Elite Dealer

1961 Chrysler Imperial

$34,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Chrysler

Model

Imperial

Year

1961

VIN

1961IMPERIAL

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

Description

1961 Chrysler Imperial Coupe For Sale 6.8 l V8 engine with 350 horsepower 3-speed automatic transmission and two doors without pillars. The model presented is in very good condition, it is equipped with electric windows and seats, automatic control and air conditioning. It is a rare and spectacular model A great opportunity to own a 1961 Chrysler Imperial Coupe that will turn many heads where ever you decide to go...

For sale by Dealer, and located in France, Europe. Transport and duty taxes to be paid by the Buyer, we can provide estimates for these costs. Trim: Coupe For Sale
Options: Cloth Interior Surface

Chrysler Imperial Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1955–1975

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Imperial was Chrysler's answer to Cadillac and Lincoln — positioned as a separate marque from 1955 to 1975, the flagship American luxury car that combined Virgil Exner's boldest Forward Look styling with the legendary Hemi V8 in a car that cost more than any Cadillac and deserved to.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Imperial Buyer's Guide

Chrysler Imperial Market Overview

Based on 19 Chrysler Imperial listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$22,170

Avg. Asking Price

1939–1983

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Above Average

This car: $34,995

Low: $5,995 High: $99,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 89% ◄

Manual 5%

Condition Distribution

Good 11%

Fair 11%

Poor 5%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 19 listings →

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Chrysler Imperial Buyer's Guide

Sarah Whitfield here. The Imperial's history is a study in the challenge of creating a prestige marque from scratch. From 1955 to 1975, Imperial was officially a separate brand — not a Chrysler model, but Imperial, with its own dealers, its own marketing, and its own identity. The effort was genuine: the cars were more carefully built than standard Chrysler products, the interior materials were more lavish, and the styling in the 1957–1963 period was among the most dramatic of any American luxury car.

The failure was that Imperial could never fully escape Chrysler's shadow in the public perception, while Cadillac's century of identity and Lincoln's Ford connection gave both competitors institutional credibility that Imperial could not replicate in two decades. What Imperial left behind is a series of extraordinary automobiles that trade at fractions of their Cadillac equivalents — a pricing anomaly that serious collectors understand and exploit.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

LeBaron/Crown Documentation — Verify trim designation against broadcast sheet or body tag — misrepresentation exists.

✓

Tailfin Base Rust (1957–1963) — Probe all tailfin bases — Forward Look Chrysler products accumulate water here.

✓

Hemi Authenticity (1957–1958) — Verify 392ci Hemi casting codes and date codes against a Hemi specialist.

✓

TorqueFlite Push Buttons — Test all push-button positions — selector mechanism failures are common on 60+ year old cars.

✓

Torsion Bar Ride Height — Check for level front stance — torsion bar deterioration causes uneven height on 1957–1966 cars.

✓

Rear Floor Pan — Inspect trunk and rear floor for water intrusion rust.

✓

Interior Material Authenticity — Assess interior against known LeBaron/Crown specifications — replacement with incorrect materials devalues.

✓

Power Accessories — Test all power seats, windows, and antenna — circuit failures are common age-related issues.

Common Issues

Forward Look tailfin base rust (1957–1963). 392ci Hemi casting authenticity issues — clones exist. 1957 body quality control issues affecting all Chrysler products that year. TorqueFlite push-button mechanism failures. Rear floor pan rust on salt-belt examples. Torsion bar front suspension deterioration on 1957–1966 cars. Power seat and window circuit failures from age. Interior material deterioration — LeBaron-specific materials can be difficult to source correctly.

What to Look For

The LeBaron or Crown designation should be verified against the broadcast sheet or body tag — sellers occasionally misrepresent standard Imperials as the more valuable trim variants. Inspect the tailfin bases on 1957–1963 cars for the same inside-out rust from water accumulation that affects all Forward Look Chrysler products. The 392ci Hemi authenticity requires specialist verification — casting codes and date codes must match the car's production date. On 1959–1975 cars with the 413ci or 440ci engine, verify the engine isn't running hot — these large engines require proper cooling system maintenance. The TorqueFlite push-button transmission (1956–1964) should operate through all positions cleanly.

Price Guide

1955–1956 Imperial (331ci Hemi driver): $18,000–$35,000. 1957–1960 Imperial Crown (driver): $22,000–$50,000. 1957–1960 Imperial Crown LeBaron: $30,000–$65,000. 1957–1958 Imperial with 392ci Hemi (documented): $40,000–$80,000. Crown Imperial limousine (Ghia-built, any year): $25,000–$75,000+. 1964–1975 Imperial: $12,000–$30,000. All Imperial variants trade 20–35% below Cadillac equivalents — the key value proposition.

Did You Know?

The Crown Imperial limousines (1957–1965) were not built at Chrysler's American assembly plant — they were shipped as incomplete cars to Ghia in Turin, Italy, where Ghia's craftsmen extended the body, fitted the custom interior, and completed the cars. This Italian coachbuilding connection gives the Crown Imperial a legitimate claim to coachbuilt status. The Imperial was officially a separate marque for exactly 20 years (1955–1975) before Chrysler reintegrated it as a Chrysler model — a decision driven by the cost of maintaining separate dealer networks during the 1973 oil crisis.

Elite Dealer

$34,995

1961 Chrysler Imperial

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