Though it was the premium Chrysler brand since 1926, the Imperial was spun off into its own division in 1955 in the hopes of helping it better compete against Cadillac and Lincoln. I suppose the logic was that adding the Chrysler name to the car somehow diminished its prestige, so it would go it alone (sort of) for the next 20 years. This 1956 Imperial coupe was acquired 25-30 years ago as a restoration project that never began, so someone new gets to have that opportunity. Located in Warren, Michigan, this dirty and dusty garage dweller is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $1,625, the reserve is unmet, and the Buy It Now Price is $19,750. Who’s game?
Though a separate make, the Imperial would draw from Chrysler for its mechanical bits and components. Its styling was also part of Virgil Exner’s “$100 Million Look” campaign that began in 1955. The Imperial now rode on a platform that had a longer wheelbase than the Chrysler New Yorker. From the rear, the Imperial was set apart by its free-standing “gunsight” taillights that would stick around in one form or another into the 1960s. A 354 cubic inch “Hemi” V8 was along for the ride in 1956, with the push-button “PowerFlite” automatic transmission making its debut. 10,600 Imperials were produced in ‘56 of which 2,100 were 2-door hardtops like the seller’s car.
We’re told this Imperial last ran about 20 years ago and needs a motor mount. The brakes have also ceased to work, making for a bit of a challenge loading and unloading with a trailer. It’s only seen 77,000 miles but a head-to-toe restoration may be needed. The photos provided are few and don’t display anything other than pieces of the automobile, so gauging its true condition is not possible. We’re told the paint is brown and the interior pink, but the photos don’t help validate that. This could be a heck of a car when redone, especially considering so few of these likely survive in any condition.
In the listing description the color is identified as pink. Looking at the color chart for this year, it looks to be Sand Dune Beige.
Pink was considered a female color choice so their altered the tint and modified the color description. It’s ‘pink sand’ in some color reference charts. Desert Rose, pink clay etc. It would buff out to a pale pink with tan tone tint. Pretty nice, but probably impossible to match. Needs a total respray, but it’s a nice original color.
With just 3 pics and a short vague description can’t tell if it’s worth it. Neat car though. It does look pink to me if you look at the front of the car where it looks like sunlight is shining on it rather than looking at the rest where artificial light is hitting it thru dust making it look beige. Pay someone to fix the brakes and get it running and do a light detail and you’ll get a lot more $ for it as well as interest in this rare car providing you have the funds to do so.glwts.
Here’s some very obscure Imperial trivia. The openings scenes of “Houseboat” w/Cary Grant show two jet black Imperial limousines (Ghia?) In front of a mansion of this vintage. Very cool with wide white walls and wire spoke wheels.
I believe Governor Pat Brown of California had a ’56 or ’57 Imperial Ghia limousine back in the day……
Sam61,
Both the Imperial limos were 1956, and as such were built by Chrysler. Ghia built Imperial limousines starting in 1957, ending in 1965. If my memory is right, Paramount owned both cars. They were the only 1955/56 Imperials to be factory equipped with wire wheels, as they required a larger wheel/tire size [for the added weight].
Both limousines had brake overheating problems, and that is the primary reason Chrysler said NO to more of them getting wires. The ’55 limousines had the Ausco Lambert disc brake system, and this required special wheel rims with larger holes for airflow, along with special wheel covers that had cooling vanes behind the stainless steel outer covers. The wire wheels didn’t provide sufficient cooling airflow.
I’m familiar with the 1955-56 Imperial limousines as I used to own C70-110, a 1955 Imperial limo, an ex-White House limo used by Nixon. I used to work on and drive the ’55 Imperial limo C70-001, Ike’s parade limo with a sunroof in the back. It’s now on display at the Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg, now part of the National Park Service. I also owned a 1965 Imperial Ghia limo, the next to last Ghia limo built.
I think the current bid is in the ballpark. One has to assume this is a ground up effort and in the best case scenario the money put into it will equal the value of the finished car. But the best case scenario is unlikely if I were a betting man.
Where is this thing located? Hope it’s not in my hood. I don’t need another sled under construction. Cuz my first car was a 56 Imp. way back. SOMEBODY BUY THIS TANK NOW!!
Remove everything, weld curved panels and flat panels where the glass is. Put it on 25′ tall utility steel posts, paint it that pale pink, the panels an ice-blue. Double chrome all the chrome parts. It’s the roof and attic of your indestructible tiny house. That maybe you add a container alongside and decorate it with old heavy tank cars cut into facia profiles to decorate the container, a bunch of faux hard tops and tires decorative objects on top doubling as solar panel mounting surfaces. It’s too heavy and huge is why it never got put back on the road. Use the hemi to run an electric generator for your whole block.
The white with red interior ’57 convertible Elvis drove in “Loving You”is the most beautiful Imperial I’ve ever seen, even to this day
Hopefully, some Imperial fan with deep pockets will get it and give it the love it deserves. I think the ’56 model is the best looking one of the 1950s, and there aren’t that many of them around anymore. It’s much more distinctive that the Cadillac or Lincoln of that year, although I still like them.