I donated a '65 Imperial to a friend for a demolition derby (back before they were banned). It came in 2nd only because it overheated... But I think you missed a VERY important reason these cars were such champs; that is the sheet metal was incredibly heavy gauge. I Don't know exactly what gauge it was, but they were absolute tanks! Knock on one of these Imperials and it sounds like your thumping a battle ship, not an old car!
I proudly own and drive a 1964 and 1966 imperial. One was my mother’s, the 66. She sold it to a neighbor I was able to buy it back from in 2019. That story is featured in PBS American Portrait. My imperials are both coupes. I love all the different characteristics of each.
We went to demo derbys when I was a kid, before the Imperial was banned. Looking back after a few years, it was obvious. A guy near here, Randy Fendricks, had an Imperial that showed up at the end of the summer, after already using it in several derbys. The skin, the body all around the car already looked tough, almost shredded, compared to most other cars at beginning. At the end of the night after several heats, his car looked the same😂, and he won the finals. My dad explained the Imperial frame to me.
Adam's right, I think the big old station wagons were seen as a good option for a guy looking to enter a demo derby. We saw a lot of those back then at the county demo derbys. But, I agree with the many comments here, by the time I was 18 or 19, I had such an appreciation for all classic American automobiles and wished no more of them were being needlessly destroyed. Not that I attended derbys anymore, but I knew a few local guys that entered many every summer for a long time, I started hoping the derbys would just be Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi etc. and "Save Them All" (like cat/dog rescuers)😁 should be adopted for all American cars regardless of year or condition, you never if someone would have a use for it, once it's gone it's gone.
The '64 Imperial was the 1st car to use structural adhesives. The car has door beams glued to door skins and beams that run from the rear wheelwells to the tail panel are glued to the quarter panels, mainly for rigidity and eliminate vibration noise. I have a Crown Coupe in Rosewood color.
Why, you don't like a huge TV in the middle of the dash to distract you?;) What if you need to adjust your A/C or lock the doors? You mean you want to use physical buttons for that?!🤣🤣🤣
My grandparents had a '66. I never saw it because in 1967 it saved their lives in a mountain 2-lane highway front end crash. From around a bend, someone came at them fully in their lane in a Mustang. Both occupants of the Mustang perished immediately in the crash. My grandparents walked away, but their Imperial was totaled. They replaced it with a '67 which was handed over to me in '99 and I have it to this day. I have kind of always wished it was their '66, though.
I ran a 65 imperial as a derby car in the 90s in Portland at Portland speedway. won one but broke an axle in another. We won the class championship because of that car. It was epic watching guys bounce off the car when they hit it. Good times.
From 5 on I loved cars so much that I never understood the demolition derby mindset. Sure I enjoyed amusement park bumper cars, tv/movie chase scenes and crashes, like Bullitt and Speed Racer, but just destroying a car for kicks never resonated with me. If a villain was behind the wheel, ok. When I saw the Continental being crushed in the 007 classic, Goldfinger, I was pissed for d-a-y-s. 1964-'66 Imperials are so impressive, I dont think I'd ever recover from seeing one hit, even if it survived 🥴. I know, I'm car crazy...😆
The '64-66 Imperial was actually a Thunderbird/Continental design proposal but Ford liked the other design so much it became the Continental. Thankfully, this design was produced as the Imperial with a few tweaks to fit in the existing glass, door openings and other features. One of my favorite cars, I even owned a small scale diecast one as a kid. If I hit the lottery, this will be at the top of my list of classics to purchase.
Very cool! Even though I'm a Lincoln guy, I like the Imperial. The luxury cars of the 60's were just excellent vehicles and really good looking. It's too bad that the Imperials were used in the derbies, but I'm sure that it was a very small percentage of those manufactured and nobody even thought of future value back then. An excellent video, as always.
@ns8553 I'm talking full-size class. Action Auto Promotions did not allow Pacers in thier "Metric" class, which was thier 1977-newer full-size class. A rust free Pacer will knock the shit out of any full-size metric Ford or GM in stock form.
