I own a 1953 Imperial and , even after 5 decades of owning real classic cars, can't believe how well designed and constructed it is. I never restored the engine yet it runs so smooth and quiet it's like an electric car. The body is still as tight as a drum with no rattles or squeeks whatsoever. Fabulous automobile.
John Dunbar- congratulations on that beautiful 2/ 1/2 TON magic carpet - I believe your ride is so good and tight is because they were largely built by hand - and Designed by Turin of 🇮🇹
That was the Chrysler engineering they were known for. By `57 when those were rushed to market, Chrysler paid dearly in terms of quality and fit/finish. It took a long time before buyers trusted Chrysler again.
I’ve got a 55 2-door Imperial Newport that will be going up for grabs in the near future. Only 27,000 miles on the clock. These cars are absolutely gorgeous, but I’m about to have my first child so she’s gotta go!
One of the best looking American luxury autos of the 50's, not as outlandish as the Caddies or Lincolns of the same era. A much more prestigious looking auto.
A former co-worker worked at a car wash in the 60s and a 64-65 Imperial pinned him up against a wall. He said an "Old Drunk" came in thought he was hitting the brake and tapped the accelerator pinning the guy against the wall. He got a six or seven thousand dollar settlement in 1967. He said he remembered the big eagle hood ornament.
My wonderful Dad owned a few big MOPARS, before going over to Lincoln’s in 1971, since the 64 he bought new that ended up being a lemon he traded for the most beautiful car he ever owned! A 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe, in metallic turquoise with black roof and matching leather interior, that was so soft! I remember getting up to 80 mph in not time, but in near total silence! Also note these cars were so well made they were later banned in demo derby’s!
Fantastic video. Thank you. By the way, another tidbit on the ‘64-‘66 Imperials: the sound insulation. 235 pounds of insulation in ‘64 and 245 pounds in ‘65-‘66. They were determined to outclass Rolls Royce in NVH.
The 1955-56 Chrysler line up are some of my favorite cars with my preference for the 1956 models for their Torqueflite transmissions and the increased displacement engines.
I've always felt that the '64 thru '68 Imperials were the best looking ever. A real Imperial person will tell you it is an Imperial by Chrysler, not a Chrysler Imperial. They had their own separate VIN. I also thought that that was African walnut inlays, not bronze, the only American to have that, not fake appliqués.
Growing up, I lived near the general manager of a Chrysler assembly plant. He had 2 identical 1965 Imperials in his garage. He drove the one, his wife drove the other.
A friend's parents had a 1966 Crown Coupe when we were in highschool. Just an amazing car, which I got to drive once. It was a locomotive. Magnificent.
I’ll bet the man with the ‘68?Imperial had the underbody of his car steam cleaned the day after the wedding. Thank you for sharing your collection with us.
🍁💕🍺Very well presented with history that was unknown to me for years. My favourite Imperial is the 1955 model year. The 1964 is a gem of a car and my second favourite. Your knowledge is outstanding about the history and would love to visit your museum some day. This is truly the “WOW factor of quality cars. Much ✊ respect.
I love that 55.. I think it’s a great looking car. I saw several through my life at car shows but in need major restoration. Good presentation. I believe that the 64’s color is very appealing. I am now planning to see the AACA museum. I have a 84 Chrysler Le Baron Town & Country convertible.
I owned a 55 4dr one of the best Looking and it was fast,,, I also owned a ( 53 Nuport Custom Imp very Rare only 823 built one of the most Beautiful Chryslers ever made lic # IEB 841 ) my father had a 57.
Me to ,,,," The Knob ' because of the shifter on the dash ,,,I also had a 53 Newport Custom Imperial only 823 ,, and a 57 ,,also a 57 Dodge D 500 ,,,,all Hemis very fast,,,,
I liked them 1973 and prior. The 60s era Coupe was beautiful as a convertible. Sales started slumping when it shared its body with the New Yorker in 1969. Buyers who could afford one would take a New Yorker instead because it cost less and it was still the same quality, just the trim was different.
