1959 Imperial Custom Series 2-Door Hardtop

For 1959, the Series MY1-L Custom Series re-styled in the front headlight pods covered in chrome and linked together by a large, central grille bar. Body styles included a sedan, a 4-door hardtop, and a 2-door hardtop. Pricing began at $4,900 for the 2-door hardtop and rose to $5,015 for the other two body styles. The most popular body style was the 4-door hardtop, which saw 3,984 examples produced.

The Landau version had a simulated rear canopy. The Silvercreate featured a stainless steel section covering the front half of the roof. Also available was the Silvercrest Landau, which was a combination of the two.

The 1959 Imperials had power brakes, power steering, dual exhaust, an electric clock, undercoating, and a windshield washer.

Power was from an overhead valve V8 engine that displaced 413.2 cubic inches and offered 350 horsepower.

The Imperial model line became its own separate line beginning in the mid-1950s to form a direct challenge to Lincoln and Cadillac. In 1957, the Imperial line was given a completely new personality, which was dubbed the 'Finest of the Forward Look,' with its trademark 'gunsight' tail lamps being incorporated into growing tailfins and the curved side glass.

1957 marked the appearance of the faux spare tire carrier on the rear deck lid, which had first been seen on the Virgil Exner-designed and Ghia-built concept cars from 1952 to 1953.

The 1958 and 1959 Imperials were face-lifted and featured a much more aggressive face, as they used bold vertical teeth in a single horizontal grille bar. The exterior body changes were accompanied by an updated powertrain, with the former Hemi engine being replaced by a 413 cubic-inch 'wedgehead' unit that was powerful and weighed 101 pounds less. The new engine had a 10.1:1 compression ratio and a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor, offering 350 horsepower. The power was sent to the rear wheels via a pushbutton Torqueflite automatic transmission.

This Custom Southampton Coupe is an original California car that was given a ground-up restoration in Sandstone. It has the optional Landau hardtop roofline, which was a simulated landaulet roof covering that formed a 'tiara' of sorts over the rear window, and the interior is upholstered in full leather, which was an original option. Additional factory options found on this car include power steering, power brakes, windows, seats, and door locks. It has a SureGrip rear differential, factory air conditioning, and heat, which were controlled by a pushbutton unit. Seatbelts and a modern stereo system have been added to improve safety and comfort for modern driving.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014