1963 Chrysler Imperial Custom
The 1963 Imperials was the last of the bug eyed Imperials. The completely free standing headlight pods which were often unbolted and applied to custom cars, the top of pickup trucks, whatever they could attach them to, were absolutely fabulous. After the rocket ship tailfins of 57, 58, and 59, Chrysler had been criticized for poor quality control. They launched into “America’s Most Carefully Built Car” era. A huge number of inspectors, quality checkers, and test drivers, were enlisted to not only check the car, but to feedback to the assembly line worker and management, (kind of like Toyota today) and problems were fixed on the line or reengineered on the drawing board. Massive new frames from 1960 on, one exclusive piece noses, and fit and finish comparable to the highest standards of the industry of that day made these cars a luxurious pleasure.
I purchased this car from the original owner. He had purchased it new in Kansas City and then moved to Canyon City, Colorado. The car was always either garaged or in a covered car port with sides on it but no door. This is significant because the interior and chrome looks like a 4,000 mile California car, rather than the 40,070 mile car it is. This car is incredibly original and the door panels and dash appear absolutely as new. The seat cloth, when I got it, was only worn from sliding in and out of the car (this kind of cloth would catch on the seams of jeans) we located the absolute last of the NOS cloth, reused the original vinyl that came on the seat and reconstructed a perfect interior. The clear seat covers were sewn up from Jeep soft top window material, and like the seats, was the product of one of the most talented trimmers in the state of Colorado. It’s not only nostalgic and gets lots of comments at shows, but it’s a necessity for this kind of cloth. The hub caps were damaged by poor removal (as usual on this type of vented hub cap) and my polisher repaired them, polished them, and then mounted them on a brake lathe and put back in the brushed finish much like the original manufacturer.
Air conditioning was converted to R134 and is absolutely ice cold. All fluids were flushed including rear end, carburetor was rebuilt, hoses changed, and generally, the car was perfected. Last year, my wife and son and I drove this vehicle to Las Vegas, Nevada. We wore our 50’s era hats and my wife wore her horn rimmed sunglasses and scarf. I am proud to say that we got a ticket for 93 miles an hour in Utah and made the trip without any other incident. We cruised the strip, and visited all the appropriate sites to go along with the vintage of the car, and then simply drove home. No drama, no fuss, such was the quality of the 1963 Chrysler Imperials – even 60 years later.
What’s wrong with the car: This isn’t wrong but in spirit of full disclosure, the carpeting has been replaced as well as the carpeting on the bottom of the door panels and the trunk material - all beautifully done and respectful to the originality of the vehicle. The paint is original and dead, dead, dead. I have buffed it and it is not coming back. Original poly paints were just like this. Apparently, the covered garage with sides on it with no door was not enough to protect the paint all these years. However, there was no direct sunlight to discolor or damage the dash, the top of the door panels, or the top of the back seat. The interior on this car is unbelievable. The original beautiful dark gray color can be seen in the photographs of the inside of the trunk lid. The under hood is original but I am afraid we didn’t clean it up for the photographs so our apologies. The wheel opening moldings and rocker moldings are completely restored 1963 Crown or LeBaron Imperial pieces. The right hand mirror, I also added and you can see the pits on it whereas the rest of the chrome is just perfect. The car just looks to much better with them that I put them on. The luminescent dash works but as usual, only one of the three needles work at night.
Included in the pictures is the original quality control sheet that testifies to actual quality rather than professed quality.
Who am I? My name is Dave. I have been restoring cars for 35 years. My first collector car was when I was 15 years old. I've had three major collections and now it's time to sell my last one. My personal taste run to the eclectic.
I have picked out or restored these vehicles to be some of the finest in the world of these types.
I was a Dodge dealer for 27 years, selling 1600 to 2000 cars a year - that was my business.
These cars are my passion.
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