I have a 1961 Imperial Crown convertible, black with red interior. They only made 427 of them, so I'm always glad to see or hear about other people with them or the like. You never see a Imperial in car restoring shows, or just in regular car shows, and I always wondered why...Kounts Custon did a 63 a few years ago on their show.
In 1961 I was out looking for snow shoveling opportunities around Harrisburg PA. It was a long walk to the part of town where people had money. As we walked, Mr. Leftwitch of Leftwich Funeral Homes, one of the Harrisburg area's black morticians, offered us a ride in one of these. Mr. Leftwich's car was fully equipped - it even had the record player option. It was massive. It ws so wide in the front seat you really could have ridden three in real comfort but four in just luxury. It was the most impressive luxury car I rode in until I got my first ride in a '64 Rolls Silver Cloud, and the Rolls WASN'T a better car. It just cost more.
On the other hand, those awful seat covers are what preserved the interior and saved thousands of dollars of restoration. I went on a ski trip in one of those once. A college friend had several brothers and the father bought a new Imperial every year and passed them down to the brothers. Anyway, I remember cruising on the interstate in it and thinking this thing just feels invincible.
That Imperial LeBaron was simply one elegant, beautiful, classic luxury car from Chrysler. The Imperials out-handled the Lincolns and Cadillac's from the period, especially in the late 1950's, but the elegance of the free standing headlight design and the rear tail lamps really set this car apart from the other two. All three luxury makers offered beautiful products, different from each other, but this Imperial stands out as one special luxury car!
Really wonderful to see such a well done video on this rare an fascinating car, and it's equally wonderful that it's in the hands of such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner. Many thanks for posting.
Really love the designs of old cars (esp. cars from the 1950s to the 1970s). Also love the design of the interior (things like the steering wheel, dashboard and the tailfins). Great work, and great car. Keep it up.
I remember those headlights as a kid.....cool. When I think of Imperials I think of those gorgeous genuine wire wheels that were on the early 50s era. Thx :)
I have been well aware of the 1961 to 1963 Imperials but until seeing this video had always thought that they were a bit bizarre in styling. This video displays the car to be far more elegant than I had previously thought. Of course the black colour, condition and fact that it is a Lebaron model all add to that but, the photography and composition show the car off at its very best. Thank you for the video and providing an insight into a rare vehicle.
Very nice Chrysler were ahead of their time in a lot these cars I am a Mark iii fan but always love looking at these Chrysler's those stand alone lights are unique.
The plastic seat covers were a "classic protect the seats from getting ruined thing". Maybe you should take them off because they did their job, or maybe consider another new set. But where would you get them installed these days?
Plastic seat covers were never meant to be tacky. They were rather, a statement of the times in which the car was driven, as many people back then wanted to preserve their investment. Being 15 years old in 1961, and having ridden in new cars with plastic "slip" covers, as they were sometimes called, with relatives and friends of family, I can well remember how conservative the owners were; as many lived thru the great depression and these new cars were the first they ever owned. Their generation did not throw things away; they repaired it or re-purposed it and most importantly, in this case, tried to preserve it. So, to me, plastic seat covers, were a part of the era and collectors may want to preserve them as much as the car itself.
My grandmother had plastic on her living room furniture as well as in her car seats. I remember the plastic being hot and sticky in the summer and freezing cold in winter.
my father had a 63 i believe. The car didn't have the big fins in the rear. I thought it was the best looking of all the Imperials, much more streamlined, but I realize it's a matter of taste. It had red leather and was very comfortable. The car could really fly. The 413 wedge was a monster.
The next year was about the same but they shaved the fins off and put the taillight on top. I had a friend in college whose father bought a new black one every few years and passed them down to his kids. My friend had a 62. On a trip on the highway I thought it just felt invincible - big, heavy, roomy, quiet, and smooth.
