Regal Ride: 1963 Imperial Crown Two-Door Hardtop
Chrysler introduced its Imperial luxury nameplate in 1926. The car’s long wheelbase, numerous body styles by dedicated coachbuilders, lengthy list of options, and high price demarcated the Imperial from its nearest sibling, the New Yorker. By 1954, competition from Lincoln and Cadillac prompted the formation of a new division for the luxury brand, and the Imperial suddenly stood on its own. Virgil Exner produced a high-finned, space-age, technologically forward design, but as this generation of Imperial progressed, sales slipped. Chrysler never had the financial capacity to generate frequent updates or model-specific components, and Exner’s designs were reaching ridiculous proportions, chilling the buyer’s ardor. By 1963, Exner was on his way out. One of his last designs is here on eBay – a 1963 Imperial Crown two-door, bid to $7723, reserve not met. We can guess at the reserve given this ad, where the same car is posted at $35,495. This car is located in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and it can be driven to its new garage.
Never short on power, the Imperial boasts a 413 cu. in. V8 with a Carter carburetor good for 340 bhp. Performance was prodigious: zero to sixty in less than ten seconds despite the weight of this luxe-mobile. Top speed came in at 125 mph. The three-speed TorqueFlite automatic is controlled via pushbuttons embedded in a rocket-shaped pod to the left of the steering wheel. The defroster and heater controls are housed in its symmetrical twin, on the opposite side. Torsion bar suspension up front with leaf springs in the rear gave superior handling, and Imperials came with big, power drum brakes all around. The seller notes the odometer reads 35,000 miles.
Several iterations of the Imperial were available. The limousine and the LeBaron were top-of-the-line. Original sales prices for these cars exceeded those of Chrysler’s more illustrious competitors. The Crown (also available as a convertible) was the mid-range version, and the Custom occupied the low end. Through 1962, Chrysler called the two-door or four-door hardtop body styles “Southampton”, creating considerable confusion. All told in 1963, just 14,121 Imperials of all types were produced. This one’s interior is in lovely condition, with only the slightest wrinkling of the driver’s seat nylon fabric hinting at its age. The headliner and rear seats look new. The faux “Continental” kit on the rear was dated by the 1960s. Yes, the steering wheel is slightly oblong.
In 1963, with Exner on his way out, the Imperial’s styling began to reflect the sensibilities of Elwood Engel, Chrysler’s new designer. The car’s fins had already been de-emphasized, and gone were the “gunsight” taillights, a feature of several earlier Imperials. The new look incorporated the taillight into the vertical edge of the remainder of the fin. Notably, the Imperial still holds the record for the widest exterior measurement of any production car, at 81.7 inches. The seller’s asking price notwithstanding, research shows these big cars in the Crown trim are worth in the mid $20k range.
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Comments
And people thought the Edsel was ugly”………..
Possibly the ugliest headlights ever designed for a car.
Greenhorn, you say UGLY, I’d be inclined to say ‘DIFFERENT’ from the ordinary run of the mill ordinary crap that everyone else had !
At least Exner had the balls to do something outside of the box, it’s what true design engineers do, they’re not a bunch of copycats !
‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ as they say !
Aw, be nice. There were uglier things than Edsel; just look at Edsel’s stable-mate, the ’58 Lincoln, for proof.
Actually, despite my bias in favor of Lincoln, I have to say that the Imps really got an edge over everyone else with their curved side glass. They first employed that in ’57 and stuck steadfastly with it, which is more than I can say about its first follower of that trend. Lincoln adopted curved glass for its ’61 model, then ditched it for flat glass for its ’64 model…only to go back to it with the ’66, after the rest of the industry for the most part started to follow Exner’s styling lead. T-Bird did the same, in the same years. The curved side glass, to me, gives those old Batman-fin cars a style that could still be appreciated today. And I don’t even mind the freestanding headlight pods.
Bad use of fish eye lens.
