Previous ownership can make a big difference in a car’s value, there is no question about it. But, what if the original owner was a relative of someone famous? The seller of this 1981 Chrysler Imperial lists a connection to not Elvis but another “King” in their ad found here on craigslist. This one is found in Canton, Texas and the seller is asking $3,650.
“The King” that I was referring to was, of course, Richard Petty. Did he ever ride in this car? I don’t know if we’ll ever find out and I don’t know if it would make a difference in the price, would it? The first owner was Richard Petty’s cousin, Don Petty. It probably has no bearing on the car’s value at all but it’s an interesting side story. Ok, back to the car itself.
The last of the V8-powered Imperials were elegant cars in their day. It’s easy to make fun of them now but maybe take a quick gander at your high school graduation photo and then get back to us on how this is such a dated, ugly car. They weren’t big sellers and they were plagued with troubles from the fuel-injection system, but who doesn’t love a crisp, bustle-backed Imperial?! Shhhh.. zip.. zzzip it, look at that high school grad pic again.
Ok, I admit that compared to the heavy, supple, chrome-laden, Imperials of yore, the sixth-generation cars are easy to pick on. In the early-1980s, bustle-back styling was somewhat of a thing and the Imperial wore it maybe better than anyone else did. This car doesn’t have leather which we almost always expect to see in a luxury car now, but overall it looks good inside. They show a close-up of the driver’s seat which needs some help.
Possibly the biggest gripe with Imperial owners of this era was the electronic fuel-injection system. This one doesn’t have the 140-hp 318 cubic-inch V8 with Chrysler’s troublesome electronic throttle-body fuel injection that it would have had from the factory, this car is wearing a 360 V8 and four-barrel carb! That’s quite an upgrade and given that the 1981-1983 Imperials were based on the Cordoba, could it be a Cordoba engine? We don’t know for sure, but one thing we do know, this car could be a good buy at the seller’s asking price. Any thoughts on this Imperial?
I always thought these Imperials looked fine, even the bustle-back looked okay to me. In hindsight, they represent their late 70’s- early 80’s angular styling era, before Ford ushered in a new theme with the 1983 T-Bird and (especially) the 1986 Taurus.
Assuming reasonable mechanical condition, this would be a very cheap way to get into the hobby. Would not see yourself at a show. Even has the period-correct soft yellow paint.
Scotty is right, if you would see a pic of me ‘back in the day,’ you would laugh.
No Jon Voight connection, no sale.
Yes but it has the teeth marks from John Voight, the dentist
Wasn’t Tom Petty one of Richards cousins’?
Come on…I’m free fallin here…help.
Hey, wasn’t that you taking your driver’s license test in a blue one of these?
Oh my no. Way to new and modern my friend.
“Runnin’ Down a Dream” was written after Richard took Tom around Daytona a few hot laps…
I always liked these cars, still do. It’s incredible how poorly executed they were considering how much attention to detail was purported by Chrysler.
The early 80’s C/D/P products Mirada and Imperial have always been my favorites. Missed a chance at a light blue Imperial by me in similar condition and price. The 360 carb is a big plus. Too bad so far away (or maybe good thing).
My brother almost bought a new Mirada but decided Chrysler was in financial trouble, so bought a Chevy. Now he is kicking himself because they were really beautiful and super rare today. I haven’t seen one in years. Much rather have one of those than this. Wonder what one would sell for if you could find a nice one?
Had 81 Miranda…slant six…put 300k on it was still driving…miss it, best car I ever had…
I read once that these were mostly outlawed in demolition derbys.
Those were 1960’s Imperials, not these…..
I had one of these and loved it. quirky, interesting styling. I would like one again…..but too many other cars as it is. whoever buys it will be happy with it. fair deal.
Nothing to see here move along.
Wasn’t there something on repurposing the rear end in these cars? Memory is hazy……..
I love it :-) Nice writeup, Scotty!
I owned an 1981 for about a year until the dreaded fuel injection became problematic. They “Look” great sitting still. Drive them and its only a matter of time until it causes you grief.