I am 16, I love these classic cars, I myself drive a '61 Corvair, and try to live as a teenager in the 50's. I am ashamed though for what the rest of my generation has become.
my mom had a 61 imperial when I was a kid. I remember it blew a freeze plug and she got it hot. it was never drove after that happened, but it was a really nice car. I think she still has it, but its probably rusted into the ground by now, I think that happened in 1970 so its been sitting for a long time.
gorgeous , design is brilliant, retro classic , imitates cars of the 20's with headlamps, and taillight treatment. imperial ruled the luxury line of the day. shame they are not produced today
That is one hell of a sweet ride I love the style of those cars and the steering wheel how it's shaped and the headlights they are not built into the fender just awesome style but that's a old mopar for ya
In 1957 my dad bought a Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. I was 3, it was HUGE. In 1959 [I think], he bought the second car, his daily driver, an Eldorado ragtop. I was 5, it was HUGE and mom made him have seat belts installed so her 3 guys wouldn't be blown away. My grandfather, mom's dad, was a Packard fan for as long as I knew him and before. When Packard sold out to Studebaker, he switched to Chrysler and became loyal to their Imperial line. His last was a 1969 and what a barge it was.
With their wheelbase and weight and separate body on frame construction they fly along really nice on the Interstate. Of course stopping is an issue on anything pre-disc brakes and this a couple years before that. Although I think Chrysler had disc brakes for a short time on Imperials around 1950 which were more like a clutch than disc and caliper (or something like that).
That's a beautiful car -my 1 & (so far) only encounter w/a Imperial was through a friend of a friend...he said if I could find the gear shift, I could take it for a spin around the parking lot we were at. D'oh! I couldn't find the lever-you can imagine the good-natured laughs as the owner pointed out the row of buttons. :) I wish I had that car now.
The squared off steering wheel was responsible for many a bruised knee during turning(Note during the over the shoulder shot while driving) When you turned, you had better have your knees out of the way. Another example of brilliant Chrysler engineering and the tendency in the 50s to come up with gimmicky styling touches, which was esp. prevalent at Chrysler--like pushbutton transmission and rear-view mirrors hooked to the dash rather than hanging from the roof; squared steering was gone by '63
I had one of these. It was a truly bizarre car but the worst thing was it didn't have a Parking (P) gear - it had an emergency brake and a 'Neutral' (N) When the emergency brake broke and no one could fix it I had to get an emergency brick that I kept in the back floorboard. Very very expensive to maintain.
It's great people defending plastic seat covers. I was gonna speak up myself. Tacky now yes but for heavens sake be glad they're there. They have preserved the original seats. Now you have a new interior! Ive known a few collectors to keep them. Myself I would remove them but be grateful they were once there. They really were common in the day.
yes, my Uncle had a new 1958 Imperial and drove it for 3 years and went back to Cadillac and got a new 61 Coupe DeVille ( my very rich uncle) I don't think he was overly impressed with the Imperial. As a little kid, I liked the Caddy he got
As always, GREAT video, Chuck. You do so much for us, but, we subscribers are failing you. Come on guys spread the word.to all your gear-head buddies: this is a quality product that they are missing. THANKS, Chuck. Rich
Base was about 6350 bucks with options like the 700 dollar dual air option leather power vent windows autronic eye cruise etc a fully option lebaron would set you back anywhere from 7900 to 8300 1960 era bucks
I know a guy that has a 61 Imperial, they were nice cars, but if you parked them next to a Cad or Lincoln, they didn't look quite as nice. They were associated with a older moneyed class, My Uncle had a 58 Imperial and he only kept it till 61 and traded in in on a 61 Coupe deVille. I always thought after Elwood Engle came over from Lincoln and designed the 64 Imperial, it put Imperial in a different look, nice car and also then a pretty car. The previous designer, Virgil Exner was into doing separate headlamps and those floating tail lights, and the design got a bit tired by 61 and 62. For 63 they toned down the tail lights and got ready for the new design for 64
califdad4 Matter of opinion. I think this car can stand next to any car and still look very nice. Because of the statement you said " Older money type"
Sadly I heard the styling was one of the things that let this car down. It's great today, when cars like this are appreciated again, but in '61 the razor edge look was in. This was one of Virgil Exner's last imperials before Chrysler hired Elwood Engel (who penned the '61 Continental while at Ford) to design their new product line, including the last of the Imperial sedans.