I've never owned an Imperial, but had a chance to. I'd been offered the opportunity to buy a very rough '61 LeBaron to part out to make the money to buy the car I wanted to have, which was a '65 LeBaron, white with a blue leather interior. I had this proposition because of a girl I was hanging out with at the time. She spent a bit of her time helping take care of an older lady who lived on a house by the river, surrounded by enough land to have a regulation size football field on either side of the drive leading up to the house. The house itself was a relatively modest two story house, probably a farm house at one time. We'd also go horse riding from time to time, and there were quite a few trails through the local woods. One day, that lady confided in us a story about the time she and her husband decided to go skinny dipping in the river, only to have guests suddenly appear. For a variety of reasons, most of which boiled down to no support for the idea from my family (my dad was not known for an enthusiasm for cars), I was unable to go ahead with this. About a decade and a half later, I saw that '65 LeBaron again, in a rather degraded state. There was rust below the A pillars behind the doors, the wood on the dash had delaminated, the leather severely cracked. It also had the same license plates that I'd seen when in high school, and the same 1978 expiration sticker. It hadn't been owned by anyone else in all that time, and the damage was no doubt from it setting outside all that time. I looked at all this, wondering how I could fix it. I asked about the car, and the person there told me that they had wanted the car only for the engine in it. I hope that wasn't the end of the story, but otherwise seems unlikely. These days, that land has been divided up for lots for yet more McMansions, the girl has been someone else's wife for nearly 40 years. Some things are for you, and you alone, if you're ready to take them...
Sorry fellows I meant the house of GHIA OF TURIN- these fine fellows were the descendants of the CARROZIERI- the designers of fine luxuriously outfitted carriages
The Imperial has always been my favorite car. This is an excellent presentation and well thought out. Any Imperial limousines in your museum? The ones that were custom built by Ghia in italy?
Chrysler continued with large fins too long. Exner lost his job because of increasingly weird bodies that did not sell. His first couple years of Imperial design were beautiful cars with clean lines. The 55 you featured is a perfect example. The 64 Imperial convertible is my favorite a by far the most attractive Imperial. The Imperial that was featured outside is the beginning of what I call plain Jane unattractive cars. Some of the front and rear appointments looked good but the view from the side was uninspiring.
I could kick myself often when I think about how I could’ve had a 1960 imperial for $300 but I chose a I think it was a 1960 or 64. It was something night early 1960 Windsor, same brand of car saying it was Chrysler brat, I should’ve stuck with the imperial because the Windsor one day just would not start and that’s where it’s at and how it got towed away because unfortunately I didn’t have the money to get it running again, but I often think about that imperial with the oval, steering wheel and pushbutton, trans automatic transmission I would like to have had gotten out and hopefully we’ll still be running today
Chrysler borrowed the money from Prudential Insurance Co. in order to buy the Briggs Body Company - Mr. Briggs having died with out the benefit of proper estate planning forcing his family to sell the company in order to pay the inheritance taxes.
My favorite Imperial of later years were the gorgeous 1964-66. I remember that dreadful early 2000s brown faux RR, prototype. But to bad Chrysler can't bring back a stately elegant romantic Imperial. Not their progressive European thinking. Unfortunately Stellatlantic/Chrysler is outta its mind WONK. ALL EV. Even muscle car Challenger. SUVs only. Cadillac truck as luxury car. Build it they will buy. CrAzZy.
The Majestic I M P E R I A L should’ve NEVER been a Chrysler from the very beginning. Why ? Because Chrysler was an upper- medium price car…comparable to Buick and Mercury. But IMPERIAL was always a HIGH-PRICED CAR…comparable to Cadillac, Lincoln, and Packard. The two cars competed in TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PRICE CLASSES…and should have never been part of the same marque. The “Chrysler” name though prestigious, cheapened the Imperial…giving it a medium class stigma…one that continued to plague the car from its beginning…all the way to its end. The IMPERIAL didn’t need the “Chrysler” nameplate to be a success. It’s features, innovations and premium-quality construction could have allowed the car to stand ON ITS OWN…if they had only let it…from the BEGINNING. By 1955, when it was FINALLY SEPARATED from Chrysler, it was TOO LATE…and, despite that long-overdue separation, uninformed people continue to call the car the “Chrysler” Imperial till THIS VERY DAY. I honestly believe that, had The Chrysler Corporation introduced the IMPERIAL as its OWN STAND ALONE MAKE/BRAND back in 1926, the Incomparable IMPERIAL would still be with us TODAY…instead of being consigned to the ash heap of Great Automobiles of the PAST.
How do you not realise that nobody is interested in looking at you - you need to show more of the car itself - all the time, your voice in the frame would be enough.
Chrysler’s slogan in the ‘60’s was “Extra care in engineering”. Unfortunately most of the ones I saw were very poorly assembled and rusted out prematurely. Too bad. They blew it just like GM today.
That reputation for cheaply built rust buckets began in the early 70s. Add to that the disgust over low mileage smoky engines. To people of my age, that pall of poor quality still resonates.
