Here’s one rather sinister-looking find. It’s a creature-like automotive creation since its inception, and even more so in its current condition. A ’61 Imperial (Trim level? Crown or LeBaron? Your guess is as good as mine), composed of how many discarded Imperial bodies? A couple, at least. A Frankenstein of a find, waiting to be brought back to life in Crickadle, England, and posted at the Cohort by Nathan Williams.
The Frankenstein references are not gratuitous. The ’61 Imperial, as acknowledged by many, is quite the creation. Even its creator, Dr. V. Exner, had found the creature had gone beyond his control: “… by 1959, it was obvious that I’d given birth to a Frankenstein”, he reputedly said. Something Paul wrote about in the older site, when he covered a much better looking ’60 model.
Sans free-standing headlights (Really! No aftermarket need for those in this!), this is one sinister visage. Mary Shelley only knew of carriages, and human beings are certainly a more emotionally interesting subject to tackle, but doesn’t this one deserve its own Frankenstein-like literary work?
’61 was the last year of the Imperial’s Ex-huberant late-50s tall fins, while the gunsight taillights would remain around for one more year. After that, Dr. Exner’s creation would progressively return to normality. But if you’re on the admiring end of these creations, Stephen recently wrote a love song on the ’62 models. So go and check that one out, before the villagers arrive with torches in their hands.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1959 Imperial – I Don’t Care, I Love It!
Rick W’s car has arrived!
Absolutely and unequivocally, but NOT this one! But, hey it’s nice that you thought of me. I’ll comment more below
It’s a Crown, not a LeBaron.
Yep. Wrap-around rear window. Could also be a Custom; hard to tell them apart without the trim.
Chrysler used lots of British aristocratic names for its US products. Imperial, Windsor, Crown, Royal. They didn’t sell these aristocrats in England, so this Imperial is definitely out of place.
The rebadged Plymouths sold by Chrysler’s branch in England had more plebeian names like Chrysler Kew and Chrysler Wimbledon.
You are correct about Chryslers use of British names. You likely know that for Elizabeth II first visit to Canada, Chrysler created a one off CORONATION. You can find it on the net. I’m not sure but I think it was Imperial based, and I’m not sure if it was ever used by Her Majesty.But it was OTT royal purple and white with gold accents.
To be more precise, it’s one of the Crown Imperial limousines done by Ghia who was customized for this mission.
https://www.web.imperialclub.info/Yr/1959/Limo/QueenElizabeth/index.htm
There was also a Crown Imperial bodied patheon used by former Indonesian president Sukarno. https://www.web.imperialclub.info/Yr/1959/LutfiAdimulya/index.htm
I keep trying to visualize it with a more restrained headlight arrangement, as otherwise I find the rest of the design quite handsome. It’d be an interesting project for a customizer if they’d leave the rest alone. It was certainly the best road car of the 3 makes. While Exner was a huge fan of ’30s classic car design, which sometimes worked in modern adaptation, his attempt to add this kind of element to the front end of these Imps was a real misfire imo. Sometimes it sorta works, but mostly it doesn’t, and it appealed to a very different buyer than a ’62 Conti prospect, and Cadillac was always the easy choice (dare we even say conservative in comparison?) at the time. Love to see this one in a few years and in better nick.
I’d have to amend that it’s the ’62 model’s cowl to stern that I find to be the handsome one, not this ’61, the latter’s fins being a bit too much for me as well as the headlights, exaggeratedly comical even, ala a ’59 Cadillac, and not for a person of taste, that’s for sure. I was thinking of the ’62 that Steve P. had recently featured.
I went to the Goodwood Festival of Speed back in 2018 and there was an area where collector cars were parked. There were only two big American cars but they are huge compared to everything else. I even saw a right hand drive Pontiac Catalina Convertible.
Interesting picture. The dashboard looks like it is from a Chevrolet. It certainly isn’t the usual dashboard from a 1965 Pontiac. I assume this is because it is RHS drive?
If memory serves exported rhd pontiacs were sent from Canada so it may be a 65 Cheviac!
Quite probably, although LHS drive Cheviacs had a proper Pontiac dashboard. The UK market got hosed!
This one is likely a Crown because it doesn’t have the smaller formal rear window of the LeBaron. When I was in junior high my dad saw a ’62 Crown coupe in a salvage yard. He said if I could come up with the $100 they were asking for it I could get it and we would fix it up together. It was a striking specimen even with four flat tires and a good coating of ‘patina’. Seeing it in person I was astounded by the ornamentation and ‘jewelry’, the headlight, taillight and instrument cluster designs being the most stunning features. There was absolutely nothing else like it and it was nothing like the tri-5 Chevys my friends drooled over. Alas, before I could raise the cash someone bought the front clip off of it. I knew I would never find another and I, in fact, didn’t even see another one for 20 years hence.
I think once it’s finished Cruella DeVille should drive it……
CHRYSLER IMPERIAL : because too much isn’t enough .
-Nate
You apparently know my philosophy…BIGGER is Better ant TOO much is NEVER enough. 👍
Unless Cruella get a Crown Imperial limousine bodied by Ghia and hired a chauffeur to drive it. 😉
I liked the ’57-58 Imperial styling until you get to the rear door where the huge fins start. As it is, they saved the best-looking of this generation for last, in 1966. Unfortunately the interiors were much duller on the mid-’60s Imperials than the late ’50s/early ’60s cars.
And now more information and a sob (definitely NOT SAAB) story. First this poor befinned baby is an Imperial Crown, as opposed to the Crown Imperial Limousine. It is definitely not a LeBaron, which as mentioned had a formal limo roof. I cconfess to my longtime obsession with the final 61 DeSotos and the 61 LeBaron as the Grand Finale for Exners OTT extravagant fabulous finned fantasies. C.1980? I had the opportunity to buy a mint, black 61 LeBaron complete with the faux share tire for $3,500 cash. Unfortunately at the time, it might as well have been $35,000 (which would be a Bon Marche for one today). I never have achieved my dreams of owning one or both. So that’s it! 😢 😭. Sad as what’s LEFT of this Imperial may be,I hope someone manages to resurrect it.
As a parting ( no pun intended), although I personally liked the front end, with that gaping face, as a friend once said seeing a wrecked Mark III, it looks like a beached whale 🐋 sucking air!
I like it, needs a paint job and some lights or just lights and plates.
Not a LeBaron but not necessarily a Crown. It could also be a base-trim-level Custom.
I wonder how many Morris Mini Coopers this beast of burden equals? Five or maybe even six? Either way it must be a handful and likely requires forethought before driving in some of those older and tighter British roads.
Probably close to to five, although who knows how much lead is involved in putting this monster in one piece?
How did this monster ever get over to England in the first place?
My wife and I watched a documentary about Julia Child, and when she first went to France, she shipped over her new 1952 Buick. Bet that was quite a sight in Paris.
Lol! So true. If this had any customizations it likely involved lots of lead.