I CAN'T AGREE with what you said about your car. It is, by definition, a limousine. The Ghia stretch limousines were quite costly at over $12,000 with less than a dozen made each year. They were called Crown Imperial, whereas the standard production cars were Imperial Crown. But the Chrysler Imperial LeBaron qualifies as a limousine
I beg to differ with the owner of the car but for 1961, it's acceleration for the time wasn't "Fair" but it was "Amazing" They were faster than Cadillac and Lincoln, zero to 60 in about 9 seconds. The other issue where he is wrong is that the car isn't heavy, it's a mere 47 hundred pounds, that's lighter than a modern day Cadillac.
People put different chips in their car computer all the time. It's removing the catalytic converter that is frowned on. Because of all the electronics there just isn't the kind of maintence and fiddling around that were possible if not necessary in the past. So now engines are twice as efficient and pollute 1000 times less. Air in LA used to be like Bejing today. Sorry, no guvmint conspiracy.
Who cares? The difference between Chucks videos and the slick pablum that you usually get is like the difference between Little Richard and Pat Boone singing "Tutti Frutti".
I have a 1961 Imperial Crown convertible, black with red interior. They only made 427 of them, so I'm always glad to see or hear about other people with them or the like. You never see a Imperial in car restoring shows, or just in regular car shows, and I always wondered why...Kounts Custon did a 63 a few years ago on their show.
In 1961 I was out looking for snow shoveling opportunities around Harrisburg PA. It was a long walk to the part of town where people had money. As we walked, Mr. Leftwitch of Leftwich Funeral Homes, one of the Harrisburg area's black morticians, offered us a ride in one of these. Mr. Leftwich's car was fully equipped - it even had the record player option. It was massive. It ws so wide in the front seat you really could have ridden three in real comfort but four in just luxury. It was the most impressive luxury car I rode in until I got my first ride in a '64 Rolls Silver Cloud, and the Rolls WASN'T a better car. It just cost more.
This car is absolutely flawless! ♥️😮
Rest in eternal Peace Virgil, you have left us so much design genius to oogle at.
On the other hand, those awful seat covers are what preserved the interior and saved thousands of dollars of restoration.
I went on a ski trip in one of those once. A college friend had several brothers and the father bought a new Imperial every year and passed them down to the brothers. Anyway, I remember cruising on the interstate in it and thinking this thing just feels invincible.
There are a ton of interesting details on that car. What a unique and beautiful automobile. Thanks for giving us a look Chuck!
That Imperial LeBaron was simply one elegant, beautiful, classic luxury car from Chrysler. The Imperials out-handled the Lincolns and Cadillac's from the period, especially in the late 1950's, but the elegance of the free standing headlight design and the rear tail lamps really set this car apart from the other two. All three luxury makers offered beautiful products, different from each other, but this Imperial stands out as one special luxury car!
1961 was a golden year for American cars, with the new Lincoln, the land-speeder Cadillac and this wonderful anachronism.
Beautiful car! Exner Excellence!
An Incredibly Beauuuutiful Car!💕
I never rode in a 61 Imperial, thanks for the ride.Love the blue interior.
monarch1957 My father had a 1961 imperial w/o air nor trunk fake spare in a light blue non power windows plastic seat covers were factory option
That car was from a time when they really designed them, just beautiful!
Really wonderful to see such a well done video on this rare an fascinating car, and it's equally wonderful that it's in the hands of such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner. Many thanks for posting.
Man, Imperial (and later on, Chrysler,) made some awesome luxury cars...
...and then the '70s happened.
Really love the designs of old cars (esp. cars from the 1950s to the 1970s).
Also love the design of the interior (things like the steering wheel, dashboard and the tailfins). Great work, and great car. Keep it up.
What a beauty! Great video! Thanks!
Museum quality, I hope it will be preserved as proof chrysler did not always build rolling garbage!
What an absolutely beautiful,beautiful automobile!
