Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, luxury automakers toyed with the idea of ultra-luxury cars, going so far as to create separate brands to identify these superior cars. Lincoln did it with the Continental Mark II, which was technically a stand-alone brand, and Chrysler did it with Imperial, which was considerably more successful. The Imperial brand stood for the very best Chrysler could offer and a line of bespoke luxury cars put them on equal footing with the best the world had to offer. Big power, dramatic styling, and a long list of creature comforts defined Imperial and today they represent one of the biggest bargains in the ultra-luxury field. You probably can’t get more high-quality sheetmetal for your dollar than this 1962 Imperial hardtop.

First of all, please save your E-mails, we know this isn’t a Chrysler Imperial, but that’s how the software wants to list it. Secondly, you’re looking at a beautiful survivor in almost entirely original condition, including the beautiful code N Oyster White paint. It was delivered new to Beverly Hills, California where it spent a majority of its life until being repatriated to Cleveland with its second owner. Even more remarkably, this second owner’s brother was one of the chief stylists on this car, so there’s a fantastic connection there. And there’s no denying that this car is a styling tour-de-force that resembles nothing else on the road. Perhaps most notable are the headlights, which are obviously designed to recall the big Classics of the 1930s with four separate chrome buckets up front in a sculpted niche. The sweeping wrap-around grille is the same one that the stylists originally sketched back in 1958, and it gives the Imperial a clean, chiseled look that is instantly recognizable. Out back, taillights are perched on top of modest fins, but even those lights are dramatic little missiles that were very much a part of the Jet-Age look. The use of chrome is significant but not over-wrought, with tidy bumpers and neat stainless bits to highlight the car’s many unique features.

The significant thing here is that the paint (and therefore the bodywork underneath) is original and untouched, and as a California car, you know rust is a total non-issue. All four doors fit beautifully and close with authority, the gaps are pretty much where the factory set them 55 years ago, and the detailing is exemplary. The soft shine on the Oyster White paint is just beautiful and aside from a few of the usual signs of use, it has a fantastic all-of-a-piece look. We suspect that perhaps the hood has been repainted, but the match is exact and it’s possible that the overspray we’re looking at as a clue might be factory applied—that’s how original this car really is. The chrome is excellent, the tinted glass is unmarked, and there’s no question that this car has always been a cherished heirloom.

As dramatic as the Imperial’s exterior is, the interior more than measures up in its own way. Anchored by very ‘60s chic black cloth and silver leather, the spacious interior feels sophisticated and there’s something interesting everywhere you look. Arguably, the driver has the best seat in the house, literally and figuratively, as it is clearly separated from the rest of the front bench with a higher seat back that’s almost like a bucket. The squared-off steering wheel is simply awesome and this car echoes a line of far-out instrument panels for which Chrysler was rightfully famous. Seriously, is there a dashboard more beautiful than this one? The ribbon-style speedometer is up top and watching the bright orange indicator crawl across the gauge is fascinating all by itself. Auxiliary gauges are underneath and they’re all fully operational, and the controls for the pushbutton TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic and heater flank the gauges in two upright pods at your fingertips. Secondary controls are in round pods just underneath the gauges, and everything is dressed up in chrome and stainless to make it look highly detailed. The controls for the AirTemp air conditioning system live under the dash, as do the vents, almost as if A/C was an afterthought for Chrysler engineers, but the system is fully functional thanks to a recent service and R134a refrigerant. The carpets, door panels, headliner, and even the sun visors are in outstanding condition with no notable issues or damage and even though it lived its life in sunny California, the dash pad is not cracked or dried out. Rear seat space is positively massive and the hardtop design gives unparalleled visibility, so nobody will feel like they’re sitting in a cave, even with black upholstery all around them. And for road trips, nothing beats a big American luxury car, especially one with a mammoth trunk like this, which still carries its original spare tire and jack assembly.

This is a very big car, but thanks to Chrysler’s innovative uni-body construction, it’s lighter than it looks and the massive 413 cubic inch “wedge” V8 makes it surprisingly fast and capable. With a buttery-smooth idle and seemingly endless reserves of torque, it pulls the big sedan forward like an electric motor with only a muted V8 hum from ahead of the firewall. The engine bay has been detailed at some point and remains commendably clean today. Proper corporate turquoise engine enamel looks great on the engine itself, and it still carries the factory air cleaner and 4-barrel carburetor up top. The distinctive A/C compressor dominates the engine bay and the unique exhaust manifolds are in excellent condition with only minor surface scale—another reminder that this car spent its life in a warm, dry climate. It always starts quickly and easily and never gets fussy, and with a giant radiator up front, we’ve never been able to get it even a little close to overheating. There’s a new Optima battery, which doesn’t look correct but delivers a big hit of juice to turn it over with vigor under all conditions. Recent maintenance includes a tune-up and new belts and hoses, so it’s ready to enjoy.

The undercarriage isn’t restored but it, too, shows off just how well west coast hardware survives the passage of time. The 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission shifts crisply and the pushbutton mechanism works properly. Highway-friendly 2.93 gears out back make this a fantastic long-distance cruiser and it eats up pavement at speeds that’ll get you a ticket in 49 states. The suspension is Chrysler’s familiar torsion bar setup, which offers a great balance of soft ride and capable handling, although this is far from a sports car. Drum brakes are standard equipment but they’re plenty powerful to scrub speed in normal operation and there’s a newer single exhaust system that adds an appropriate soundtrack. Standard wheels and hubcaps are clean and don’t call attention to themselves, and they’re wrapped in correct L78-15 BFGoodrich whitewall tires.

This is one of those cars that we didn’t expect to impress us as much as it has. The styling is dramatic but certainly suggests luxury and wealth, which was the intent. And there’s no arguing with the way it moves, which is like a bodybuilder in a tuxedo. Add in a shockingly reasonable price and this might be the biggest bargain in high-end luxury cars you’ll ever find. Call today!