My grandfather had one of these in mint condition in 2000 he always kept in the garage as did the original owner. He loved it and had always had lincolns and caddilacs before. I think the uniqueness and smooth ride is why he liked it so well. Im not sure if he had a carb or fuel injection but never had a problem with it.
Gabe that's awesome! I really hope you enjoy it, the fellow I sold it to did live in PA but I lost his info over the years. If you ever decide to sell it, let me know, but until then enjoy the heck out of it!
Beautiful car, definitely one of the best looking cars from the '80s. I remember seeing one as a kid (black) and remember thinking how futuristic it looked - reminded me of Darth Vader's helmet. I've heard some older luxury car owners mention that these gave a particularly smooth ride, though I have never ridden in one.
I am looking at buying myself a 1982 Chrysler Imperial frank Sinatra Edition. Once I get my learning permit, it seems like a very nice sedan and I'd like to buy one.
those are VFDs, not LCDs. Vacuum Fluorescent Display, as opposed to Liquid Crystal Display, Corvette and Allante were the only two cars that had LCDs, and you can tell right away.
I test drove an IMPERIAL brand new, BUT, changed my mind due to many people informing about the problematic of the FUEL INJECTION. Back then, I traveled alot, man was I disappointed. It's a BEAUTIFUL car. Then, Chrysler gave up repairing & decided to replace it with a 2bbl carb. It should have been @least 4bbl. Plus a 318cid, a 360 should have been the standard engine for a Classy, personal luxury coupe. 318cid were for commercial purpose vehicles. . The luxury car manufacturers were still installing bigger engines than on the regular cars, it was part of the luxury.
They really should have allowed a 360ci to be had in these cars, but at the time those were reserved for police cars. I have seen 1 or 2 Imperials retrofitted with a 360ci so it's definitely possible to do.
The 1981- 1983 Imperial did not have vacuum hidden head Light doors. In fact the head light doors worked with an electrical motor I know because I had a 1883 imperial and had to replace the head light door motor
I recall this Imperial was not favored as much as the other bustle backs from Cadillac & Lincoln. Because of its Cordoba underpinnings. But Chrysler was strapped for cash and I think the objective for Lee and old blue eyes was to try save a car company and jobs.
Great stuff , that Lee Iacocca did as part of the WW ll generation. Those guys had a special bond with each other that shows 40 years after WW ll when this car was made as a tribute to Frank Sinatra for his entertainment music he and the big bands did to boost the moral for G.I.'s fighting the battles from 1941 to 1945.
Sinatra demanded Chrysler pay him up front, in cash, for this promotional deal. His accountants knew Chrysler was hemorrhaging money at the time they signed the deal for his name to be on the car, so the only way he’d agree is if they paid him up front in cash. It was in no way a tribute for Frank. The company was almost bankrupt when Iacocca secured the govt loans. He was not interested in special bonds with entertainers. Iacocca was too busy figuring out how to turn the company around to hob nob with Frankie much when this deal was signed.
@@joe6096 Interesting , that it is usually about the money and not as much about friendship. Ford made a Jack Nickolus Edition Lincoln., do you if that too was a cash deal for Nickolus ?
@@UfoDan100 I don't know about that, but I can assure you Ford was in much better financial shape when Nicklaus signed his deal than when Sinatra did his. Chrysler was literally about to go bankrupt from 1979-82. Things only started turning around when Iacocca got all the layoffs and cuts done and they started moving forward with the K-Car.
"Tires are new but 10 years old". My Mustang GT with 23k original miles still wears its original tires with good tread remaining. My '06 Ranger 4WD still wears its original tires with good tread at 35k miles on the odo.
Hi Stuart this was about 4-5 years ago so I don't recall the amount exactly but I think it was around $3500 (I got less for it than I paid for the paint job I remember that much!).
Exactly! Which do you prefer? I always liked the Seville (never had one but they seemed to be a lot more plentiful than the Imperial). I personally like them both!
