A 1961 Chrysler Imperial Crown was produced, offering a distinctive package that is hard to come by these days. Based on the pictures, the automobile appears to be entire and original, having been left in someone’s yard pending a thorough restoration.
This 1961 Imperial has clean undersides, unlike most restoration possibilities, so rust isn’t a big problem this time. It doesn’t imply that the car is a flawless ten because it isn’t. However, to give you a hint, the Imperial still need sporadic metalwork.
Fortunately, it’s not a rust bucket, and the shared images speak for themselves. The overall condition is above the average, and the interior comes with its share of problems. The dash is already cracked, but the good news is that the entire cabin is still in place.
Put simply, this Imperial is a restoration candidate that still has all the necessary parts to be driven again, albeit some may need to be changed.
Regretfully, there isn’t any good news regarding the engine of the car. The original V8 engine, a 413 V8 with a 4-barrel Carter carburetor and a Torqueflite transmission, is still present. The awful news is that it no longer exhibits any indications of life and that the engine no longer functions. Since the V8 didn’t turn over by hand, it appears to be seized. It would be unfortunate to lose the original mill if you were to rebuild the automobile, so find a reliable mechanic and have them inspect the engine.
Their Imperial is an early production car, as it’s number 525 of 4,769 units built for this model year.
Imperial built 12,258 cars in 1961, and the convertible was the rarest, accounting for just 428 units. Obviously, this makes the convertible the model collectors are drooling over, but considering the limited output, any Imperial in good shape is an intriguing restoration candidate. The two and four-door hardtops were the most common for this model year, and most came as Custom, LeBaron, and Crown models. The four-door hardtop that landed this week is a Crown.
The non-working engine is the biggest concern, especially because it’s already locked up from sitting.