@johneckert1365 no, no it won't. I've ran Pacers, stock and modified as well as plenty of 80s and newer chain classes. Like I said, Pacers are great for compacts, no match for the mass of a fullsize.
One more advantage was the location of the distributor on big block Chrysler engines. Notice that the front mounted distributor is canted at an angle and buried behind some hoses and brackets, protecting it from damage in front end collisions. One reason why Cadillac and Lincoln didn't always fare well in demo derbies was that the front mounted distributors on those engines were mounted fairly forward and easily sheared off.
Love these cars, specifically of the this time period. I had a '70 gran fury3 four door with a tow package and it was so big and heavy that I sometimes ran into things like dumpsters or other cars and it barely effected the car at all. I once backed a Nova out of its parking space when they had taken up two spaces. Even with the big block there was a good foot between the engine and the bumper. And in '92 I did get a note and business card put on my windshield offering to buy it for derby use. I was half proud that they thought it to be a strong car but a little embarrassed that they thought it was in rough enough shape that I would want to sell it for that. I love that you post about all cars and not just muscle cars. Keep it up!
I remember going to the demolition derby at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds in the summer of 1982. There were a few elimination rounds a last chance round and then the main event. I remember the Imperials wreaked havoc on anything that got in their and clawed their way to the top. When the time came for the main event there were only six cars left and they were all Imperials. What was amazing is that when the Imperials all came in, from the stands, they all still looked relatively unscathed despite each of them having destroyed several other cars. It was a long and loud main event till finally only one imperial remains standing. About 5 years later I came back to the same fairgrounds for another demolition derby but by then Imperials had been banned. Since Imperials were fairly low production, it would be interesting to know just what percentage of Imperials of that vintage had been sacrificed for demolition derbys. I'm going to guess that it was well into the double digits, but it's impossible to know.
Nice to see that I'm not the only one that gets nauseous - destroying a beautiful car which there were very few of even when new just for sum jive prize money! I actually stopped going to demo derbys because it would stress me out watching cars like these getting destroyed.
@@TomSnyder-gx5ru try to keep in mind, many of these cars would've ended up at junkyards and then go to the shredder to be recycled. Yes, some cars were too nice to smash, and that sucks, but to be fair, someone else should've bought those cars then and restored them. Demo Derbies are fun, and I can admit, I wrecked a few cars I wish I hadn't, including a very solid 68 New Yorker. Don't forget that many nice cars also got/get sacrificed to stock car racing too. The 71-76 GM wagons that are demo derby favorites were also sacrificed for thier frames to build early "modified" class dirt track cars. The rules demanded full frame cars and stock style suspension. Leaf springs were preferred back then, and the only full framed cars with leaf springs was those wagons. 55-57 Chevy frames were sometimes used, but the front suspension kinda sucked. Same with 57-59 & 60-64 Fords. 71-76 GM wagons was the ticket!
So ironic that Imperials were almost always #3 among the Big Three luxury cars in sales, but #1 among demo derby warriors. That makes ANY '64-'66 Imperial truly rare indeed...
...I've owned '61 and '64 Imperials....the '61 got more looks, but the '64 was a fine car as well....thanks Adam for bringing back some fond memories.....
My grandpa has one of these, sadly the original engine kicked the bucket decades ago and the car is a bit rough looking. It has been swapped with a dodge v8 engine. He got rear ended by a dui driver in a pickup truck who was going somewhere around 40 mph. He was fine and the car came out with only a broken tail lamp and a bent trunk lid. Very tough car!
Great video Adam.On the island there is a gentleman that owns a 66 Imperial convertible.Starmist blue with black leather and a black top.I have had the opportunity to drive this car 3 or 4 times.Arguably the smoothest,quietest, vehicle I have ever driven.What a joy to drive.Its perfect numbers matching.He keeps it in impeccable condition. Here in Eulethra the population is 11,000 people and there are a number of collector cars..I myself on a 73 Cougar XR-7 convertible and a 77 Trans am.We love our cars and have a car show twice a year in Governors Harbor,the municipal seat of Eulethra. Again great video and as always cheers from Eulethra.
