Lounge Singer: 1983 Chrysler Imperial

If a J-body Dodge Cordoba with fine Corinthian leather seating was not luxurious enough for you, Lee Iacocca resurrected the top dog Chrysler Imperial flagship for a short run from 1981-83.  The Imperial had controversial razor edge slantback styling that was as bizarre then as it is now.  Iacocca pal Frank Sinatra lent his name to a special edition though the chairman of the board was supposedly none too happy when his personal car stalled out in public likely due to the finicky fuel injection.  Find this 1983 Chrysler Imperial for sale in Hernando, FL for $5,500 via craigslist.  Tip from Fuel Truck.

Auction Watch: 1967 Chrysler Imperial

Find this 1967 Chrysler Imperial here on eBay bidding for $7,211 with auction ending on June 21st at 3:58PM Pacific.

Canada Born: 1982 Chrysler Imperial, Frank Sinatra Edition

In the early 1980s, Lee Iacocca and the Chrysler corp wanted to release a special edition of their Imperial luxury coupe.  They wanted a celebrity endorsement, but didn't pick Michael Jackson (who released Thriller, the worlds best selling album, in 1982), or Survivor (not a reality TV show, but the band that released the double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger,") because folks who were buying a new Imperial in 1982 remembered the great depression and listened to nothing but traditional pop music.  So, Iacocca called upon his friend, none other than ol' Blue Eyes himself, to put his name on the back of the Imperial (or 247 examples to be precise).  Find this 1982 Chrysler Imperial - Frank Sinatra Edition offered for $6,500 in Grass Valley, OR. Tip from Evan.

Sour Puss: 1960 Imperial LeBaron Sedan by Chrysler

In 1955 the Imperial transcended its role as Chrysler's top of the line automobile and became its own marque.  It was no longer the Chrysler Imperial, it was simply the Imperial -- a trick later borrowed by the artist that was previously The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.  I have no idea and even less interest in knowing what that gyrating freak wants people to call him these days, but I can tell you that this next car is not a Chrysler.  Find this 1960 Imperial Le Baron Sedan by Chrysler here on eBay bidding for $6,600 with 3 days to go, located in Greenville, SC.

Ol' Blue Eyes: 1982 Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra Signature Edition

The 1981 revival of the Imperial name came from Chrysler's CEO and Dark Lord Lee Iacocca, who launched the J-body based car as a personal luxury coupe.  Rumor has it that Iacocca was friends with Frank Sinatra, and it didn't take more than a few fistfuls of cash to have Ol' Blue Eyes shill for the Pentastar brand.  The best thing to come out of this oddball relationship was the Imperial Frank Sinatra Edition, which was only offered in Glacier Blue Crystal color (Frank's eye color) and some 271 examples left the factory with a lowercase fs on the back.  Find this 1982 Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra Edition offered for $3,750 in Kenvil, New Jersey via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

10k: Survivor: 1966 Chrysler Imperial Crown Convertible

 The Imperial was a high end luxury automobile from Chrysler that was so exclusive it spawned its own brand.  The Imperial name had been used since 1926 to identify Chrysler Corp.'s top end luxury cars, but in 1955 Chrysler spun off an entire brand to compete with Lincoln and Cadillac.  During the second generation (1957-1966) the Imperial sat on its own unique (unshared with plebeian Chrysler offerings) body-on-frame platform, featuring a stylish wrap-around windscreen and more steel than an Sherman Tank.  Find this 1966 Chrysler Imperial Crown Convertible offered here on eBay currently bidding for $7,300 with a few hours to go, located in Scottsdale, AZ.

3k: Fit For A King: 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe

In 1964 Chrysler introduced a new edition of their Imperial Crown high end luxury sedan.  The new version put to bed the 50's tailfins and chrome of the Virgil Exner designed Imperials, and the Elwood Engel designed 1964 model featured slab sides (you might recognize them from Engel's '61 Continental design) and razor-edged lines.  It was far more modern looking car with thick C-pillars and thick chrome emphasizing the top of the fenders, and few cars from the 1960s match its street presence per dollar ratio.  Find this 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe offered for $3,500 in Van Nuys, CA via craigslist.

10k: Iacocca Ocean Liner: 1981 Imperial by Chrysler

Chrysler spun off a brand called Imperial in 1955 to compete directly with Cadillac and Lincoln, but by 1962 it was manufactured in the same plants as the rest of Chrysler's autos, in 1967 it moved to a Chrysler corporate shared platform (Mopar C-Body) and even the body was shared by 1969.  In 1975 the Imperial was taken off the road in what seemed like a permanent burial, but in 1981 the Imperial brand was hit with a few megajoules from the defib paddles by a freshly crowned executive named Lee Iacocca.  Find this 1981 Imperial by Chrysler offered for $8,800 in Millbrae, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.