Vehicle Description
Beautiful Restoration of a top of the line Chrysler Imperial.
Loaded with options including six-way power seats, Electro-touch
radio, power antenna, tilting mirror, dual headlights, heavy duty
generator and the desirable and iconic Flite Sweep trunk lid with
the faux spare tire. This car is ready to�be�driven and enjoyed. A
true classic in every sense! Walter P. Chrysler formed the Chrysler
Corporation in 1924. With his lifetime experience in the auto
industry, combined with a keen eye for style and engineering, he
pushed the fledgling car company into one of the top three
automakers in America. Chrysler soon expanded its lineup quickly
with the addition of the up-market Imperial line. First appearing
in late 1927, the Imperial line provided the fledgling company with
a model that would compete with Cadillac, Lincoln and all the other
American luxury makes. ���� For 1957, Chrysler introduced an
all-new Imperial. With more distinctive styling, and offered in
four series, buyers responded favorably. As a result, Imperial
sales soared past Lincoln, which was long established as number two
in the luxury car field. Imperial posted its best ever year with
total sales at 37,593 units. ���� Built on the 129" wheelbase
chassis, the new Imperial looked longer and lower. The "gun sight"
taillight theme introduced in 1955 was continued, but this year the
lamps were grafted into the flowing fins rather than placed on top.
A special order, dress-up option was the faux spare tire cover on
the trunk lid, which was called the Flite Sweep Deck Lid by
Chrysler. Inside, the spacious interior was covered with patterned
cloth and vinyl, in fashionable two-tone colors. The dash still
featured full instrumentation, rather than following the trend
towards just using warning lights. Under the hood, the famous
Chrysler overhead valve "Hemi" engine had a cubic inch displacement
of 392.7 and boasted 325 horsepower. Power was transferred to the
wheels via a bush-button automatic transmission. Chrysler's
Torsional Aire suspension provided a comfortable ride and the
power, drum brakes adequately stopped the near 4,800-pound luxury
car. ���� Painted in a soft cloud white with a light blue top, this
stately 1957 Imperial Four Door Hardtop sedan is impressive from
all angles. Its gleaming chrome and stainless trim adds to its
striking styling and further accentuates all those jet-age design
cues that make an Imperial stand out in a crowd. Not only is the
dash a styling delight, but so is combination tan cloth and blue
vinyl interior. Under the hood the well-detailed "Hemi" V8 engine
ready to take you around town or from state to state. Like most
Imperials, this 1957 four door hardtop is loaded with factory
options and accessories including: six-way power seats,
Electro-touch radio, power antenna, tilting mirror, dual
headlights, heavy duty generator and the desirable and iconic Flite
Sweep trunk lid with the faux spare tire. This 1957 Chrysler
Imperial, VIN number C5711530, was sold new by Young-Bundy Chrysler
in East St. Louis, Illinois. It is believed to have spent the bulk
of its life in the Southern Illinois/St. Louis area and is now
being offered on behalf of its third owner. Included with the sale
is a file of restoration receipts as well as various manuals and
period Chrysler literature. Restored during the period from 2013
through 2016, this 1957 Imperial is in very nice overall condition.
The body presents well and was repainted in about 2013. Today, this
paint shows very well with an overall even gloss. The chrome and
stainless trim items present well inside and out. The engine and
transmission were rebuilt in about 2016. The engine bay is
extremely clean and tidy. The original data/trim tag remains on the
right front radiator support, and, based on the numbers shown, this
is a very correct car. The engine starts easily, idles well, and
propels the sedan down the road with the power and grace that one
would expect from a large, 1950s American luxury car. The chassis
is nice and tight and the transmission operates smoothly. The
interior was replaced in about 2013 and remains very clean and
presentable. The seats, door panels, carpets and headliner are in
nice condition. The padded dashboard shows some signs of wear and
there are some areas of separation, but the control area is very
clean and all of the gauges are clear. The odometer shows just
under 43,000 miles. The trunk is also clean and well detailed. ��
Despite the fact 1957 was a banner year for Imperial production,
this is still rare car. Total production of the desirable,
four-door hardtop sedan reached less than 7,600 vehicles. This
example is ready to be driven and displayed with confidence.