@@jkoysza1 You must be of the same generation as me. Chrysler, Ford, GM & AMC all built garbage in the 70’s and 80’s. They literally handed the car market to the Japanese. I have been driving Asian vehicles since 1987.
He acknowledges the fact that IMPERIAL became a SEPARATE MAKE …having been SPUN OFF from Chrysler Division into its OWN DIVISION in 1955…yet he CONTINUES to refer to the car as a “Chrysler” Imperial. As a result, the LIE is perpetuated.
I own a 1953 Imperial and , even after 5 decades of owning real classic cars, can't believe how well designed and constructed it is. I never restored the engine yet it runs so smooth and quiet it's like an electric car. The body is still as tight as a drum with no rattles or squeeks whatsoever. Fabulous automobile.
John Dunbar- congratulations on that beautiful 2/
1/2 TON magic carpet -
I believe your ride is so good and tight is because they were largely built by hand - and
Designed by Turin of 🇮🇹
Just look at that grille
That was the Chrysler engineering they were known for. By `57 when those were rushed to market, Chrysler paid dearly in terms of quality and fit/finish. It took a long time before buyers trusted Chrysler again.
I would proudly own AND drive this Car over ANY Car built today!💕
The 1955- 56 models were simply majestic. The proportions are perfect and there isn't a detail on them I would change.
You know, all the big three were making superb cars but my mind keeps leaning towards the imperial, and I just learnt the reason.
I’ve got a 55 2-door Imperial Newport that will be going up for grabs in the near future. Only 27,000 miles on the clock. These cars are absolutely gorgeous, but I’m about to have my first child so she’s gotta go!
If luxury is your wish an Imperial is your car
Dad bought a 1956 coupe. Salmon pink with a cream top. Basically mom's car to take us to school in. What a car!
Always loved the big Imperials. Especially the Le Barons of the early to mid sixties. Pure Class.
One of the best looking American luxury autos of the 50's, not as outlandish as the Caddies or Lincolns of the same era. A much more prestigious looking auto.
Very well done. Thank you. I was shocked to see the 64 Imperial was longer than Lincoln and Cadillac, as you said.
A former co-worker worked at a car wash in the 60s and a 64-65 Imperial pinned him up against a wall. He said an "Old Drunk" came in thought he was hitting the brake and tapped the accelerator pinning the guy against the wall. He got a six or seven thousand dollar settlement in 1967. He said he remembered the big eagle hood ornament.
I truly enjoyed my 1966 Crown Imperial.
Triple gold and steel, leather or wood on every surface one might see.
I’m a
Lincoln man -
BUT I just noticed the front (‘facia) of this beast- mind blowingly😍 gorgeous - my god- I think I just had my mind changed
My wonderful Dad owned a few big MOPARS, before going over to Lincoln’s in 1971, since the 64 he bought new that ended up being a lemon he traded for the most beautiful car he ever owned! A 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe, in metallic turquoise with black roof and matching leather interior, that was so soft! I remember getting up to 80 mph in not time, but in near total silence! Also note these cars were so well made they were later banned in demo derby’s!
Fantastic video. Thank you. By the way, another tidbit on the ‘64-‘66 Imperials: the sound insulation. 235 pounds of insulation in ‘64 and 245 pounds in ‘65-‘66. They were determined to outclass Rolls Royce in NVH.
Thanks for such a wonderfully informative coverage. Have had 2 55's and 2 56's. Bid on Ikes 56 imperial 2 Dr.
I remember the commercials "..with the gun-sight taillights!"
The 1955-56 Chrysler line up are some of my favorite cars with my preference for the 1956 models for their Torqueflite transmissions and the increased displacement engines.
I've always felt that the '64 thru '68 Imperials were the best looking ever. A real Imperial person will tell you it is an Imperial by Chrysler, not a Chrysler Imperial. They had their own separate VIN. I also thought that that was African walnut inlays, not bronze, the only American to have that, not fake appliqués.
Growing up, I lived near the general manager of a Chrysler assembly plant. He had 2 identical 1965 Imperials in his garage. He drove the one, his wife drove the other.
I had a 1966 Imperial Crown Coupe. Awesome land yacht.
A friend's parents had a 1966 Crown Coupe when we were in highschool. Just an amazing car, which I got to drive once. It was a locomotive. Magnificent.
I’ll bet the man with the ‘68?Imperial had the underbody of his car steam cleaned the day after the wedding.
Thank you for sharing your collection with us.
Cringed all the way to the wedding too!