Nice car. I have a tip & a question. Tip: I have developed a remedy for the warped dash pad syndrome. Question: I had an 81 FS Imperial and thinking of getting another Imperial in the future, what is the average price for having the headliner & pillars recovered... and how easy is it for upholsterers to find material that matches these unique interiors? Thnx, Terry
+Terrence Gold The color match is a nightmare. I tried to match it myself, unsuccessfully, probably 10-12 times. Finally took it to my upholstery guy and he did a decent match. Runs around $500 including doing the sail panels
I think they came w/the electronic fuel injected 318 small block, which they had major pronlems with, so much so that the factory actually offered carb conversion kits but only to the original owners. Other than that theyre great cars & considered a rare collecters itwm.
My grandfather had one of these in mint condition in 2000 he always kept in the garage as did the original owner. He loved it and had always had lincolns and caddilacs before. I think the uniqueness and smooth ride is why he liked it so well. Im not sure if he had a carb or fuel injection but never had a problem with it.
Hello There Keith,
I now own this car. I recently bought it in Pennsylvania. Your video was extremely helpful in my decision making. Thank you
Gabe that's awesome! I really hope you enjoy it, the fellow I sold it to did live in PA but I lost his info over the years. If you ever decide to sell it, let me know, but until then enjoy the heck out of it!
@@keithroberts9869 If you give me your email, I will keep it in my files for if I ever decide to sell it. Thank you for the kind words.
@@gabef2760 Thanks Gabe you can reach me at carsofchaos@gmail.com hope you are enjoying the car!
Beautiful car, definitely one of the best looking cars from the '80s. I remember seeing one as a kid (black) and remember thinking how futuristic it looked - reminded me of Darth Vader's helmet. I've heard some older luxury car owners mention that these gave a particularly smooth ride, though I have never ridden in one.
Thanks guys for all the nice comments about the 82 Imperial! I sold this about a year ago to a gentleman in Pennsylvania.
A doll up Cordoba, issues with fuel injection. But, it was beautiful, & it floated down the road.
I prefer the Corboba due to its fine Corinthian leather.
I shooby dooby do like it!!
I am looking at buying myself a 1982 Chrysler Imperial frank Sinatra Edition. Once I get my learning permit, it seems like a very nice sedan and I'd like to buy one.
those are VFDs, not LCDs. Vacuum Fluorescent Display, as opposed to Liquid Crystal Display, Corvette and Allante were the only two cars that had LCDs, and you can tell right away.
Btw the headlight doors are electrically operated.
+Terrence Gold Yup found that out after I made the vid....all other cars I'd had with hidden headlights were vacuum operated, so I assumed........
wow, what a sweet ride!
Sorry to disagree with you, but the hesdlamp doors are electric.
I serviced these when they were new.
I test drove an IMPERIAL brand new, BUT, changed my mind due to many people informing about the problematic of the FUEL INJECTION. Back then, I traveled alot, man was I disappointed. It's a BEAUTIFUL car. Then, Chrysler gave up repairing & decided to replace it with a 2bbl carb. It should have been @least 4bbl. Plus a 318cid, a 360 should have been the standard engine for a Classy, personal luxury coupe.
318cid were for commercial purpose vehicles. . The luxury car manufacturers were still installing bigger engines than on the regular cars, it was part of the luxury.
They really should have allowed a 360ci to be had in these cars, but at the time those were reserved for police cars. I have seen 1 or 2 Imperials retrofitted with a 360ci so it's definitely possible to do.
The 1981- 1983 Imperial did not have vacuum hidden head
Light doors. In fact the head light doors worked with an electrical motor I know because I had a 1883 imperial and had to replace the head light door motor
An *1883* Imperial?! I'm sure that was a typo! (1/24/2021)
I recall this Imperial was not favored as much as the other bustle backs from Cadillac & Lincoln. Because of its Cordoba underpinnings.
But Chrysler was strapped for cash and I think the objective for Lee and old blue eyes was to try save a car company and jobs.
Great stuff , that Lee Iacocca did as part of the WW ll generation. Those guys had a special bond with each other that shows 40 years after WW ll when this car was made as a tribute to Frank Sinatra for his entertainment music he and the big bands did to boost the moral for G.I.'s fighting the battles from 1941 to 1945.
Sinatra demanded Chrysler pay him up front, in cash, for this promotional deal. His accountants knew Chrysler was hemorrhaging money at the time they signed the deal for his name to be on the car, so the only way he’d agree is if they paid him up front in cash. It was in no way a tribute for Frank. The company was almost bankrupt when Iacocca secured the govt loans. He was not interested in special bonds with entertainers. Iacocca was too busy figuring out how to turn the company around to hob nob with Frankie much when this deal was signed.
