1962 Imperial Crown

Walter P. Chrysler joined the luxury car market in January of 1926 with the introduction of the Imperial, a mere two years after the introduction of the car that bore his name. The Imperial 80 was introduced at the New York Auto Show and was guaranteed to achieve 80 mph, quickly earning a reputation for its quality, luxury, style, and performance. The Imperial would remain the corporate flagship for many years, with many memorable examples throughout the years, including 1931 through 1933 models, the Airflows from 1934 to 1937, the Crown Limousines by Ghia from 1957 to 1965, and the Exner-designed 1955 to 1962 models.

Chrysler's decision to make its top-of-the-line model, the Imperial, a separate division unto itself, presaging Lincoln's introduction of its exclusive Continental. In 1957, the Imperial, along with the rest of Chrysler's lineup, was launched with advanced new designs inspired by Virgil Exner's 'Forward Look.'

Chrysler's $100-million 'Forward Look' space-age styling was flamboyant, modern, and inspired many other manufacturers to mimic several design cues into their own vehicles. Highland Park's most prestigious make was simply called Imperial, as the Chrysler name was dropped for the 1955 model year. Its distinctive bodyside and roof treatments, decklids, fins, and gun-sight taillights were unlike any other Chrysler product. The 1962 model year marked the final iteration of this design theory by Exner, as well as the second and final year for the marque's unique free-standing headlights.

Design work for the 1962 models began in 1958 to 1959, and although the fascination with tailfins was waning, Exner and his team desperately wanted to retain this styling initiative that they had wrested from General Motors. The 1959 Cadillac raised eyebrows throughout the industry, and the manufacturers backed off in the subsequent years over fin size.

By 1961, the expensive and elaborately styled Imperial registered sales that were a fraction of those enjoyed by the Lincoln Continental. To remain relevant, a new statement was needed, so the division doubled down and injected a panache of its Forward Look, bringing it to its penultimate form.

For 1962, the downsized and finless Chrysler fleet included everything from the Valiant to the Imperial. These were all the work of a single 'theme car' created clandestinely in an off-limits studio and known only to Exner, exterior chief stylist Cliff Voss, and a small group of modelers. Classic lines were incorporated, with long hoods, short decks, and close-coupled passenger compartments. Exner's team of stylists included Fred Reynolds in charge of Chrysler and Imperial and supervised by Voss. The redesigned cars were devoid of fins, replaced by 'gun site' taillights but retaining the freestanding headlights and clamshell front fenders. The body sections were continuous and graceful with gentle curves and window glass set nearly flush for an uninterrupted sweep.

The Crown Convertible was the lowest production car in the Imperial lineup for 1962, with just 554 examples built. The 4,765-pound vehicle measured 227 inches in length and was priced at $5,770. The four-door hardtop listed at $5,645 and the two-door hardtop at $5,400, with 6,911 and 1,010 units produced, respectively. The eight-passenger limousine of the previous year was no longer part of the body style list. The 'Wedge' 413.2 cubic-inch V8 with overhead valves powered the entire 1962 Imperial line, with a Carter four-barrel carburetor, a 10.0:1 compression ratio, and delivering 340 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. Standard equipment included a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic with pushbutton drive, power brakes, power steering, power windows, an electric clock, a handbrake warning signal, a Six-Way power front seat, and a center armrest. The unique squared-off steering wheel complements the 'Safety Cushion' padded dash, electric clock, and Chrysler's unique 'Panelescent' instrumentation that glows from behind. The list of optional equipment was vast and included a rear license plate frame, electric door locks, door guards, rear window defogger, automatic beam changer, crankcase ventilation system, Autopilot, air conditioning, power brakes, power steering, driver and passenger side remote-control mirror, tinted glass, and seat belts.

The other Imperial models for 1962 were the Custom and the four-door hardtop LeBaron. The Custom was priced at $4,920 for the two-door hardtop and $5,100 for the four-door hardtop. 3,587 examples were the four-door and 826 examples were the two-door. The Custom models rested on the 129-inch wheelbase that it shared with the Crown Imperial, had a new hood ornament, recessed free-standing headlights, taillights mounted atop the rear fenders, and a horizontal bar grille. The Crown Imperial wore the Crown name and emblem on the rear fenders, and was one of the few distinguishable features from its lower-priced sibling. The Imperial LeBaron listed for $6,425 and 1,449 examples were built.

There were few American cars priced in the territory of the Imperial, with its main rivals being the Lincoln Continental and the Cadillac Series Sixty Special Fleetwood. The Facel Vega was much higher at $9,400, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL listed at nearly $11,000s, and the Ferrari 250 GT and GTE were over $12,000. The sporty Jaguar E-Type XKE was priced in the mid-$5,000s, and the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III tipped the scales at $16,700.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021