🍁💕🍺Very well presented with history that was unknown to me for years. My favourite Imperial is the 1955 model year. The 1964 is a gem of a car and my second favourite. Your knowledge is outstanding about the history and would love to visit your museum some day. This is truly the “WOW factor of quality cars. Much ✊ respect.
Good job
Great story for a magnificent brand of American cars❤
I love that 55.. I think it’s a great looking car. I saw several through my life at car shows but in need major restoration. Good presentation. I believe that the 64’s color is very appealing. I am now planning to see the
AACA museum. I have a 84 Chrysler Le Baron Town & Country convertible.
DeSotos were also some of the best designs of those years.
57!
Thank you Hank. Excellent and informative video. These are truly special cars.
John D. Rockefeller would have loved a car like that. So would FDR. It was a legendary car. So nicely made.
love imperials
Wonderful and informative video. The Imperial will always be incomparable!
The 1955 was the epitome of elegance!!
I owned a 55 4dr one of the best
Looking and it was fast,,, I also owned a ( 53 Nuport Custom Imp very Rare only 823 built one of the most Beautiful Chryslers ever made lic # IEB 841 ) my father had a 57.
Me to ,,,," The Knob ' because of the shifter on the dash ,,,I also had a 53 Newport Custom Imperial only 823 ,, and a 57 ,,also a 57 Dodge D 500 ,,,,all Hemis very fast,,,,
I liked them 1973 and prior. The 60s era Coupe was beautiful as a convertible. Sales started slumping when it shared its body with the New Yorker in 1969. Buyers who could afford one would take a New Yorker instead because it cost less and it was still the same quality, just the trim was different.
I just loved my 67 imperial crown phantom.
I've never owned an Imperial, but had a chance to. I'd been offered the opportunity to buy a very rough '61 LeBaron to part out to make the money to buy the car I wanted to have, which was a '65 LeBaron, white with a blue leather interior. I had this proposition because of a girl I was hanging out with at the time. She spent a bit of her time helping take care of an older lady who lived on a house by the river, surrounded by enough land to have a regulation size football field on either side of the drive leading up to the house. The house itself was a relatively modest two story house, probably a farm house at one time. We'd also go horse riding from time to time, and there were quite a few trails through the local woods. One day, that lady confided in us a story about the time she and her husband decided to go skinny dipping in the river, only to have guests suddenly appear.
For a variety of reasons, most of which boiled down to no support for the idea from my family (my dad was not known for an enthusiasm for cars), I was unable to go ahead with this. About a decade and a half later, I saw that '65 LeBaron again, in a rather degraded state. There was rust below the A pillars behind the doors, the wood on the dash had delaminated, the leather severely cracked. It also had the same license plates that I'd seen when in high school, and the same 1978 expiration sticker. It hadn't been owned by anyone else in all that time, and the damage was no doubt from it setting outside all that time. I looked at all this, wondering how I could fix it. I asked about the car, and the person there told me that they had wanted the car only for the engine in it. I hope that wasn't the end of the story, but otherwise seems unlikely.
These days, that land has been divided up for lots for yet more McMansions, the girl has been someone else's wife for nearly 40 years. Some things are for you, and you alone, if you're ready to take them...
Well done my good friend.
Sorry fellows I meant the house of GHIA OF TURIN- these fine fellows were the descendants of the CARROZIERI- the designers of fine luxuriously outfitted carriages
Magnificent bucket-list cars!
Good job my good friend..
I have a 1960 Imperial... the lead sled.
I have 59, 60, 68, 71 and 81 models.
To bad you missed the nice ones Mark
@@jerryvandyke9216 that’s a matter of opinion.
Lots of good talk about wonderful cars, but not enough time showing us the beauty of the cars. Cum’on show us da money!!
My favorite was a 1972 Chrysler imperial or 1973 either or in my opinion it was the greatest car ever made
The Imperial is its own brand name in much the same manner as the Toyota Land Cruiser.
The Imperial has always been my favorite car. This is an excellent presentation and well thought out. Any Imperial limousines in your museum? The ones that were custom built by Ghia in italy?
hair pierce?
Chrysler continued with large fins too long. Exner lost his job because of increasingly weird bodies that did not sell. His first couple years of Imperial design were beautiful cars with clean lines. The 55 you featured is a perfect example. The 64 Imperial convertible is my favorite a by far the most attractive Imperial. The Imperial that was featured outside is the beginning of what I call plain Jane unattractive cars. Some of the front and rear appointments looked good but the view from the side was uninspiring.
