Vehicle Description
The Chrysler Imperial was the company's flagship for decades, but
few of those legendary cars combined style, performance, and luxury
quite like this 1956 Chrysler Imperial sedan. With Hemi power, a
cool '50s paint job, and as much luxury as you could fit into a
4-door sedan, it's an awesome (and affordable) alternative to a
Cadillac or Lincoln of the same period.
Wearing a very 1950s pink paint job, this awesome Imperial looks
like a very original, well-maintained car that's always been
treated as something special. There's a respray at some point in
its history, but it was a while ago, so the car has a very
comfortable and authentic look that should be left just as it is.
Obviously it's never been wrecked or rusty and those four doors
open and close like the proverbial bank vaults, a testament to
Chrysler's build quality. The styling is very reminiscent of the
mighty 300, to which this car is directly related, and the
proportions disguise its mass, because this is a very big car
indeed (at just over 19 feet long, it held the record for largest
non-limousine sedan until the 1970s). The white top adds some
contrast and keeps it from being pink overload, so if you're man
enough, you will enjoy driving it. It wouldn't be a '50s car
without plenty of chrome trim, and this one dazzles with lots of
jewelry, from the heavy bumpers to the twin grilles to the
taillights perched on top of the rear quarters, a styling cue that
would last into the '60s. The trunk ornament is an eagle, another
design element that would endure for years to come, and there's
simply no angle from which this car doesn't look awesome.
The two-tone black and pink interior is simply stunning. It's
original, so it's a little faded and shows some minor wear, but
there's just nothing cooler than the patterned brocade cloth that
was endemic to high-end cars in the '50s. The two-tone steering
wheel with horn ring is big enough to make you feel like the
captain of a ship and the beautifully styled door panels are an
ideal blend of materials, shapes, and colors. Sporty round gauges
in a sculpted instrument panel look fantastic and it's loaded with
options like working A/C, power windows, and power steering spelled
out right on the horn button. The AM radio isn't working, which is
a little sad, but you'll be thrilled to see how quickly the power
windows zip up and down. The trunk is, as you'd expect, truly
massive and it's equipped with a full-sized spare and jack
assembly.
Yes, it's got a HEMI, a 354 cubic inch version to be exact. Under
that late-model air cleaner there's an Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetor, installed to help drivability as much as horsepower,
and this sucker is strong! It idles nicely and pulls, well, like
you'd expect from a HEMI. With a modern A/C compressor, it looks a
little different than it would have in 1956, but things like the
generator, radiator, and heating system all have their traditional
'50s look. It has a muscular sound exhaling through a recent dual
exhaust system and the 2-speed Power Flite automatic transmission
is just fine given the torque that's on tap. The undercarriage is
original, so don't expect perfection, but we see no major signs of
trouble and plenty of recent work, including fresh shocks. Simple
hubcaps and correct bias-ply wide whites complete the look.
An awesome bit of Mopar luxury with a legendary powerplant and a
spectacular '50s look. Color a little outside the lines and we're
sure you'll love this Imperial. Call today!
