After a long day of ruling your empire: settling squabbles among the peasants, cleverly outwitting your enemies, arbitrating life and death, wondering if your mead or latte has been poisoned… what better respite than… the Imperial? This “great” running triple-black 1972 Imperial in Crumpler, North Carolina packs a 440 under the hood. The never-restored classic can be yours with the right bid here on eBay. Bid to win in this No Reserve auction!
The power leather seats accommodate a royal party of up to six. Snag the Cohibas because this rolling Fat Cat-mobile boasts cigar lighters for four.
Enjoy the Imperial’s built-in pillow when you’ve had a stressful day or one too many Manhattans. Reading lights come in handy for catching up on “Bushido: The Soul of Japan.” Prior to 1971, Imperial Crown models featured larger rear glass, then all Imperials got the limousine-like LeBaron treatment through their 1973 finale, according to Hemmings.
Along with your Cubans, you’ll be smoking the tires with a stab of the throttle as this 440 cid (7.2L) V8 transmits its bountiful torque rearward. While horsepower numbers were down from the 1970 peak, torque rules the luxury market, and 345 lb-ft will get this Imperial Battlecruiser moving even with the standard highway-minded gears. That black droid-looking box on the far left looks like the Auto Temp II Climate Control module, the guts of which are shared by Mercedes-Benz and can be rebuilt or replaced, according to Rare and Classic Automotive History here on YouTube.
While the Imperial itself changed little from 1971 to 1972, its badges gained “by Chrysler” under “Imperial,” and even designer Syd Mead calls his nearly identical car a “Chrysler Imperial,” according to Hemmings. I’ve considered the 1969-1973 fuselage Imperials as a replacement for my dash-light-happy 2006 BMW 750Li. The Imperial would stand no chance against the BMW on a race track, but for hauling four people and luggage around, it would be equal or superior. Besides, the BMW can’t go more than 10,000 miles without one of 37 techno-boxes expiring at a cost of $500+ each. Syd Mead reported 17 MPG at a steady 70 MPH his his ’72 Imperial, and that will beat many of today’s full-sized SUVs. A modern carb-style EFI like the Holley Sniper might get that number above 20. Which does luxury better: today’s high-tech toys or this 52 year-old Imperial?
That’s a fantatsic write-up, Todd, and one H (heck) of a car! I used to park a beast like that, only in an olive green color, as a little 16-year-old attendant in a heated parking garage right out of high school. Learning to back one of these things into a tight spot between concrete columns two dark levels (not remotely enough light) under a medical building will turn you into a backer-inner for life.
I agree with Scotty; A fantastic write-up, Todd, and one heckova car!
Holy smoke. Syd Mead’s car was a black ’72 Imperial 4-door with tan interior. If this eBay car had the tan interior I’d be all over it.
I don’t think this car’s 13-digit VIN# YM43T2C217742 shows interior color, so it would still be possible to rebuild this with the tan interior – but might not make sense with the exiting interior in good condition.
Syd Mead was the visual artist behind Blade Runner, Aliens, Tron, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vGWaSvVMuM
Great write up and if only this wasn’t half way around the world I’d be bidding on it.
It’s unfortunate that Chrysler was never able to separate Imperial from Chrysler in the minds of buyers. People -still- refer to them as “Chrysler Imperial.” It didn’t help that there were no stand-alone Imperial dealerships. Every Imperial was sold through a Chrysler dealership, most of which were paired with Plymouth, so Chrysler’s finest shared showroom space with Chrysler’s cheapest. They had Imperial signage, but it wasn’t enough.
In more recent history, Hyundai successfully converted the Genesis from a model to a marque, but it took a huge investment to do so. Chrysler never had pockets deep enough to truly differentiate the Imperial.
Hyundai, my hatred of the brand spread to my kids, at 8 and 5, look dad a Hyundai, ram it. (Mid 90’s)
Helps when you’ve got a massive bullbar, lol.
And no I didn’t.
Maybe if the Imperials didn’t look almost exactly like Chryslers? That might have helped.
Indeed, and the same is true for Lincolns and Mercuries. What was Ford thinking?
Cuz they called the division Lincoln-Mercury?
Didn’t Mazda consider moving into the luxury market about 20yrs ago with the Millenia? And then it disappeared . . .
I’ll be curious to see where the price lands. Gorgeous luxury yachts like this in nice survivor condition used to struggle to break four figures. I’m glad to see interest in them. They are often overlooked, fantastic pieces of period automotive design, and they should not be forgotten.
I’m probably wrong, and I would never do it out of respect for the design and condition of this, but it just may look a little cooler slightly lowered with baby moons and black wall tires.
The Incomparable Imperial! 61 LEBARON was my favorite with FINS soaring high and limo style roof. With DeSoto and Chrysler, the last of Exners fabulous finned fantasies for Chrysler. 62 and 63 were fortunately spared dreadful chicken wing style of Dodge and Plymouth. For 64, Engel brought Lincoln inspired design. But the 69 Fuselage styling never impressed me. Still, this black beauty is tempting. A true monument to an era unfortunately never to be seen again 😢.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand why an owner of a great looking car would put the chrome door edges on so he/she wouldn’t hurt the doors when they slam them into the car parked next to them.
Hi bobhess – I don’t like how they interfere with the lines when they contrast with the paint. On a black car I would use black strips.
Me too.
That’s standard factory issue. Ford and GM cars too! That’s usually an indicator of factory paint. They’re always lost on repaints.
Beautiful example of rolling luxury!
i searched ebay for this car. i could not find it. any suggestions?
Click on the link provided in the first graph of the story.
I love these cars, always have. I’d be interested in one, but not in black. This one’s a beauty (again, if you like black), but there’s something to be said for the pillow-top crushed velour upholstery, too. It’s amazing to see one so well preserved, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it.
I found your comment about the rear window interesting. My dad had a 69 with the small back window. And that’s the first thing I look for on these fuselage imperials. This is now the second one I’ve seen with the same window. It’s seams to really class it up. So I assume my dad’s car was a labaron? But all others I’ve seen has big window! Always been confused by that. This is a great car I think and very very tempting. My dad traded his in to a 74 town car. I remember thinking the Lincoln a disappointment compared to the imperial.
1970 Imperial Crown https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/mopar/70i_7.html
1970 LeBaron. https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/mopar/70i_3.html
What a beautiful car! No SUV can compare!
What a beauty…
This magnificent barge screams American class…
Maybe the photos don’t do this car justice, but this one looks a little less polished than that 1973 I saw a couple of months ago. Still an awesome ride that’ll be a hit at C&C, and adding Holley Sniper EFI is a good idea…just make sure to hold on to the original carb!
Great intro Mr Fitch! That first paragraph got me hooked into reading the article. The car is classic cool. Might need a silk suit to go with it.
That’s an easy question to answer, Todd, though admittedly somewhat mournfully. There’s no SUV out there that could even come close to this for a quality luxury experience regarding ride, comfort, and that effortless “cruise down the road” feel and style. This car was built when “premium” meant that it was built that way from the bottom-up, not laden with electronic gizmos that resembled a lap-top.
Very entertaining write-up! I love the car, too. I always felt as though the dashes were way too plain during these years, but that wouldn’t keep me from wanting one. The back seat makes me recall my ’63 Fleetwood, my first project car. It had eight power windows, a smaller back window, and cut-glass reading lamps operated by a small switch on the back of the front seat. You could go glamping in the backseat.
Sold for $16,400 way cheaper than a newer luxury SUV or car, but much cooler looking, solid and a big pushrod V8!