Only way he could have got the whole car into the frame. What a beast. I love it, that shade of white especially. Dare I say it? Hellcat conversion.
I’ve owned quite a few 1960s Imperials and never had a problem getting the entire car in a photo, you just need to know how to use a camera.
Definitely a northern car, most 1963 Imperials had factory A/C, this one does not.
I love it. Hagerty, (usually generous with their valuations), puts a “Good” example of this model at around $13,000. If the odometer is correct at 35K miles, well then maybe the car is worth $20,000.
Hagerty also says that a “Concours” example is worth in the range of the asking price.
How can you confirm that it has 35,000 and not 135,000k?
Would you do a compression test?
Are there components one could measure for wear?
Are there records to check?
Didn’t Mr Drysedale drive one like this sometimes on the Beverly
Hillbillies??
Definitely another Virgil Exner polarizing design-some will think it’s uglier than a Unimog low rider, and others will consider it the Chrysler Isabella Rossellini.
This would be another for the mythical stable of machines if for no other reason than the way it resounds of the designs in its time.
However, the sellers photos make one think of the time as a kid that they tried on gramma’s reading glasses and looked around the room..almost like the MSF Beer Goggles experiment🤢. And why no shots of the grillwork etc?
Another good choice of Americana to review, Michelle-thank you, and keep ‘em coming.
Love the old Imperials of this era with the “toilet seat” trunk lids
Ouch.
I knew they reminded me of something but could never place it.
Now I can never NOT see that.
A Tom McCahill favorite.
Yes, from the reviews of his I’ve read, it was clear to me that Tom was biased in favor of MoPar. One thing’s for sure: He had THE most colorful prose skills of any auto reviewer I’ve ever seen. Some of his lines I still quote myself, with no concern of anyone knowing where I lifted them.
Funny that the rather scarce, 14″ tinplate toy of this car (well, a ’61 model actually) made in Japan by Asahi Toys is worth more than the full-size thing!
Jack,
You are so right, I’ve been searching for one of those Asahi Imperials in the box for decades, and have given up [I’m selling off my toy collections due to my age]. I remember about 10 years ago when a mint example in a near perfect box sold at auction for an astounding $17,500! That was an expensive toy when new, and few were sold.
My farmer neighbor has a yellow 2 door 1963 Imperial int he front for sale. He is asking $5,500.00. It is a California rust free car. A few scratches and does not have the fake wheel outline on the deck lid. Decent interior and has AC. Gladly help someone that buy this thing.
Yes I would love to have it but I have enough cars already. Personally I like this Imperial because it’s not everyday you see one of these.
Call me about the Crown Coupe my number is (856)986-3337 leave message if I don’t answer
It’s a pretty rough car by Imperial standards. IOW it will need major investment to get it up to nice driver standards IMHO. I’ve owned quite a few of these cars, but different years, to know I would not want to take on that project even for under 10k. But maybe it runs way better than it looks, so could still be a fun cruiser!
Imperial 2 door hardtops are usually very desirable, but this year’s front headlights aren’t very attractive and probably why seller didn’t include a front on shot pic. Also surprised an Imperial like this wasn’t ordered with factory AC. These were high end luxury cars in the day. Still a good find.
Is it my imagination or did Imperial have a much lower proportion of 2-door models to total sales than Cadillac in this era? (in addition to Caddy’s much higher total sales).
I just purchased a 1983 Lincoln Towncar Signature. Car had been a garage for 33 years. When I got the car out of the garage it showed 11000 miles. I was feeling great over my purchase. I then went into the glove box and found receipts and a smog cert showing 89999 miles. So I have a 111000 miles car even though it looks like only 11000 miles. Interior is absolutly mint and no wear shows on the petals either.
Bill McClosky, So nice to see your comment. Hope all remains well with you.
If you were to be interested in this 1963 2 door, would gladly help you. This is Tom Crum [email protected]
Beautiful car. My father had the four door version, same color exterior, around 1964. Always loved the kinda-rectangular steering wheel. At the same time we also had a GlassMaster speedboat – with the same shaped steering wheel.