Peter that 81 Imperial you sold me in 87 is still going strong and its still factory injected! I’m a big fan of these cars having owned around seven over the last 33 years! the styling is timeless, love the bustle and angular front end! I currently own a FS with sun roof, The only two options available! and its still injected!! One of possibly 50 produced in 81! Its Time For Imperial!!
I worked at a Chrysler dealership mid 80’s and the mechanics hated working on the fuel injection systems on these– they were designed to run with the air filter housing in place so everything had to be reassembled after any engine repair. Chrysler sold a kit that converted the car to carburetor–I’m thinking if the customer complained enough he got the kit for free but paid for labour. There was even a Frank Sinatra version, blue in colour and included FS cassette tapes
Once these cars are converted to carb they are great to drive, handle really well for the weight and not a huge car. They were actually raced quite a bit. I love the looks too, squared off from front to back – no jellybean here. Then again I’m not partial – have 3, including two Frank Sinatras.
I suppose the letters ‘FS’ could come to mind when thinking of one of these, but not standing for ‘Frank Sinatra’….
I wonder if the owners of these quality-built clunkers broke as many driver’s door handles as I did on my similar Dodge Mirada just trying to get into the stupid car. They were such junk they were sold on the ‘HELP!’ parts rack at the auto parts stores.
My Mirada was hands down the worst pile of junk I have EVER owned. I think I’d need a paid membership here to post large enough to list all the things that went wrong with it from the first day I owned it. Many of its shortcomings would likely have existed in the Aztek-styled ‘Imperial’. I love the real Imperials, even up til they were Chrysler Imperials (early 70’s) but after that, anything sold as one was an insult to the name.
I heard the Miradas were pretty decent cars. Door handles? Had an Omni that was notorious for those, cheap plastic. A real PITA. Still, you have to admit, the Mirada was one handsome stud. Is that why you bought it in the first place? I called my brother the other night after reading this post, he again lamented on never buying one. Again I wonder, are any for sale, and for how much? I haven’t been able to find any for sale after a short search last night.
I had the Frank Sinatra version back in 2014-2015. Still even had the cassettes in it. Sold it. Kinda miss it. The blue carpet was like 3″ deep.
“It’s easy to make fun of them now but maybe take a quick gander at your high school graduation photo and then get back to us on how this is such a dated, ugly car”
I’m going to incorporate this line in all of my comebacks in response to negative or derogatory attacks on that greatest decade ever!
I really like these cars but I have no room. I prefer a Sinatra, but I’d have to sell something to gain some space. Currently negotiating for more.
As a member of the NASCAR press corps, albeit part-time now, I could ask Richard Petty if it wasn’t for this virus. :(
Ugh, another one of these.
Take a 1980-82 Cordoba (or even worse, a Dodge Mirada), one of the worst built vehicles in Chrysler history. The kind of vehicles which nearly put Chrysler out of business.
Now mate that junk pile with a Pontia Aztek to get the new style we see here.
These cars were ‘fails’ on a scale that make the Edsel look wonderful.
Build quality of Chryslers was always poor, but I think the real problem in those days was buyer confidence of the company not being around to back up a warranty. Plus, there wasn’t enough money for proper engineering on some things. The newly required pollution controls made older engines run awful. I had a late 70s slant six that ran worse by far than my earlier slanties. The plastic interiors of my cars from them got brittle and fell apart, unacceptable. What you can’t complain about is styling, I feel they were incredible in that department. What, you a bow tie guy?
I never had any problems with my 82 Imperial. None. It had been factory converted to a carb so that helped, but outside of that everything always worked as it should and it was a smooth driver. Remember that most 80’s cars were garbage no matter what the make/model. The Imperial, at least in my experience, was better than most.
In my younger days I was charged with FIXING the EFI systems on these vehicles. Most of the issues could be rounded up to rust on the inner fender well where the “box” mounted, needing a good ground, and the optical fuel counter, (I can’t for the life of me remember the Chrysler name for the thing), which would get occluded or fogged by the crappy fuel available. We did do one of those conversions from EFI to carburetor….the BOXES from the factory were tank, dash, fuel lines, intake, harness…etc…etc. GREAT PAY!
I believe it was the early 1980’s when Buddy Arrington raced one of these in NASCAR