19,158 original miles. Beautiful survivor with original Mark Cross binder and umbrella. Heavily documented with window sticker and manuals. Fitted with OEM carburetor retrofit kit. Ready to go!
Honestly, when was the last time you saw one of these handsome Imperials? This one has had just two owners and the second owner was the dealer who sold it to the first owner, so it’s led a very easy life. It was originally sold here in Ohio, but almost immediately it went to Florida, where it spent the next three-and-a-half decades in the warmth of the southern sun. That means rust is a non-issue and the original Pearl White paint is in excellent condition. Padded roofs were not available on the Imperial (thank God!) and the use of chrome was restrained. Details like the hood ornament (which is real French crystal, not plastic), the matching ornaments on the opera lights, and the notable lack of Chrysler badging mean this car was designed to stand out. It definitely looks like money, but you can also count on excited onlookers asking you, “What is that?”
The interior is equally well appointed and while it dates itself with the tufted leather upholstery, isn’t travelling to another time period why you own an old car? With contrasting dark blue carpets, dash, and trim, it is upscale and bright, almost nautical in its execution, and it’s first class travel even today. The leather is in excellent shape, showing only very, very minor discoloration after all these years, but no rips, tears, or scuffing. The deep pile carpets are almost sinfully soft, and even the dash pad is in excellent shape—notable after its time in Florida. Cool features include the fully operational digital dashboard with bright, clear displays, an AM/FM/CB stereo system (the mic is included!), and the usual stuff like power windows and locks, power seats, and air-conditioning. A little ahead of its time, this Imperial even includes heated outside mirrors, a nice touch. Weather seals are still supple, so the car seals up like a tomb and just whispers along at highway speeds. The back seat is reasonable for two adults and the trunk is truly massive.
The 5.2 liter V8 (that’s a 318 to the rest of us) is torquey and smooth, going about its business with a minimum of fuss. These cars used an early form of throttle-body fuel injection that proved to be horribly unreliable, so the factory issued retrofit kits to install carburetors instead, which is how this car is equipped. In reality, there are probably only a handful of these Imperials still carrying their original fuel injection systems and enthusiasts know that the carburetor is a much better choice. It still looks quite stock under the hood, right down to the air cleaner that proudly proclaims “Electronic Fuel Injection” on its lid, but underneath there’s a 2-barrel carb that works just fine. In fact, this one acts like a modern fuel-injected vehicle, starting with a turn of the key and no fussiness, idling smoothly even when it’s cold, and generally pulling the car around without any drama. The engine bay is almost entirely OEM and it’s quite clean and tidy, as you’d expect from a car with just under 20,000 original miles. It’s quite impressive.
The only transmission, of course, was the bulletproof TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic, and it’s feeding downright steep 2.24 gears, making this a fantastic highway cruiser. The suspension is familiar and rides like the quintessential American luxury car, and power steering and power disc brakes were standard. It was undercoated by the dealer when it was new, which was common practice in 1981, so it’s not shiny underneath but it’s also totally solid with no critical rust issues. Recent shocks mean it rides right and those 205/75/15 Firestone whitewall radials have only a few thousand miles on them.
Documentation includes the original Mark Cross box with binder and umbrella that’s never been used. We also have the original window sticker, owner’s manual, warranty booklet, and other factory documents for operating your new 1981 Imperial. Then there’s the original purchase contract and invoice, a letter about the Chrysler 5/50 warranty, and even the registration card in case you sell the car to someone else.
We’re seeing a trend where high-quality ‘70s and ‘80s American luxury cars are catching on with collectors. They represent a way to get a high-end car for not a lot of cash, a car that will be welcome at club events, and in the case of this Chrysler, own a unique car that you won’t see at every show. And it’s available for the same price as it was in 1981! We’d call that a genuine bargain. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