Could state in the ad that it has a frunk with all that space in front of the radiator.
My 1963 LeBaron had a 440, instead of the 413, I found out from the guy who owned it after I got rid of it. I had it for at least three years. Two or three windows didn’t work, air and radio didn’t work, but it was a fun car in its way. I was friendly with a woman at the time who had a white ’63 Crown four door, with the Claret leather interior. After I lost track of her, I did find out she sold her car after someone broadsided the passenger side doors. Never repaired by the buyer, he welded that side shut. Ugh. One of the fun stories of my car, the woman with the white ’63 needed the dome light cover in hers. There was a weird lump under the left rear carpet in my car, where I found a perfect but slightly warped unused light cover, which I just let her have. The strange stories about that car, the strange memories.
One last thing, I found a 1964 Mist Green Crown four door in Fort Myers, FL on Facebook Marketplace, and on Fort Myers Craigslist. It had been ordered without air conditioning, and without radio. I could see myself owning it, it was or is gorgeous, wherever it ended up. Hopefully to a collector who can appreciate it as is, and not slap the “missing” components into it.
My wonderful Dad was a big Chrysler/Imperial fan all through the late 50’s and right up to his last in 68. My earliest memories are me sitting in his lap behind a translucent steering wheel that was oblong and pushing buttons to shift. That was a 59 New Yorker Dad bought new, all else I remember was is it was a two door in all black with read leather interior. But the next I have very fond memories. From the time I was 9 years old, when he brought me to his Marine buddies dealership to take delivery of a beautiful 64 Imperial Crown Coupe, in metallic turquoise with unusual black vinyl roof and matching leather interior. He didn’t order it but it was refused because it came in with no AC, so his friend offered Dad a great deal. Dad took the brand new car to his friends that added ThermoKing refer units to his trucks, who added an AC unit to the Imperial that worked so well you could store meat. Dad owned that beauty till Mom told the family my brother and sister and I were going to have another sibling! So Dad was forced to buy a new 9 passenger wagon, oh but not just any wagon! He special ordered a 68 Chrysler Town&Country loaded with every option available, including factory towing package for the family’s boat. With a honking 440 TNT! In deep metallic maroon with matching leather three row interior, AM/FM Stereo with 4 speakers. Wood graining on the sides with huge chrome roof rack and chrome handles on each side of the powered rear window, plus a rubber pad step on each end of the bumper. I got my license in that car, used it as a daily driver for a couple months in 1976. One night a friend and I had that wagon going so fast the speedometer needle went passed 120 all the way to 9 0’clock in the clock just to the right of the speedometer! That big ol 440 TNT was screaming!!!
I remember seeing a Chrysler Town and Country wagon with a second AC unit placed above the send seat and hanging down about 4 inches and about a foot wide. I keep looking for one of these since I now live in central California and would sure impress my friends with it. I believe the one I saw was a 1974. Another Chrysler Imperial I saw at one time was a 1954 Imperial 2 door hard top with factory AC. I saw this car in Calexico, Ca.
Tom,
Dual A/C on MoPaR wagons was fairly rare, even in the southwest areas. The wagons I’ve owned over the years with the single Airtemp unit in the dash, all kept the entire interior cool, even in 95 degree and 95% humidity situations, so that may be the reasons people didn’t feel the need for the Dual A/C.
I’ve owned a couple of the dual A/C wagons, and they will freeze you out of the car. I remember one late August night, and the outside temp was still at least 90, and the humidity was horrible. So I punched the “MAX” control on the dual unit ’61 New Yorker wagon’s A/C, and it wasn’t long before I started to notice the bottom few inches of the windshield had moisture condensing on the OUTSIDE of the windshield because it was so cold inside!