The '61 Imperials were just as wild as the '59 Cadillacs... a tiny bit more understated, but a very tiny bit!
Chuck, the '62 and '61 were two of the greats, the '63 not so much. This one is superb, simply stunning.
I remember those headlights as a kid.....cool. When I think of Imperials I think of those gorgeous genuine wire wheels that were on the early 50s era. Thx :)
I have been well aware of the 1961 to 1963 Imperials but until seeing this video had always thought that they were a bit bizarre in styling. This video displays the car to be far more elegant than I had previously thought. Of course the black colour, condition and fact that it is a Lebaron model all add to that but, the photography and composition show the car off at its very best. Thank you for the video and providing an insight into a rare vehicle.
Very nice Chrysler were ahead of their time in a lot these cars I am a Mark iii fan but always love looking at these Chrysler's those stand alone lights are unique.
The plastic seat covers were a "classic protect the seats from getting ruined thing". Maybe you should take them off because they did their job, or maybe consider another new set. But where would you get them installed these days?
Get yourself some hog ring pliers and the requisite rings and do it yourself.
Plastic seat covers were never meant to be tacky. They were rather, a statement of the times in which the car was driven, as many people back then wanted to preserve their investment. Being 15 years old in 1961, and having ridden in new cars with plastic "slip" covers, as they were sometimes called, with relatives and friends of family, I can well remember how conservative the owners were; as many lived thru the great depression and these new cars were the first they ever owned. Their generation did not throw things away; they repaired it or re-purposed it and most importantly, in this case, tried to preserve it. So, to me, plastic seat covers, were a part of the era and collectors may want to preserve them as much as the car itself.
My grandmother had plastic on her living room furniture as well as in her car seats. I remember the plastic being hot and sticky in the summer and freezing cold in winter.
in 1969 we drove to my grandmothers funeral in my dads 1961 black imperial ,my brother would always say quick Robin into the bat mobile
I always thought those plastic covers were factory fitted.
my father had a 63 i believe. The car didn't have the big fins in the rear. I thought it was the best looking of all the Imperials, much more streamlined, but I realize it's a matter of taste. It had red leather and was very comfortable. The car could really fly. The 413 wedge was a monster.
When You Drive A Imperial You Get That Old Imperial Feeling..
Another great video, thanks Chuck! Frank is very modest, you could easily fit about twelve people in that baby!
The next year was about the same but they shaved the fins off and put the taillight on top. I had a friend in college whose father bought a new black one every few years and passed them down to his kids. My friend had a 62. On a trip on the highway I thought it just felt invincible - big, heavy, roomy, quiet, and smooth.
I was very impressed with the dual air conditioning set up. Flip both of them on and you could hang entire sides of beef in there
I am 16, I love these classic cars, I myself drive a '61 Corvair, and try to live as a teenager in the 50's. I am ashamed though for what the rest of my generation has become.
my mom had a 61 imperial when I was a kid. I remember it blew a freeze plug and she got it hot. it was never drove after that happened, but it was a really nice car. I think she still has it, but its probably rusted into the ground by now, I think that happened in 1970 so its been sitting for a long time.
Thanks for the shout out Rich and thanks for stopping by!
great show always a pleasure to watch, keep up the great videos.
Thank you!
gorgeous , design is brilliant, retro classic , imitates cars of the 20's with headlamps, and taillight treatment. imperial ruled the luxury line of the day. shame they are not produced today
Have a Lebaron 1961 with white options leather interior. This cars are so special and beautiful. Very nice Lebaron on the film.
That is one hell of a sweet ride I love the style of those cars and the steering wheel how it's shaped and the headlights they are not built into the fender just awesome style but that's a old mopar for ya
In 1957 my dad bought a Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. I was 3, it was HUGE. In 1959 [I think], he bought the second car, his daily driver, an Eldorado ragtop. I was 5, it was HUGE and mom made him have seat belts installed so her 3 guys wouldn't be blown away.
My grandfather, mom's dad, was a Packard fan for as long as I knew him and before. When Packard sold out to Studebaker, he switched to Chrysler and became loyal to their Imperial line. His last was a 1969 and what a barge it was.
