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.

The Separate Marque Strategy: 1955–1975

Chrysler had used the Imperial name as a top-trim model designation since the 1920s. In 1955, the company elevated it to full separate-marque status — Imperial would have its own dealerships, its own advertising, and its own identity distinct from Chrysler. The strategy was to compete directly with Cadillac and Lincoln at the highest price levels.

The timing was right: 1955 was also the year Virgil Exner's Forward Look transformed the entire Chrysler product lineup. The Imperial received the full treatment and then some — longer wheelbase, more elaborate interior materials, and styling details that went beyond what the standard Chrysler lineup offered. The first separate-marque Imperials are genuinely distinguished cars.

The Forward Look Imperials: 1957–1963

The 1957 Imperial is the most dramatic expression of Exner's design philosophy applied to the flagship American luxury car. The tailfins — swept upward and rearward in a form that Exner described as "the jet age in motion" — were more restrained than the 1959 Cadillac's extreme fins but arguably more elegant: integrated into the body rather than appended to it. The 1957 Imperial sits on its own as a design object.

The Crown and LeBaron Variants

Within the Imperial lineup, the Crown was the standard model and the LeBaron was the luxury summit — named for the historic LeBaron coachbuilding firm, a deliberate reference to American coachbuilding heritage. The LeBaron added the most elaborate interior treatments, additional sound deadening, and specific exterior chrome details. From a concours judging perspective, the LeBaron designation on any Forward Look Imperial elevates the car's significance.

The Crown Imperial — not to be confused with the Crown model — was a separate extended-wheelbase formal sedan and limousine built on a longer platform. These were produced in extremely small numbers by Ghia in Turin rather than at the Chrysler assembly plant, and they are among the rarest postwar American production cars. Documentation and authentication are essential before any Crown Imperial purchase.

The 392ci Hemi: Imperial's Performance Credential

The 1957–1958 Imperials used the 392ci Hemi V8 that also powered the Chrysler 300 series — the most powerful American production engine of its era, officially producing 325 horsepower but with actual output that engineering staff acknowledged was higher. In the context of a luxury car, the 392 Hemi provides effortless, almost imperious power delivery that matches the car's character perfectly. It is the correct engine for the Forward Look Imperial.

"The Imperial is the correct answer to Cadillac for the collector who values genuine engineering substance over institutional prestige. The 1957 Crown LeBaron with the 392 Hemi is a more technically ambitious car than the contemporary Cadillac DeVille in most respects. The market prices them differently — Cadillac commands the premium of familiarity. The Imperial collector is paying for reality rather than reputation."

— Sarah Whitfield

What to Look For

Pre-Purchase Checklist

1. LeBaron/Crown Documentation
   Verify trim designation against broadcast sheet or body tag — misrepresentation exists.
2. Tailfin Base Rust (1957–1963)
   Probe all tailfin bases — Forward Look Chrysler products accumulate water here.
3. Hemi Authenticity (1957–1958)
   Verify 392ci Hemi casting codes and date codes against a Hemi specialist.
4. TorqueFlite Push Buttons
   Test all push-button positions — selector mechanism failures are common on 60+ year old cars.
5. Torsion Bar Ride Height
   Check for level front stance — torsion bar deterioration causes uneven height on 1957–1966 cars.
6. Rear Floor Pan
   Inspect trunk and rear floor for water intrusion rust.
7. Interior Material Authenticity
   Assess interior against known LeBaron/Crown specifications — replacement with incorrect materials devalues.
8. Power Accessories
   Test all power seats, windows, and antenna — circuit failures are common age-related issues.

Common Issues

Pricing Guide

Fun Facts