I don’t know, Bill. Back in 1966 I was working at a summer camp for exceptional children (learning disabled, cerebral palsy, etc.) and the owner/boss had a new Dodge Polara/Monaco new wagon with 3 seats, including the rear facing backwards (8 passengers, not 9). The rear window glass sloped slightly backwards so sunlight came streaming in. She was driving a bunch of staff to town for some reason and I and another guy got the unenviable task of being in the rear. It was stifling and she had the A/C turned up full when we begged her to do so and it was working. I suffer from carsickness occasionally when someone else is driving and am a bit claustrophobic. It had to be 120 or more back. I thought I was going to have a panic attack and expire.
Being part of a loyal Chrysler family, my relatives all drove Chryslers, since my mom’s side of the family actually lived in Highland Park, Chrysler’s Headquarters location until the lat 90s when the packed up their kit, and gathered up their Kabootel and moved a highly-rated campus in Aulburn Hills Michigan. At the top of the new tower sits a massive sized Chrysler Pentistar. It finished in a smoke colored glass or acrylic surface, and in my opinion, it’s a beautiful display of Chrysler’s most iconic logo that was found in multiple locations around all Chrysler products from the flagship Imperial, the entire Chrysler line up, Plymouth, Dodge and Desoto when it was still around. From 1963, to well into the 70s, every car built by the Chrysler Corporation, including Ram trucks,
had the very small gold and black colored plastic Pentistar mounted very low on the right front fender, located just behind the right front wheel opening. I was very young at the time but loved the little Pentistar, I always made a point to check every right front fender. It was just mounted to the right front fender, and most of the time it was there. What an interesting use of the logo, it always looked good due to its clean design, and it’s small size compared to the rest of the car. To me, that perfectly designed Pentistar, and it’s unique placement was a perfect little representation for all the cool, state of the art engineering the Chrysler Corporation was known for. What’s more, no other manufacturers in Detroit did anything like that. There were many more symbols that made Chrysler the unique brand that set it aside from GM and Ford. Just one more subtle question was the rectangleur shaped steering wheel. It was an over the top Chrysler thing. It looked and felt very cool in your hands as you would make left turns, and the way the wheel returned to center. After the turn. My dad’s 63 Newport had one, while practicing my driving to get my license, I always wanted to practice in that Newport. From what I’ve read, the rectangle shape wheel was actually designed that way to provide a better view of the instrument. While also allowing more leg room when entering or leaving the car. Getting back to the Imperial, we all know their styling, and clearly they were not for everyone. I really liked the headlights sitting on those heavy chrome pods. I think they had a bit of retro look like headlights of the 30s designs, and yet some how had a super modern look, also I liked how the 63 taillights were in a tasteful position aa they were .the exhaust tips. I always find something in each model year. But my all time favorites of all-time. Those
Imperial model years are the 1964,65, and 66. Those model years are with out a doubt the most beautiful, and elegant Imperials ever built. I love everything about them
. and in fact the most beautiful and important cars to come from Detroit, and why shouldn’t they be they have styling ques came from both Xner and Elwood Engle. Both are in the top 10 best looking cars of all time. I had a 66 Crown 4 door hardtop and because Chrysler made the wonderful 440 standard as of 1966. My Crown was a light silver metallic, no vinyl top. The interior was light silver with black leather trim. Of course I wish I still had most all of my 8 cars I had back then. This was a great post, it brought back great memories that will be with me forever. So if you have the means buy it, you will love it and they will only increase In
value.
Hello William, I can’t agree more about the 64,65&66 Imperials being the most beautiful American Luxury cars and over most others. I’m most partial to the 64, not just because my Dad owned one he bought new, but that was the last year of push button shifting.
K.R.V. you obviously like the square boxy style of cars from the 60’s and 70’s, I think they used to use wooden packing crates in the design studios to get ideas for their new model of cars for the upcoming year around that time !