More or less every weekend in the 70's as a kid I enjoyed watching demolition derbies on ABC wide world of sports. Sure miss watching those big cars taking on pounding.
The irony of, nowadays, there being a shortage of suitable cars for demo derbies, when demo derbies of the past are at least partially responsible for the shortage of suitable nice old boats these days too!
The father of a friend of mine had the '66 Crown Coupe, green with black vinyl roof and black leather interior. I rode in it many times. I'm sure it was mostly illusion, but the interior seemed cavernous to me compared to my parents' '66 Bonneville. It was huge and very quiet. For a coupe the amount of leg room for me, a boy in junior high, was so spacious. I'll never forget my disappointment at Chrysler making the '67 Imp into just a New Yorker with a stretched hood.
1:23 this Imperial was for sale forever at a Nissan dealer in Tacoma. Failed BAT auction too. When I checked it out at the dealer, brakes were inop! Pedal to the floor. Engine would not build cooling system pressure. Quite a bit of bondo but top coat first class. Amazingly upholstery job. Tons of receipts going back to 80’s. Strange engine build - had a roller cam. Too much duration as needed a vacuum reservoir. Somebody finally bought it. Posted for help on repairs to the the Budd calipers. Then put it up for sale pretty soon after. A nice car to look at but too many unique to Imperial systems that do not have any meaningful aftermarket support as the cars sold poorly and many died with the OPEC situation. Harvested for the 440/727/8 3/4.
Interesting. And sad. But it's not that hard to figure things out on a '60s Imperial. Most people should stick to small block Chevy powered vintage cars I guess. Sad...
I'm interested in how it got the red paint color, I don't believe it was a choice at the time....maybe special ordered or a repaint. Or maybe it's just the lighting in the photo. I"ve loved these since I was a kid and our neighbor's rich in-laws drove '64 Crown 4-dr in Nassau Blue. @Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History I am surprised you don't own one of these luxurious, well-handling Imperials.
Even as a kid, I knew the value of most of these cars in at least for valuable parts. I was horrified seeing '50's, '60's and '70's Imperials, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Thunderbirds, Etc. being destroyed. I NEVER attended these horrific events as a teenager in the mid-'70's, or even as a kid if the '60's. Makes me sick. My father felt the same way. I never understood this barbaric treatment of old cars when I knew some poor soul needed a part that was rare for their classic car.
I find these some of the most magnificent cars of all time, especially the '64 with that split grille. Wanted a '64 Crown Coupe or convertible from when I was a child.
Hey Pal always enjoy your videos. However, the 64 - 65 Imperials had 413 rated at 340 hp 470 torque. The 66 had the 440 rated at 350hp 480 torque. My dad had one of each and it was a great car. I had one as a collector but due to medical issues had to sell it.
Great video. A couple of minor points: (1) The 440 was only on ‘66 (but your assessments apply to the 413 too); (2) while the last body on frame imperials can attract a buyer based on that, it’s important to keep in mind that the cost of restoration, repair, and maintenance are materially higher for pre-67 Imperials. Most parts are harder to source and more expensive than the C body imperials like my 68 or your 70s Imperials. Not a reason to avoid them, but just to be aware that low pre-67 purchase cost can be a trap unless a person has time and money -or both, without which the risk is a large paperweight project forever unmoved in the garage. As always, great content Adam!
Great in-depth video! I own a '65 Crown Coupe. The '64 and '65 models came with the 413. Only the '66 had the 440 V8. Also, these are beautiful cars. My '65 interior is all leather with a real walnut dash and trim. LOL! Sorry at 9:50 those are not original seat covers. Too much of a fan not to notice.
Chrysler introduced the 904 Torqueflite pushbutton automatic with a commercial showing the car going forward at 60 mph. A camera mounted on the right rear fender showed the rolling right rear tire. Then the driver punched reverse and floored it. The rear tire immediately went backwards and burned a bunch of rubber, and made lots of smoke. Purchasers soon tried this on their own new, under warranty cars. Whoda thunk that commercial was not such a good idea.
