Complete Project! 1957 Imperial Crown Four-Door Southampton
Forward Look styling swept the Chrysler brands for model year 1957, with fins across the board. Imperial stood alone at the top of the family tree. This 1957 Imperial Crown Four-Door Southampton in Winchester, New Hampshire seeks a new owner looking to revive the highly original classic. Its owner has the engine turning freely but not running yet. A separate parts car is available, according to the listing, presumably for extra cost.
As never-restored 57 year-old interiors go, we’ve seen worse! I remember people talking about the push-button transmissions on this generation of Chrysler Corporation cars back in the day, and this Imperial has its gear-select buttons down the left edge of the instrument hood. The claimed 90,000 miles may well be accurate.
Decoding the model designation, this Crown takes the middle spot between “Imperial” and “LeBaron,” with the Southampton roof treatment (chrome bar and different-colored front panel) available on all three the lower two, but not the LeBaron. Thanks to the factory brochure library at lov2xlr8 for some details.
Imperial called its 392 cid (6.4L) version of the first-generation Hemi the FirePower V8. Given the choice of fire or power beneath the hood, I’ll take power any day. For some reason, modern car marketing rarely references fire, explosions, heat, or flames. How boring!
Tall-bodied cars with full fenders that soldiered into the ’50s after WWII beat a hasty retreat when Chrysler designer Virgil Exner’s ’57s hit the Interstates. Low and wide and ready to cross the USA on the Eisenhower Highway system, these imposing Imperials’ grilles look like someone in a hurry to build bridges, bulldoze low-rent housing for a shopping plaza, or toast their stock savvy over Cubans and brandy. With quad headlights illegal in some states, Imperial offered two or four headlights in ’57. Gold crowns above the headlights help eagle eyed gearheads spot the Crown model. Check out the listing here on Facebook Marketplace where the $6500 asking price barely tops what these sold for new. Will you fly to New Hampshire, make this mighty Imperial safe in two days, and drive it home?
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Comments
Junky yard. Junky car.
I think it looks cool. I remember seeing these as a kid in the 70’s.
I think this is one of those “buy the best you can afford” situations. Buy this as a parts car.
Reminds me of a black one that my aunt & uncle owned,
but didn’t have the “band” at the rear top of the roof.
That was one HUGE car!
BF: Decoding the model designation, this Crown takes the middle spot between “Imperial” and “LeBaron,” with the Southampton roof treatment (chrome bar and different-colored front panel) available on all three.
Southampton was the name Imperial used to denote its pillarless hardtops. It had nothing to do with the “roof treatment” though all the hardtops got that landeau-type roof (it wasn’t used on the sedans).
Hello Tiger66. I based my notes on the 1957 brochure, which states “Both the Four-Door Southampton, above, and the Two-Door Southampton, shown below on the opposite page, have the landau-type roof design, which adds a smart note of distinction and individuality. The landau section, defined by the gracefully curved chrome molding, has the same color as the body, with the forward section of the roof finished in a different color.” I linked to that page in the word “Southampton” above, and I’ll link the interior picture here showing the sedan (non-Southampton) as a hardtop (no pillar), which does seem confusing. I know sometimes things are shown in the brochures that did not align with what was produced, so I’ll offer this only as my research, not 100% facts. We are always interested in accuracy and apologize for any errors. Thanks for your comment. https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/chrysler/57imp1/bilder/5.jpg
The “Prestige Catalog” was published early in the 1957 model year, it dates from September 1956 and does not mention the Le Baron 4dr H/T “Southampton” which were not available at the beginning of the model year. This explains why there were 2 times fewer Le Baron H/Ts than sedans.
Phil C, owner of a ’57 Crown convertible
392 hemis are actually very rare, and since this car has little interest otherwise, it’s only attribute is the motor. This car goes against everything that is held dear today. It’s unattractive, it’s big, a gas hog, a nightmare to restore, I bet someone looking for a 392 said, “Finally found one”, and will scrap the rest.
WADR, It’s HUGE! It guzzles gas! It pollutes the air! It scares the birds! I LOVE it 😀!
Small wonder that current vehicles don’t mention Fire or Power, being ugly boxes failing to Fire up the Power to Torque Up enthusiasm. Al contrare, even needing much work this 57 LOOKS ready to fly back to life as an INCOMPARABLE Imperial and a MONUMENT to Exners fabulous finned fantasies for Chrysler and an era unfortunately never to be seen again 😕. Someone PLEASE save this orphan! As to the model designation, 57 was the first for LEBARON at the top of the line. To add further confusion, while Imperial Crown was the mid level, Crown Imperials were custom built limousines, built in Italy based on production Imperials shipped to Italy, modified, stretched, and when finished returned to Chrysler. The Limos were few.
DON VIDO…. Dont forget the canolli!
Speak Softly and Make an Offer They CAN’T refuse. 🏰 And DON’T look in the Trunk! There might be more than Canolli! 😲
It would be a labor of love to return it to its original glory. Here is one in its prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS-zg5q-lNI
Speak Softly and Make an Offer They CAN’T refuse. 🏰 And DON’T look in the Trunk! There might be more than Canolli! 😲
That Southampton error pales when compared to the math error by reporting the “never-restored 57 year old interior.” Why are Imperial fans SO prickly about minutia? Who knows? But loved the article and admire your style, Todd!
Seeing this poor old 57 Imperial, in this condition, just breaks my heart. Hope someone spends some time and funds to bring her back.
The motor turns over in the video, someone will buy it just for the 392.
I am 90% sure I saw this car for sale in an old issue of Hemmings like 20 years ago. Same color, everything.
I just saw the video of it turning over. This 392 Hemi is very desirable, and for anyone to separate it from this car it belongs in, would be sacrilege. I didn’t see any major rust other than some surface corrosion. $6500 is a realistic price for this Mopar monster.
My dad had a white 2 door Imperial, loved that car as a kid, he gave it up for a 65 Catalina when the transmission went, I was a little kid, he passed away suddenly, the Pontiac went to my uncle, but the Imperial languished at the corner Sunoco station, my mom asked the guy to get rid of it, so I didn’t see it everyday