Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptionally straight
and rust free and great daily driving survivor of this very rare (1
of only 577 built) and original YM27 Mopar - a 1967 Chrysler
Imperial Crown 2 door Convertible loaded with every option
available as originally factory ordered by the 'Imps of Omaha' and
presented in its original 'Daffodil yellow' (code R) factory color
paint matched to it's all original 'Gold amp; Black' (trim code
M3E) Imperial leather seats interior and with its highly desirable
original 440 c.i. 4 BBL 350HP V8 engine with reportedly only 36K
original miles and TorqueFlite automatic transmission, air
conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows including
vent windows, electric clock, and loaded with factory options
including:Air Conditioning: ($452)Auto Pilot Automatic Speed
Control ($95)Bucket Seats with Leather UpholsteryPower Door Locks
($71)Tilt a Scope steering wheel ($92)Remote Trunk Release
($30)Tinted Glass ($53)Rear window defogger ($26)Deck Lid Release
($30)Power seat ($105)AM /FM Radio with power antenna
($228)Whitewall tires ($45)Power windowsPower brakesPower
steeringHeater amp; DefrosterRetractable Seat BeltsUndercoating
with Hood SilencerFront amp; Rear Center ArmrestsOne of only some
577 Crown Convertibles built in '67 and the top-of-the-line model
convertible model for the Chrysler Corporation and this is one of
the legendary cars order by the 'Imps of Omaha' with every
available factory option in 1967.With the softest and most
distinctive automotive leathers available of its day, rare 100 year
old walnut, tempered glass protected headlamps, these Imperials
stood out from their competition as being the height of
unmistakably elegant automobiles.From 1957 through 1968, there was
an Omaha, Nebraska, 'Tangier Shrine' parade unit of Freemasons
known as the IMPs (Imperial Motor Patrol). The group was made up of
23 businessmen who bought identical new Imperial convertible parade
cars each year, which they drove in parades and other VIP
events.These Imperials were the largest fleet sales of Imperials
for Chrysler and each year before the new models were built, a
Chrysler VIP would meet with the Shriners to decide the color and
how they wanted their new convertibles outfitted. Chrysler
guaranteed no other convertible would be built exactly like them
and that the Shiners cars would be the first convertibles off the
assembly line. This made the 23 years of custom built Imperials
extremely rare. One of the local Omaha Police motorcycle officers
jobs was to escort the IMPs around town to parades and other
functions.This car, serial number 101688, was one of the "Imps of
Omaha" cars.For those folks that haven't heard of them .... a group
of 'Shriners' who belonged to the Tangier Temple of Omaha, NE,
bought 23 new identical Imperial convertibles every year from 1959
through '68. They used the cars in parades and special events.
Naturally, such a large order got special attention in
Detroit.Reportedly the Shriners would order virtually identical
cars with Masonic decals on the windshields an the Shriners would
typically take delivery of the cars as soon as the models became
available therefore with early serial numbers.One of the Omaha
Shriners who would fly up to Detroit each year and go to the
Chrysler factory and take possession of the first 20+ new Imperial
Converts off the line and they would then drive them back to Omaha
in a group. What a sight that would have been to see! After the
last two years of the Imperials (1967-1968) they switched to
Cadillac Eldorado convertibles until they too ceased production in
1976. For a time in the 80's and 90's they also drove LeBaron or
Mustang converts.It us believed now that obviously the majority of
the original 'Imps of Omaha' have now sadly passed on but after
contacting the Tangier Shrine in Omaha it was recalled how the
original 'Imps' would take the cars on tours to Kansas City or St.
Louis and drive the "big wigs" around. Reportedly they would never
get dark colors because they would not "stand out". The cars were
Gold, Red, White and Yellow. Some of the original Imps were: A.E.
Ruser, Potentate of Tangier Temple; Arthur Swaboda; Claude
Gresham.These 'Imps' were the first in the nation to take delivery
of new model Imperials on new car announcement day by flying into
Detroit's Willow Run Airport and meeting with Chrysler Division
General Manager C.E. Briggs. The cars were purchased from Mr. F.M.
Briley of 'Briley Motor Co'. in Omaha, for the first few years and
later from 'Gateway Chrysler Plymouth', also of Omaha Nebraska, in
the last few years.The 1967's were Yellow exterior with a black top
and the same unique Black/Gold leather used in the 66's. Sadly the
end of the line! With the demise of the Imperial convertible in
1968, the Shriners were forced to switch makes and went to Caddy
convertibles until they too ceased production in 1976. Later they
drove LeBaron convertibles or 65 Mustang Convertibles. They are no
longer known as the 'Imps of Omaha' as that name died with the
Imperials. Later they were simply the Shriners motor patrol and can
still be seen in local parades in and around Omaha Nebraska.This
particular car has been owned since new by only obviously very
careful and mature owners and seemingly always been garaged as it
is both a rust and accident free true survivor car! The car boasts
its original 'Daffodil Yellow' factory color paint with its all
original 'Gold amp; Black' color leather seats interior seats and
trim.The Imperial model of the late 50's and early 60's sold well
and remained a strong contender with Cadillac and Lincoln, the two
other luxury marques of its day. The 1963 mild face lift design was
reminiscent of Virgil Exner's earlier designs and especially the
Lincoln Continental which he had styled for Ford. By 1964 the
Imperial was completely 'Continental' in character with its
fenderline traced in brightwork like the big Lincolns and about the
only left over in the design being the familiar hood ornament. Even
the dash panel was completely redesigned. One of the models best
features were its seats, especially the front ones which used air
foam padding with Imperial's brochures referring to them as
'Executive Aircraft-Type Seats'. They were individually powered and
gave both driver and passenger a high commanding view of the road
ahead or let them sit lower if they wanted. Both seats had head
rests which could be adjusted for height or removed and stored in
their own compartments in the rear seats and a new feature of the
Imperial Crown Coupe was a reclining front passenger seat making
sleeping in the cars utterly smooth and quiet performance easy. The
car boasted many other creature comforts for its day and was sold
with extensive rust proofing being dipped seven times and sprayed
six times before the nine coat paint job was applied. The first
eight coats were hand rubbed and the last one was machine buffed!
The Imperial Crown Coupe and Convertible were the top-of-the-line
models for the Chrysler lineup in 1967 and with only some 577
Convertibles built in total! This makes any survivors from this era
quite rare and would make this particular car a prized asset to any
dedicated Chrysler Imperial or MOPAR collection.The original and
very powerful 440 V8 engine with believed to be 36K original miles
runs very strong and and this particular car drives really well -
must be driven to be appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs
like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road
wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that
will give any modern day car a run for it's money!With very few
remaining 1967 Crown Imperial Convertibles of this caliber left,
this...for more information please contact the seller.