Modern demo derbies use full size pickup trucks now as the tough vehicles that can hold up pretty well and there's certainly no shortage of those. They are a separate class though.
Can you imagine if the Green Hornet and Batman got into some road rage? The Batmobile would be demolished. And if they got out and it came to fisticuffs, well, Kato was Bruce Lee so.....
Engel did a masterful job indeed, but even more so because, he actually did NOT have a blank canvas. These Imperials carried over their basic structure, including cowl, dating back to 1957. The giveaway is the wraparound windshield, which was not in harmony with the rest of the design. The brand was not selling well enough for Chrysler to justify a whole new platform, and Engel’s priorities were on the volume models anyway.
The Imperials had several other attributes that make them stout. Starting in 1960, Chrysler consider them to be a unibody on a frame. The body was solidly mounted to the frame without rubber. I don't know if they added rubber later like other brands. Also, many years had front end sheetmetal that was welded together in one unit. Made it hard to swap a fender after a collision but made the cars very stiff, especially the ones with the small hatch hoods. Unfortunately Imperials are now allowed in many derbies and there are some really good cars getting smashed. At least some of the derby guys are offering up trim and windows to other people before they smash them.
I had the pleasure of watching team demo derbies at Santa Fe Speedway (located in a southwest suburb of Chicago) back in the mid 70s. Back then there were tons of rusted Imperials you could get dirt cheap because of the 73 gas shortage. Imperials were like tanks, even rusted out! It usually took an onslaught of other Imperials to take one out. And, thanks to that wonderful Chrysler starter, they would almost always restart, even with an overheated engine. And, yes, Imperials were outlawed there, too. PS: some of those teams are still running at Joliet, if I remember correctly. There is a small cable TV channel that features the demos, but I can't remember the name of the channel!
I like the way you think! Massive traction in reverse with front wheel drive. But the rear of those cars fold like a bad poker hand compared to Imperial & others.
@UberLummox Compared to an Imperial, yes Eldos/Tornados weren't all that tough, but going up against the rest of 60's & 70's full-size cars, they were VERY tough, as long as they weren't rusted out too bad.
@richsarchet9762 No they weren't. The only vulnerability was the cv joints. They need steering stops in both directions welded onto the lower control arms so they weren't able to ever turn at an angle sharper than the cv joint can handle. Removing the cv joint boot and welding an outer ring in place is a cheap easy trick to keep them together as well. Now days there's aftermarket cv joints for them specifically for demo derbies (they're not cheap) The 2 actually downfalls of Eldorado/Toronado is how far forward the engines are (not much radiator clearance), and that none of the engines can handle being severely overheated. Caddy's 429 hated running hot, as well as the more modern 472/500/425. Olds 430 wasn't horrible, but thier 455 hated heat as well, and never re-started if it stalled hot. Later Olds 403 was better but the siamezed cylinders burn out head gaskets too easily, similar to a Chevy 400 SB. The only good powerplants to run those cars was to use 455/403 FWD oil pan & accessories on an Olds 350. Those ran good hot and were tough as nails. A 307 was alright too but no power. Even an Olds 350 diesel is a good alternative, but the lack of power sucks. 78-down Toronados & Eldorados are great derby cars, they just require a little more work and know how. They're just as strong as 71-76 full-size GM RWD cars, not counting wagons.
Another perfect topic! How do you think of these things, Adam? It's like you're reading our mind, even before it comes to our mind! Thank you! Greg, in California
I love Lee Marvin's test drive of the 67 Imperial convertible in Point Blank. Takes on a bridge support pillar and there's no way that damage got to the radiator.
@@arise2945 I just watched that OnDemand... My God, that scene was like an automotive snuff film! And in the IMDb trivia, someone claimed there were only 577 Crown convertibles built that year!!! Arghhhhh 😭
The 1964 through ‘66 Imperials were such a beautiful design inside and out. It’s amazing what Elwood Engle and his design team did with the 1957 platform. The wraparound windshield dating back to 1957 was apparently the only major exterior portion he was unable to change due to cost constraints.
Miss my black '64 4dr hdtp. Then again, I miss my '68 Imperial just as much if not more. I found the '67/8 Imps to have all the quality & style inside & out as the previous generation.
