Choosing a project candidate can be challenging, but the sheer variety of motor vehicles produced over more than a century means there is guaranteed to be something to appeal to almost every taste. Those seeking 1950s luxury and excess may be irresistibly drawn to this 1959 Imperial Crown Southampton Hardtop. It isn’t perfect, but it is a dry-climate survivor that would provide its next owner with enormous satisfaction as they roll it out of their workshop once returned to its former glory. The Imperial is listed here on eBay in Pottsboro, Texas. Those who prefer to avoid the auction process will welcome the BIN figure of $15,000, although the option exists to make an offer. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this fantastic classic.

Chrysler decided during the 1950s that it needed a prestige brand to compete on an equal footing with Lincoln and Cadillac. Its solution was to launch Imperial as a separate marque in 1955. Its First Generation models featured relatively conservative styling. However, once designer Virgil Exner hit his stride with the “forward look” philosophy with the Second Generation offerings, it seemed Imperial was going toe-to-toe with Cadillac to produce the car with the most enormous fins. Cadillac undoubtedly won that battle in 1959, but the supplied photos confirm this ’59 Crown Hardtop is no wallflower. The seller indicates it is a dry-climate vehicle, describing it as 90% rust-free. It is unclear where there might be penetrating rust beyond a tiny spot in the driver’s side lower rear quarter panel because the exterior looks rock-solid. The exterior sheetmetal is straight, and they describe the glass as perfect. Some trim pieces may require a trip to the platers, but the overall impression is that whipping this Imperial’s panels and paint into shape should be no more difficult than for any Chrysler model from this era.

One of the defining features of prestige cars from this era is the interior trim. Manufacturers utilized lashings of polished chrome and aluminum, adding a translucent finish on the wheel to help their latest offering stand out. You will find all that and more inside this Imperial, although it begs for a healthy dose of TLC. The wheel has deteriorated beyond repair. The seats feature aftermarket covers, the remaining upholstered surfaces are tired, and the pad has badly split. A complete retrim is on the agenda, and the bad news is that this is unlikely to be cheap. However, the potential value of this Crown might justify the cost if the other aspects of this build prove straightforward. This gem doesn’t feature air conditioning, but the buyer scores power windows, swivel power seats, and a pushbutton radio with a power antenna.

Engine options for the 1959 Imperial Crown included the 413ci “Wedge” V8 or…that was it. This motor was a new inclusion for 1959, replacing the marginally less powerful (but more expensive) 392ci Hemi that had served with distinction the previous year. The Wedge sent 350hp and 470 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. This Crown tips the scales at an eye-watering 4,980 lbs, making its ¼-mile ET of 16.7 seconds particularly noteworthy. The seller confirms this Imperial isn’t roadworthy, but buyers still have plenty of positive news to contemplate. It is a numbers-matching vehicle that runs and drives, giving the new owner a solid base from which to work as they strive to return the car to its rightful place on our road. With the mechanical aspects of this build potentially not being expensive, it is easier to justify splashing the cash on the interior.

Imperial cemented its place in the luxury market with its Second Generation models, although it couldn’t match the sales volumes of the competition. The 1959 Crown was a perfect example, with only 8,322 cars rolling off the line that year. It is worth noting that the Crown Southampton Hardtop is considered one of the most desirable variants, and with only 1,728 cars sold, it is also one of the rarest. The classic world experienced a volatile 2022, as values dropped and rose frequently. The 1959 Imperial Crown Southampton Hardtop avoided many of those problems, remaining a consistent performer during the past year. This one needs plenty of work, but a high-end build could net a potential value well above $40,000. That has to make it worth a closer look.