Many of those old cars were quite HUGE!
RideswithChuck I was a little kid and the chrome polisher on 'wash day'. They were indeed HUGE!!
With their wheelbase and weight and separate body on frame construction they fly along really nice on the Interstate. Of course stopping is an issue on anything pre-disc brakes and this a couple years before that. Although I think Chrysler had disc brakes for a short time on Imperials around 1950 which were more like a clutch than disc and caliper (or something like that).
This has to be the inspiration for the 2008 concept Imperial. Especially the grille and headlights.
I have not seen anything like that before, thanks Chuck!
fun clip as always Chuck.. thanks
Why do I see Mr Drysdale driving this in The Beverly Hillbillies?
another fantastic car thanks chuck:)
Niiiccceee car! Thanks for sharing with us Chuck.
And a Merry Christmas to you too!
That's a beautiful car -my 1 & (so far) only encounter w/a Imperial was through a friend of a friend...he said if I could find the gear shift, I could take it for a spin around the parking lot we were at. D'oh! I couldn't find the lever-you can imagine the good-natured laughs as the owner pointed out the row of buttons. :) I wish I had that car now.
The squared off steering wheel was responsible for many a bruised knee during turning(Note during the over the shoulder shot while driving) When you turned, you had better have your knees out of the way. Another example of brilliant Chrysler engineering and the tendency in the 50s to come up with gimmicky styling touches, which was esp. prevalent at Chrysler--like pushbutton transmission and rear-view mirrors hooked to the dash rather than hanging from the roof; squared steering was gone by '63
I had one of these. It was a truly bizarre car but the worst thing was it didn't have a Parking (P) gear - it had an emergency brake and a 'Neutral' (N) When the emergency brake broke and no one could fix it I had to get an emergency brick that I kept in the back floorboard. Very very expensive to maintain.
I almost bought one of these a few years ago...but I had to pay for tuition...broke my heart to be unable to buy it as it's the car of my dreams. :/
Rolling Artwork🤩
Virgil Exner at this peak!
That was great Ride with Frank 61 Imperial. Now I know what this car was a tough expensive to build!
Our next door neighbors had this model (new) when I was a young child.
It's great people defending plastic seat covers. I was gonna speak up myself. Tacky now yes but for heavens sake be glad they're there. They have preserved the original seats. Now you have a new interior! Ive known a few collectors to keep them. Myself I would remove them but be grateful they were once there. They really were common in the day.
yes, my Uncle had a new 1958 Imperial and drove it for 3 years and went back to Cadillac and got a new 61 Coupe DeVille ( my very rich uncle)
I don't think he was overly impressed with the Imperial. As a little kid, I liked the Caddy he got
very nice, I have a 1961 Imperial convertible.
AHAHAHA the floating head in the beginning is SO creepy but awesome
Hi Jurica, Thanks for stopping by.
Chuck
I think they used one of these in Breakfast at Tiffanys". My favorite Imperal was the 64 to 66! The guy that designed those had done the 61Lincoln
and 6 more in the trunk we had a 65 imperial crown it held 17 one night lots of nice girls though
I would love a more in depth view of the rear air. I have always been interesting in rear air!
Noted!
As always, GREAT video, Chuck. You do so much for us, but, we subscribers are failing you. Come on guys spread the word.to all your gear-head buddies: this is a quality product that they are missing.
THANKS, Chuck.
Rich
How much would a car like that have cost in 1961? This is an amazing vehicle.
Base was about 6350 bucks with options like the 700 dollar dual air option leather power vent windows autronic eye cruise etc a fully option lebaron would set you back anywhere from 7900 to 8300 1960 era bucks
1961 LeBaron 413.2 Cubic Inch 350 Horsepower at 4600 RPM. The four door Hardtop price in 1961 was $6428. Total production 1,026.
You could buy THREE Valiants for that money!! That's TWELVE tires!!
$6400 car in 1961 is the equivalent of $54000 today. And that was when we were renting our house for $55 a month.