This is an interesting episode in that it is unusual that it depicts a vehicle made popular for unconventional reasons. I hope there's more like it. I know one from the top of my mind is the Australian Falcon Station Wagon. Because it had leaf springs all the way through from the 1960s to the 2010s, and that it had a low clearance compared to other utility vehicles, and yet it was fully enclosed... the national telecom company (Telstra) had a large place for these vehicles as they could access low clearance areas like underneath buildings, and could carry heavy weight like cable and tools (and could be fitted with heavy duty 1 tonne springs). A completely unique design in the later decades.
I have always appreciated the less is more elegant styling of the mid century modern luxury cars of the '60's. As a middle aged man I can't understand why the Imperial didn't sell better. In my opinion these cars were slightly better than the competition. They ooze quality. Stylingwise my favorite of the '60's Imperials are the '67-68's. In some cases I find the Exner era styling a little too over the top but elegant none the less. The Fuselage style cars are also appealing. My father had a '73 LeBaron two door. Fantastic road car!
Right on. I found my '68 to be a bit more appealing than my '64. (Just now finally sold my black '71 Coupe) The overall quality was just as good. It was a "lowly Chrysler" in inner body stampings only. Most everything else was as good or better than the '64-'66s and miles better than a '67 or newer Cadillac. And I love pre-'67 Cadillacs. Had 5 of them.
Part of the problem with the Imperial had to be the dealerships. At least here in Texas at the time, Cadillac dealers treated their customers so well compared to 'normal' dealerships, considering that treatment as part of the whole owner experience. I'm not saying that Chrysler/Plymouth dealers treated Imperial owners badly, but certainly they didn't match the Cadillac level of courtesy.
@@loveisall5520 You might really be onto something with that. Caddy dealerships may have included maybe Oldsmobiles & GMC trucks, but CADILLAC was always the prominent wording on the dealership, and the building itself would often have a real mid-century modern look. Whereas I don't recall any special Imperial-specific dealership buildings at all. And I think the Imperial brand would be second or third, like a Chrysler Plymouth & Dodge Trucks line-up maybe. Chrysler knew their place though. Lincoln as well. Knowing there was no competing with Cadillac for name recognition & mass appeal styling. Imperial was more the thinking man's car. 👍
@@loveisall5520 I agree with you assessment. I worked at a Cadillac exclusive dealership in the early '80's. How the clientele is treated plays into the ownership experience.
The parents of a friend of mine had a 1966 Imperial Crown Coupe', which I rode in several times, but drove only once. The interior quality was the best of its era, bar none. As for driving it, the Imperial was like a locomotive. It was not the quickest off the line, but once underway, it just kept going and going. It felt like there was no limit to its power.
I can personally attest to the dominance of those early 60’s imperials in the demo derby ring It was in the early 80’s and myself and some friends were in attendance at a derby contest in San Jose California One that day there were what would now be considered classic cars at the time classified as Jalopy’s in the Derby world battling it out in the arena and this contest was very intense in comparison to others I had attended, there were a couple of drivers that were being overly competitive in this event and I can clearly remember that one of them was in a mid 60’s Imperial This thing went on longer than any other Derby I had previously attended and as clear as it was happening today, it was at the end of the bout and there was the two vehicles left standing, and it was that Imperial and the other was one of those big T birds from the late 60’s The final blow was when the T bird and the Imperial went head on into each other as the did in those days, and the impact of that collision combined with the excitement in that arena When the two cars impacted there was a huge backfire that could be heard throughout the arena and in that moment the hood blew back on the T bird and a smoke ring blew out of the carburetor about 30 feet in the air, and that was it the T bird was done The driver in the Imperial put what was left of her in reverse backed up and started doing doughnuts around all the other disabled cars It was truly a climatic ending to a very enduring contest All of us in attendance went ballistic I can remember the Imperial getting a standing ovation at the end That and other events I attended What memories !!!!!!
@@olmstedfirsttwo-toneavanti4183 Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth did use the same underpinning for that long too, the Forward Look was very expensive for Chrysler to came up with new tooling so they had to use what they had in hand.
