shadow of the Caddy/Lincoln crowd. Not sure why, Chrysler certainly had a well known name with endorsements like the Beverly Hillbillies,,okay, maybe not the best, but still showed who would probably own a car like this. It wasn’t the price, cheaper than both, yet Lincoln outsold Imperial 2 to 1. Caddy even more. Naturally, you’ll need to max out several gas cards to drive it, around 9 mpg, I still think a more economical engine, and stay in the family, please, okay, a Slanty a bit weak, but an LA motor would make this car much more useful. The smaller motor won’t compromise what a wonderful car this is.
I’d leave the RB in it & add G.V overdrive unit…
And Dash Rimrock drove a 64 Imperial convert. Miss Jane drove Dodges. Chrysler like other auto companies furnished vehicles for promotion. In one episode Milburn got into His LeBaron but stock footage showed him arriving at The Commerce Bank in a different LeBaron! Well, Doggies 🐕.
Rex, are you still looking to Reck Cars? This is a senior relative to the last DeSoto. So hurry on down and tell them Groucho sent you! 😉
Thats quite a good price if you buy your cars by the pound. Probably less than a buck a pound
Was this the last American car at that time that still had a 1950s-style wraparound windshield? (As I recall these were still basically 1957 Imperials under the skin.)
‘66 was the last wrap around windshield.
Yes, Imperial was the last car to cling to a 50’s-style windshield. Fortunately, Chrysler’s wrapped windshield was conservative compared to the competition, so it was outdated, but not in the extreme.
Does a cracked dash alter the tally sheet for restoration. Unique or shared with other Mopar models?
A true Burp-mobile. Pass on this one – there are better ones to buy.
Yes, you are correct, but the entry fee is appealing. A turn key unit will bring six times that much. And a 30k refreshment would be money well spent IMO.
I had a Rose Imperial ’64 2-door. It was built like a tank (Which is why they weren’t allowed to enter demolition derbys.).
Nice cars. A friend of mine has a ’65 identical to this but white in color. The wood grain trim shown on the dash and steering wheel is real wood.
Great write-up Jim, you always seem to have the best listings.
For me this is the finest American luxury car of those times. Neither Lincoln nor Cadillac could match the look and class of the ’65 Imperial.
This looks to be a great buy, pending further inspection.
Someone on Barnfinds needs to snatch this up and tell us all about it. Just gorgeous.
GLWTS!
I would shoot new paint. Maybe a forest green. Something more luxurious than beige. But I bet this was a stunner when it was new. I would basically reupholster put down new carpet figure out something with the dash pad give it a thorough servicing and just enjoy it. Upgrade the AC of course.
By today’s standards of what’s on the road it’s a true odd ball. If you put 10,000 into it ,it would be a unique daily driver compared to all the garbage on the road today
That dash pad looks like a cover of some type, so maybe the original dash pad underneath is in OK condition. I still can’t believe this thing isn’t gone yet.
My family had one of these once upon a time, It was given to us by an aunt of my dad who bought it new. Unfortunately, it met a couple of major issues when we got it. First was my brother taking both right doors. Next was a major mechanical issue. It blew a timing chain., I fixed it but never could make it run. After we got rid of of it I found out that it bent some valves. It would be neat to have another to properly restore. Ours was green with might leather. The leather was much nicer than a Cadillac of similar vintage.,
So does that mean you were still driving it, without the two right side doors, when it blew the timing chain? Just asking.
The Incomparable Imperial! Always loved the LeBaron with limo look. 61 was my favorite with FINS soaring high (even higher than fabled 59 Cadillac). When Engel replaced Exner, he brought strong styling cues from Lincoln Continental. Mrs Drysdale referred to the LeBaron as a limousine. Definitely agree. Believe that Chrysler was never completely able to convince buyers that Imperial wasn’t an upscale Chrysler. This Crown looks to need TLC, but hopefully someone will save it as an example of an era never to be seen again.
The wraparound windshield and late 50s vent windows, plus roofline, combined with Ellwood Engel’s boxy styling made it rather odd in some eyes, but the Imperial was in a class of its own. Don’t forget, it was this generation that was banned from demolition derbies because they were indestructible.
When Ellwood Engle took over from Vigil Exner the Imperial went from a piece of classic art to something similar to a wooden crate, Engle brought his Lincoln shape and styling with him and that’s when everything from there on in tended to follow everything else on the roads with flat slab sides, horizontal lines and square corners. My 62 Imperial 2 door was the talking point at all the Coffee ‘n Chrome meetings I went to.
TC, I would have to respectfully disagree with you about the styling of the the ’64-66 Imps.
They are a perfect exercise in elegant simplicity, without all the superfluous claptrap of the Imps of the Exner era. But don’t get me wrong….I, too, love that superfluous claptrap.
Exner was brilliant, and Elwood was too.
Rex, we all have our own preferences as to car styles, etc, I like the ‘in your face’ styling of the early Imperials compared to the post 63 body shapes, which as I said all seem to be a similar shape, shall we say ‘boxy’.
It all comes down to the eye of the beholder.
For what it’s worth; My ’66 Imp, with the 440ci engine got a fairly consistent 16-17mpg around Albuquerque (altitude 5,000′); but it’s worth mentioning that at the time, I had a 6-Pack Superbee for my more foolish driving experiences. As can be seen in the pics, by ’65 the shifter was on the column, but it still used the cable mechanism at the transmission end. Either version is fine, but parts may be harder to find if the cable-related stuff needs work.