@@joe6096 Interesting , that it is usually about the money and not as much about friendship. Ford made a Jack Nickolus Edition Lincoln., do you if that too was a cash deal for Nickolus ?
@@UfoDan100 I don't know about that, but I can assure you Ford was in much better financial shape when Nicklaus signed his deal than when Sinatra did his. Chrysler was literally about to go bankrupt from 1979-82. Things only started turning around when Iacocca got all the layoffs and cuts done and they started moving forward with the K-Car.
"Tires are new but 10 years old". My Mustang GT with 23k original miles still wears its original tires with good tread remaining. My '06 Ranger 4WD still wears its original tires with good tread at 35k miles on the odo.
Had new in 1981. Lot of issues with fuel injection system. I trade the car after only a year on GM Cadillac Seville.
Thanks for the video, really well done. Would you mind telling us how much you sold it for?
Hi Stuart this was about 4-5 years ago so I don't recall the amount exactly but I think it was around $3500 (I got less for it than I paid for the paint job I remember that much!).
I know this is a long shot but do you still have this car. If so would you be willing to sell it
Sorry man I sold this back in 2015 I was in touch with the guy who bought it for awhile but haven't heard from him in a few years now.
Big Keith,, show us a video of the Lincoln Towncar, Jack Nicolaus Edition !
The closest thing I had to that would be my Lincoln Versailles. A Jack Nicolaus Edition Towncar would be cool to create though
Que lindo,tengo uno igual a restaurar
Is car still available? Cost? Jim Lane Loudon TN
the Chrysler...."Seville."
Exactly! Which do you prefer? I always liked the Seville (never had one but they seemed to be a lot more plentiful than the Imperial). I personally like them both!
@@sleebbie Have you forgotten the frog-back Riv?.....
Nice car. I have a tip & a question.
Tip: I have developed a remedy for the warped dash pad syndrome.
Question: I had an 81 FS Imperial and thinking of getting another Imperial in the future, what is the average price for having the headliner & pillars recovered... and how easy is it for upholsterers to find material that matches these unique interiors?
Thnx, Terry
+Terrence Gold The color match is a nightmare. I tried to match it myself, unsuccessfully, probably 10-12 times. Finally took it to my upholstery guy and he did a decent match. Runs around $500 including doing the sail panels
Keith Roberts sounds about right. I can see that sky blue being difficult. I wonder if a charcoal or Navy color would suit.
all that shaking ....... uff.... really taking away from the enjoyment
It’s actually an LED screen, not LCD.
r u serious led wasn't a thing partna
Liquid Crystal Display, not whatever the hell LED stands for. (Lol)
Did this car have all of the 8-track cassettes that came as standard equipment?
Hi Graham it had all but one of the 8 track cassettes still with the car. I forget which one was missing at this point.
It came with cassette tapes which are 4 track. 8 track tape cartridges were on the way out by this time.
Probably a Wiseguys car . Fogetaboutit
What's the price
This was back in 2015, I think I told it for around $2,800...I remember thinking that the sale price only covered the cost of having it painted!
So did you end up selling it?
Regrettably I did, but it was actually to the guy who designed the interior of these cars, so that's kinda cool
Chrome tape on the Frank Sinatra? Fucking garbage.
wow I seriously give you a lot of respect for keeping that awful monstrosity looking as good as it does. It's so ghastly and ugly that it's beautiful!
I believe I dated a girl in high school that fit that same description!
@@sleebbie I dated a girl in high school that had a scoliosis brace and an orthodontic brace at the same time. It was like dating scafolding,.
What engine is it.
Ekaterina Roberts Oh ok thanks man. It's a big car for Mr.B.
I think they came w/the electronic fuel injected 318 small block, which they had major pronlems with, so much so that the factory actually offered carb conversion kits but only to the original owners. Other than that theyre great cars & considered a rare collecters itwm.
They mostly came with 318 you could order a 360.
How many bodies fit in the trunk?
The most I ever got in there at one time was 8, but if I tried really hard I'm sure I could get a few more in there.
@@sleebbie lol. That means Franks friends were asked to weigh in on the design. :)