1962 Imperial Crown

1962 IMPERIAL CROWN COUPE

Only 1,010 produced!

1-OWNER FOR 27+ YEARS

RECEIPTS FOR OVER $40,000 IN RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Virgil Exner created the famed Forward Look that launched Chrysler into the leading position in styling in the 1950s. The body of this 1962 Imperial is the very last of his styling efforts for the marque, and it continued just one more year into 1963, albeit with the iconic Gunsight tail lamps removed. This was no "Chrysler" Imperial...it was simply and exclusively - IMPERIAL. And it competed directly with Cadillac and Lincoln. Far fewer Imperials were made than either of its rivals, so it was more exclusive in the day and is more exclusive today.

THIS CAR'S UNIQUE HISTORY

The owner of this car was a very discerning collector of eclectic taste. Among the dozens of classics he owned over the years including Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and a Porsche 911 Turbo was this stunning Imperial. It was purchased in 1997 from Dr. Dietmar Schildwachter. There are dozens upon dozens of pages of material related to the car, including documentation of over $40,000 invested over the years.
The car is fun to drive and people are literally stunned to see it. It seems that most any other 1960s car is commonplace compared to this Imperial with its classic-era styled headlamps and elegantly mounted Gunsight tail lamps never again to be seen on any car. Ever mindful of performance, Imperial announced a new transmission for 1962 with the highest breakaway ratio in the fine car field. And just as Imperial first introduced in 1957, the car has the famed Torsion-Bar Suspension which coordinates the front and rear suspension for the best controlled luxury ride in the industry.

VERY HIGHLY OPTIONED: The car is impressively optioned, including: Factory-installed Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Power Front Seat, Touch-Tuner Power Tuning Radio, and Remote Control Drivers Side Mirror.

NOTE: See Operationals section below for operating status of these factory optioned accessories.

OPERATIONALS

The car starts readily and drives nicely (be sure to see the 3 YouTube videos via links below). Power Steering and Power Brakes were standard and make the car easy to drive. It is primarily a boulevard cruiser sort of car. The Factory Air-Conditioning was restored with the replacement of many components including a new modern-design compressor and was converted to modern refrigerant but is currently not cooling. The compressor engages, but no cold air. A re-charge may bring it back to life for a season or two. In one of the pictures and in one of the videos, you will note that the retractable A/C vents on top of the dash are now held open with the aid of some toothpicks. Without them, the 62-year old vents are just a bit too tired to stay open!

Items tested at time of photo-session and found to be WORKING: all exterior lights/brake lights/directionals (except front passenger side indication)/reverse light, Wipers, Horn, Lighter, All Gauges except Fuel, most window functions (see section below), Dash Panel Courtesy/Map light (above Radio), and Dome Light (but only when manually switched on not when door opens), Remote Control (cable) Drivers Mirror, and Parking Brake & Indicator Light.

Items tested at time of photo-session and found NOT WORKING: Factory Air-Conditioning (has many new components could just need recharging to work for a season or two as noted above), Power Seat (motor runs but no seat movement, Factory Radio, Ashtray Electronic Radio, Power Antenna, Rear Air Fan.

Not Tested: Windshield Washer

POWER WINDOWS REPORT

There are six Power Windows. The power vent Windows and front windows on both sides work well (though the drivers switch for the passenger side front window is inoperative, the passengers switch DOES work. The rear quarter windows technically do operate, BUT they are very slow and bind. We got them almost all the way down for the video session but had to work hard to wiggle them back up while under power. It is NOT recommended that you attempt to use the rear side windows without investigating why they are binding. It is likely that the gears/tracks need cleaning and re-lubing.

SEE THE VIDEOS

There are three videos now available for viewing on YouTube. Here are the links...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKyPQLQELNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMdf7jlu7lM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eqJ2r0R_80

A NOTE ABOUT START-UP AFTER STORAGE

After the passing of my good friend who owned this car, is sat for a couple months without being driven. Upon start-up, some oil that likely leaked down into the engine did have to burn off before the exhaust appeared clear once again. The more we drove the car, the better the exhaust looked, to the point where you could barely tell if any oil was burning any more.

PURCHASE DETAILS: This car is now owned by the Estate of a close friend. Wire Transfer to the Bank Account of the Estate is the ONLY approved payment method. NO Checks and NO cash. A Bill of Sale will be signed by the buyer and then emailed to the Estate Executor in New York where it will be signed by the Executor and witnessed by a Notary. The fully executed Bill of Sale will be emailed back and then presented to the buyer with the Executor signed-off Title and Letters Testamentary. In the State of Georgia, that is all that is necessary for a new Title/Registration to be issued to the new owner. If you are not a resident of Georgia, please check with your DMV to be sure that the provided Executor-signed Bill of Sale/Title and Letters Testamentary will be sufficient.

LOCATION: Stone Mountain, GA (Note: the car is stored in a spacious and climate controlled high-end storage facility with a HUGE front parking lot. Any test driving will be done ONLY on the storage facility grounds NOT public roads).

INVESTMENT POTENTIAL could be considerable, as the Exner Forward Look Imperials are among the most elegant, futuristic, and distinctive luxury cars ever built. By 1964, Chrysler had wooed Elwood Engel away from Ford to redesign the entire Chrysler fleet and Virgil Exner's era was officially over. In sum, there was never anything like these classic Imperials before they came onto American roads, and there will never be anything like them again.

ABOUT ME: After retiring from 30 years of sales and marketing in a Global 100 company, I began buying and selling classic cars as a collector. I also sometimes market classic and collectible cars for friends and clients. This classic belonged to a dear friend that passed in March, and I am listing it for his Estate.

ODOMETER: Because of the design limitations of odometers of this cars era - no representations are made as to the actual mileage of the Vehicle which is unknown. The current Odometer reading is: 0662.7.

IMPORTANT FINAL REMARKS & CONDITIONS OF SALE...

This Vehicle is sold strictly on a final and AS-IS basis without any warranties expressed or implied. Even the very best restored classics will require additional maintenance and service - often without warning. Therefore, please expect to continue - as the new owner and caretaker of this classic - to perform additional maintenance and repairs. We hope that you are able to enjoy the Imperial without the need for an immediate repair - but understand that this indeed could be found necessary. As seasoned collectors know, every time you start (or attempt to start) a collectible vehicle is a new experience...it could be a wonderful ride, or a new repair to undertake. That is the nature of the hobby, and this classic should not be purchased if you are not prepared for this reality. We have presented the car accurately to the best of our ability, but oversights are possibleso we invite pre-purchase examination for serious buyers. All sales are final.

Due to age (and the fact that it has only been driven locally in recent years) - it is recommended that it be transported to its new owners locale.