I could kick myself often when I think about how I could’ve had a 1960 imperial for $300 but I chose a I think it was a 1960 or 64. It was something night early 1960 Windsor, same brand of car saying it was Chrysler brat, I should’ve stuck with the imperial because the Windsor one day just would not start and that’s where it’s at and how it got towed away because unfortunately I didn’t have the money to get it running again, but I often think about that imperial with the oval, steering wheel and pushbutton, trans automatic transmission I would like to have had gotten out and hopefully we’ll still be running today
Beautiful cars. I wonder why he stands in front of the cars all the time. What or perhaps who is he showcasing?
Chrysler Corporation could not have made a better car when it came to Imperial. Take that to the bank!
I always loved those blinged out Dodges!
Come on...Dodges had nothing in common with Imperials, except both were manufactured by Chrysler Corporation.
Imperial leather was even better than "Fine Corinthian Leather" .
Is any of these cares for sale
💎
1964 was the best Imperial, The Crown Coupe
Chrysler borrowed the money from Prudential Insurance Co. in order to buy the Briggs Body Company - Mr. Briggs having died with out the benefit of proper estate planning forcing his family to sell the company in order to pay the inheritance taxes.
A Chrysler product is engineered. Appreciate them if you can.
Why didn't Chrysler make air-conditioning standard?
My favorite Imperial of later years were the gorgeous 1964-66. I remember that dreadful early 2000s brown faux RR, prototype. But to bad Chrysler can't bring back a stately elegant romantic Imperial. Not their progressive European thinking. Unfortunately Stellatlantic/Chrysler is outta its mind WONK. ALL EV. Even muscle car Challenger. SUVs only. Cadillac truck as luxury car. Build it they will buy. CrAzZy.
These are truly great cars. Then the '69 came along and lowered the standard. Pity.
They sure built Ugly Cars in the 50s and early 60s
Never stand in front of the thing you’re talking about. Sorry.
The Majestic I M P E R I A L should’ve NEVER been a Chrysler from the very beginning. Why ? Because Chrysler was an upper- medium price car…comparable to Buick and Mercury. But IMPERIAL was always a HIGH-PRICED CAR…comparable to Cadillac, Lincoln, and Packard. The two cars competed in TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PRICE CLASSES…and should have never been part of the same marque. The “Chrysler” name though prestigious, cheapened the Imperial…giving it a medium class stigma…one that continued to plague the car from its beginning…all the way to its end. The IMPERIAL didn’t need the “Chrysler” nameplate to be a success. It’s features, innovations and premium-quality construction could have allowed the car to stand ON ITS OWN…if they had only let it…from the BEGINNING. By 1955, when it was FINALLY SEPARATED from Chrysler, it was TOO LATE…and, despite that long-overdue separation, uninformed people continue to call the car the “Chrysler” Imperial till THIS VERY DAY.
I honestly believe that, had The Chrysler Corporation introduced the IMPERIAL as its OWN STAND ALONE MAKE/BRAND back in 1926, the Incomparable IMPERIAL would still be with us TODAY…instead of being consigned to the ash heap of Great Automobiles of the PAST.
How do you not realise that nobody is interested in looking at you - you need to show more of the car itself - all the time, your voice in the frame would be enough.
Chrysler’s slogan in the ‘60’s was “Extra care in engineering”. Unfortunately most of the ones I saw were very poorly assembled and rusted out prematurely. Too bad. They blew it just like GM today.
That reputation for cheaply built rust buckets began in the early 70s. Add to that the disgust over low mileage smoky engines. To people of my age, that pall of poor quality still resonates.
@@jkoysza1
You must be of the same generation as me. Chrysler, Ford, GM & AMC all built garbage in the 70’s and 80’s. They literally handed the car market to the Japanese. I have been driving Asian vehicles since 1987.
I love cars, but to much talking. Show each car explain, each year and then at the end tell your story, give viewers the option
He acknowledges the fact that IMPERIAL became a SEPARATE MAKE …having been SPUN OFF from Chrysler Division into its OWN DIVISION in 1955…yet he CONTINUES to refer to the car as a “Chrysler” Imperial. As a result, the LIE is perpetuated.
I wanted to hear about the Imperial but that fucking music.
Chrysler really were the superior engineering firm till 30 or so years ago, what happened? They mostly produce junk now.
The cars are what we're here for ---- not a talking head blocking the view...
Please....MORE of the car.....LESS of you.
Torque Flite didn't come out until 1957.
Nope. Became optional on Imperials in mid '56.
can't deal with the stuttering...
This is a boring video, more should be showing the car.
1953-1964 Chrysler built the worlds best cars and trucks