Handsome survivor of an unusual luxury car brand. Smooth 440 cubic inch V8, long options list, very clean and solid throughout. Original paint, top, and interior. Nicely maintained so it drives right. The most car-per-dollar you can get!

In the 1960s, Chrysler tried to turn Imperial into a separate brand to compete with Lincoln and Cadillac. It had been tried before (Lincoln tried turning Continental into a separate brand in the 1950s) but the net result is always the same: people still called it a Chrysler Imperial. However, to set the record straight, this car is an Imperial LeBaron, not a Chrysler, and that’s an important distinction to make. Even the title calls this car an Imperial, so please make sure you get it right if this is a machine you plan to put into your garage. Also make sure there’s room, because this awesome land yacht casts a shadow nearly 18 feet long and six feet wide, making it one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) bargains in our showroom today. It’s a mostly original car still wearing its factory-applied Honeydew paint (which is kind of a yellow with hints of green) that’s still in decent shape. It isn’t perfect after more than 50 years, but there’s a nice shine and only a few minor signs of use and age, so you can enjoy it without fear and nobody will wonder when you’re going to fix it up. Original paint also means no surprises hiding underneath and panel alignment is factory-correct, so the doors all close beautifully. The padded roof shows no signs of trouble underneath, more evidence that this car has not been subjected to a lot of harsh winters, and the chrome shines up beautifully. And yes, the headlights work correctly. The more we look at it, the more we like this big luxury sedan.

The fuselage styling was great for interior space, and this sucker is downright cavernous inside. There’s easily room for six thanks to front and rear bench seats, and that gold brocade upholstery is just too cool. Being a 4-door hardtop means there’s no B-pillar to obstruct the view, so it feels open and airy inside with good sightlines in all directions (important in something so large). The list of standard equipment was extensive, including A/C, power windows, locks, and seats, a tilt steering column, and a fairly comprehensive instrument panel. On this car, the factory temperature and oil pressure gauges have been supplanted by aftermarket dials underneath, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to get the originals back online. The A/C is inop, but the car does come with a rather rare and valuable Air Temp diagnostic tool that’s probably invaluable for the Chrysler enthusiast. The upholstery is in good shape, with only a missing button on the driver’s lower cushion marring an otherwise first-rate presentation. Original door panels and carpets are likewise well preserved and the factory headliner overhead remains taut—and just check out those side pillows on the C-pillars! There’s also a truly massive trunk that includes a full-sized spare and the original jack stowed behind a quarter panel bulkhead.

Chrysler’s biggest V8 was the only engine option, a 440 cubic inch powerplant that makes the giant Imperial feel effortless on the road. There’s torque all over the map thanks to a 4-barrel carburetor, and these engines are legendary for their durability. It starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls all 5000 or so pounds of Imperial down the road with genuine authority. Some of that comes from the quick-shifting TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic, and some is due to an aftermarket dual exhaust system that gives the car a bit of muscle car swagger. Chrysler’s legendary torsion bar front suspension gives the car that incomparable luxury car ride and the power brakes and power steering make it easy to wheel around even tight spaces. You’ll note the floors are solid (important for a unit-body car) and there are air shocks out back to help it keep an even keel no matter the load. 3.23 gears in the 8.75-inch rear end make it a comfortable highway cruiser, and there’s still nothing like aiming a big American luxury car down the highway and letting the miles unwind. 235/75/15 whitewall radials have plenty of life left in them and the original Imperial hubcaps are unique to these cars.

Extras include the original owner’s manual and purchase paperwork, a shop manual, and the aforementioned Temp II A/C system tester.

Nobody will ever build a luxury car like this again, and there’s still something special about wheeling this much sheetmetal down the road. The big V8 makes great sounds, the interior is plush, and the styling has aged rather well, giving this car a unique look that stands out anywhere it goes. If you’ve got the room for it, this is a lot of fun for not a lot of cash! Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase. f