I know a guy that has a 61 Imperial, they were nice cars, but if you parked them next to a Cad or Lincoln, they didn't look quite as nice. They were associated with a older moneyed class, My Uncle had a 58 Imperial and he only kept it till 61 and traded in in on a 61 Coupe deVille. I always thought after Elwood Engle came over from Lincoln and designed the 64 Imperial, it put Imperial in a different look, nice car and also then a pretty car. The previous designer, Virgil Exner was into doing separate headlamps and those floating tail lights, and the design got a bit tired by 61 and 62. For 63 they toned down the tail lights and got ready for the new design for 64
califdad4
Matter of opinion. I think this car can stand next to any car and still look very nice. Because of the statement you said " Older money type"
In our town, Republicans drove Imperials; Democrats drove Cadillacs; and whoever was left drove Lincolns.
actually in luxury cars in 61 that went to the 61 Lincoln. Everyone was impressed with that one
I now see where British Leyland got the idea of a square steering wheel !
Thanks.Beautiful Car.Mmmmmmmm
Hi, It isn't an inconvenience, it's just difficult and for me dangerous. I need a private airport like they have for TopGear.
Regards,
Chuck D.
I never knew about the "Jewelry Tax" that was awful our government did that. The design of insetting the bird in the grille is magnificent.
Yep!
Sadly I heard the styling was one of the things that let this car down. It's great today, when cars like this are appreciated again, but in '61 the razor edge look was in. This was one of Virgil Exner's last imperials before Chrysler hired Elwood Engel (who penned the '61 Continental while at Ford) to design their new product line, including the last of the Imperial sedans.
My 1965 New Yorker had the plastic seat covers. When I removed them, I discovered the cloth underneath was rotten. Bad idea.
The awkward fins were finally shed for '62.
I'm sure happy to have made your day! lol
I CAN'T AGREE with what you said about your car. It is, by definition, a limousine.
The Ghia stretch limousines were quite costly at over $12,000 with less than a dozen made each year. They were called Crown Imperial, whereas the standard production cars were Imperial Crown. But the Chrysler Imperial LeBaron qualifies as a limousine
I beg to differ with the owner of the car but for 1961, it's acceleration for the time wasn't "Fair" but it was "Amazing" They were faster than Cadillac and Lincoln, zero to 60 in about 9 seconds. The other issue where he is wrong is that the car isn't heavy, it's a mere 47 hundred pounds, that's lighter than a modern day Cadillac.
Welcome back Osborn Tramain.
Oddly, my first car was a Corvair too.
The plastic on the seats is horrible, but when he takes it off the upholstery will be perfect!
Thanks,up to standard,bang on,super,great, Mary Poppins.
Old guy cruising around the cemetery trying to find his future rest site.
What cost this car ?
you are in the right place for that car in the cemetery a shit is ugly
I wish it had the optional record player...
cool
A little-known jewel of Americana--but why high-lite it in a cemetary (albeit, very at home there!)
The aliens have landed!
that is one sweat ride
People put different chips in their car computer all the time. It's removing the catalytic converter that is frowned on. Because of all the electronics there just isn't the kind of maintence and fiddling around that were possible if not necessary in the past. So now engines are twice as efficient and pollute 1000 times less. Air in LA used to be like Bejing today. Sorry, no guvmint conspiracy.
Bitchin’ ride!
Used to be, these care were illegal in demolition derby. Built way too stout.
Eat your heart out. You'll never own such a magnificent automobile because they are no longer available.
And still has the plastic on the seats???? Wow!!
Great Car. Too close a look, though
I'd leave the plastic seat covers ON.
Do not remove the seat covers the plastic seat covers
Who cares? The difference between Chucks videos and the slick pablum that you usually get is like the difference between Little Richard and Pat Boone singing "Tutti Frutti".
Driving to the cemetery to drop off some bodies...
Currently for sale and still has the plastic on the seat. Ha!
Is this true?
Maybe not. Doesn't have the chrome roof trim.
Thanks.@@Mastermindyoung14
Windex the seat covers.