61 imperial Chicago to Texas and back no stop for tires won’t change oil speed limit 70 mph and there was no speed limit posted expressway was still under construction that’s overall was an invited yet what’s being passed super Mario Bros Walter Chrysler was an engineer for the railroad
Maybe throw a period or a comma in there, just sayin’.
I’m not a big beast fan, but this would be excellent with say a Canoo electric drivetrain underneath. It would actually almost be practical if so, stored in a garage with solar panels and wind turbines.
If I had $90k to ‘burn’, I’d so so simply hoping to start a trend.
The 1964 Imperial is just beautiful. The split front grill gives it very traditional look, and I like that, however I also like the 65, and 66s for their “headlights under glass “. I can’t think of any other car that had their headlights under glass. That really adds a lot of character since it was such a unique feature. Leave it to the Chrysler Corporation to come up with such an elegant look, including the gold border line that surrounds the glass. I read somewhere that the line was 14 karat gold. Who knows if that’s true. Also the 64s were the last model year for Chrysler’s wonderful push button drive. I loved the sound the buttons made when depressed. I now have a growing collection of 1:18 diecast model cars. I try to select cars that were ground breaking at the time of their release, and all my personal favorites. But I can’t find a 64, 65, or 66. There are plenty of the Green Hornets car since it was a customized Imperial from 64 – 66. I was able to find a 66 4 door hardtop. It was metallic silver with silver cloth and black leather. It was so classy it could have been used with royalty.
Ummm, William, what about the Series I Jaguar E-type, starting in 1962? Perhaps you’re excluding sports cars in your thinking? And didn’t the Citroen DS series have covered headlights in the early 60s?
But if you’re meaning Cadillac, Lincoln, Rolls, Bentley, MBs….
I am a collecttor of 1:18 scale model cars. I have just under 600 at this time. I have found them in thrift store and on Craigs and I have purchased from catalog houses. I ha e a 1961 Imperial abd I have three 1956 Imperials also. I am willing to give up my collection for $14,000.00. I want to purchase a 1937 Packard 4 door conv. I tneeds work but with $14,000.00 I can acomplish this. Gladly package this collection up in sturdy boxes and make sure every car is with indiuvidual wrappings. I am located in Patterson, California
I forgot to mention a rare fact about the 60s Imperials that no other car that I know about. Those big mid-60s Imperials were banned from demolition derby contests due to their size and weight. Plus their radiators located so far in they were well protected when hit in the front.
My neighbor has an original 1963 Imperial two door for sale. It is yellow with a white/black leather interior. Does not have the fake wheel outline on the deck lid. That was an option and the cost was about $28.00. This car does have factory AC and has fancy deep dish wheel covers. To me they look different that what is showing on the Imperial in these pictures. I would like to buy the car for myself but I just purchased two Lincolns and a Mercedes. Gladly help someone get a deal. Can purchase for $6,000.
@Tom – Have the seller list it with us and we will help them get it sold! https://barnfinds.com/sell/auction/
These aren’t 1963 wheel covers, the originals are deep dish, and have centers that rise up from the center, and are tapered. All three years of this body have the same style covers, ’61 had Imperial stamped in block letters, on each side of each cover.
I’ve never seen a dual AC system in a vintage wagon. I just read an article about Gen MacArthurs custom built 1942 Packard that came with all options, including AC. I bet it was a cast iron Tecumseh with about a 75lb clutch
Alan, I agree with you. The 1962 and 63 wheel covers are what you describe. I am in the process of purchasing an all original 1962 Imperial 2 door, yellow with a cream leather interior. It has the wheel covers as you describe. I just added a 1983 Towncar and a 1975 Mercedes to my collection and now comes this car. Willing to send pictures and help someone get a great deal. A good chance for obtaining this car for about $5,500.00 I buy cars in central California only.
I believe all 1953 Corvettes were all white. I believe all 1954’s were red or white only.
Nice sight to see, as well as rare. General history, however, is off. Yes, Imperial badging was around since the ’20s; but it was nothing more than a high-up trim/coach option of existing Chrysler cars, not its own separate marque like Caddy or Lincoln or Packard or Duesenberg (just a few for-instances).
Also, to correct another historical gaffe, by ’63 Exner was already gone. He was fired in November 1961, the immediate reason being the debacle of the dreadful downsizing of the ’62 full-size Dodges and Plymouths (which he actually had nothing to do with, on the contrary he objected to it)…but the larger reason was, he was a victim of a corporate political upheaval which also consumed his boss, “Tex” Colbert, the most colorful president of Chrysler before Iacocca. Chrysler never fully recovered from the ’57/8 repercussions…which had nothing to do with styling nor performance, but with quality-control, especially corrosion resistance. Every MoPar made in those years rusted with a vengeance. Combine that with the flash recession that all but halted the U.S. economy in 1958, and it became a very hard task to sell anything out of Highland Park. Factoring in the lead time it usually took to ditch a style in favor of a restyle, it made sense that Imp was given only facelifts in ’62 and ’63. Engel, Exner’s replacement, actually had great admiration for Exner’s sense of style. When he first touched down on Chrysler’s turf and was given a tour of the completed ’63 proposals, he was heard to say, “These are good-looking cars; what’s the big deal?” Of course, he spent the next 9 years as Chrysler’s design chief applying many of the styling cues he applied to the Lincolns of that decade.
I would say too, Tony, that Engel’s slab-sided design paradigm ran from that ’61 Lincoln clear through the 1970s Lincolns and Mercurys. Look at the Lincoln Mark V, it still has that feel, and it smacks of the ’65 New Yorker.
Engel’s ideas carried through the C-body Mopars beginning in ’65 and went through ’68. Then he re-invented himself and came out with the fuselage Mopars beginning in ’69. I would argue that Engel’s design paradigm lasted 2 decades, and 2 decades where automotive design was evolving rapidly. Well done Elwood!
I remember at Kelsey Hayes I was told that as of 1971 Chrysler never had a plant manager take advantage of retirement benefits. They would either have the “bigone” or they were fired.
Sorry Tom, can you explain your comment?
Rex.
I suspect Tom is referring to a massive heart attack as “the big one”, made popular by the TV show Sanford & Son, when Redd Foxx would grab his chest and tell his deceased wife he’s got the big one coming on and he’s gonna join her. [Not the exact words, I’m relating this based on my faulty memory!]
Thanks Bill. After re-reading the comment this morning (full of coffee instead of wobble sauce), I got it.
Try getting a front end alignment done today with these year Chryslers with torsion bar suspension. Mechanics at the time, had some basic knowledge about how to make adjustments. Today’s mechanics don’t have that knowledge. I’ve read that they offer coil over conversions these days if there are problems. If you’re not having alignment problems it’s best to leave them alone.
HC,
Some computer-controlled alignment systems depend on a database that is all accessed online & don’t have older vehicle specs or instructions for torsion bar suspensions.
I always suggest car owners who use shops dedicated to mostly modern vehicles always bring along the factory manuals so if a question arises, they have the info in the manual.
The other factor is to avoid using these modern chain store shops, and instead find a local shop with senior mechanics who are familiar with older cars.
hc
this is where i find it important to obtain service manuials
Tom, basic service manuals dont cover the instructions on how to adjust torsion bar suspensions when doing front end allignments. Esp with modern radial tires. If you have a modern mechanic trying to service an older car with torsion bars, you’re just screwed.
HC the guys at Running Great on Nebraska Ave in Tampa did a perfect job rebuilding the front end of my ’65 New Yorker. Shout out to Glenn and Dave Amann for the excellent job. Dave knows the C-bodies.
Rex, consider yourself lucky that you had allignment guys in Tampa, who knew what they were doing. Anyone would be hard pressed to find someone in their area who knew how to do such allignments.
Bill you are spot on. Plants managers were under outrageous oressure angd at Kelsey the 18 or so plant managers were also.