@@UberLummoxthey were. 64-66 had a little bit stronger bumpers, but 57-63 were very strong tanks as well. The best combo was to use a convertible frame with a non-convertible body. 💪
@@dustin_4501they really didn't. 1957 is when the Forward look started, and Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth only ran that through 1960. That all changed in 1961 when they switched to unibody, except for Imperial.
Premium gas required, the MPG's were probably below 15 MPG, and probably closer to 10 or 12 MPG. That aside, these cars are superior in quality and style to the stuff people are driving today.
Right on. My first car was to be a 49 Ford 2 door hardtop that my dad bought in the early 80's when i was 12 or so. Flat head V-8 with the 3 deuces and 3 on the tree. Dad brother and I started taking her apart, pulled the engine and sent to machine shop. Body went to restoration and the frame was rotten from Hurricane Betty or some shit. Damn it!!!!
These cars were legendary on the demo derby circuit. A close runner up, unfortunately, was the 1971-76 GM clamshell wagon. How many of those have been lost to demo action I shudder to think.
We love those wagons, but they probably take 3rd place. Unibody Lincoln Continentals (59-68 I believe) are generally accepted as 2nd place. If they aren't rusty, they're damn near as tough as an Imperial.
I used to watch Mythbusters. In one episode they bought an Imperial from this generation, from a collector (that alone blew my mind). Then they drove it into an elevator to re-create a scene from the Green Hornet (which I never saw). The elevator went up and the car, with only half of it in the elevator, was supposed to have gotten chopped in half or something. Well what did happen was that the car was destroyed, and I was just sickened by the whole thing. Anyway, in 1983 I had bought a copy of a small paper called the Want Ad Press, and found a `65 Imperial for sale, so I went to check it out. The guy took me for a ride in it, and it was the quietest car I had ever been in. He was asking something like $850 for it. The only thing was, he had wires running all through the inside of the car, to re-power the power windows. Apparently there was serious damage to the power window wiring where it went in and out of the doors. I ended up not buying it. That was the only Imperial I went to see. Otherwise I may have owned one back then. I'd still love to own one from this generation.
I remember that Mythbusters episode. That was the last time I watched the show. Those idiots destroyed a nice car knowing well that the movie car was rigged to do what it did. They were jerks looking for ratings.
Just read the rules for our fair this week. It indeed says that Imperials are banned. The sad thing is that last year there was a 64 Imperial Crown in the derby. Got 2nd place because it got stuck.
I think that you are missing the best demolition derby vehicle ever. The 1971-1976 GM full sized wagons with the clamshell tailgate. I saw several of these and they were absolutely bulletproof.
I've always preferred the '57-'63 Imperials due to the space-age styling but I have to admit the more subdued and elegant styling of the '64-'66 models has grown on me in recent years. Same body-on-frame chassis across all nine years and the convertibles added heavy X member I-beams for extra stiffening.
I'm old enough to remember when cars like the 1962 Plymouth came, out as well as the 1961 Continental. The former made the Edsels look beautiful. But the latter, changed everything. It was so strikingly unique. One of my favorite cars of all time, is the 1963 Pontiac Grand Priz. I always thought it borrowed heavily from the Continental. Beautiful, simple lines, and minimal 'jewelry' adornment.
I remember an old article I read on Imperial Club Online about a ‘64 Crown that was hacked to bits to improve its quarter mile time. The people who did that, and wrote the article, were inspired by a Hot Rod magazine article that hacked up a ‘70 Coupe deVille for the same reason. The guys with the Crown bought a near-mint 40,000-mile example and trashed the hell out of it. Those images are seared into my memory. Poor car. However, it was in that article I learned how sturdy those old Imperials are. Miles and miles higher quality than the Cadillac.
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The Imperials were gorgeous
I preferred the Cadillac of 1964
_The Imperials were gorgeous_
💯 Agree.
I donated a '65 Imperial to a friend for a demolition derby (back before they were banned). It came in 2nd only because it overheated... But I think you missed a VERY important reason these cars were such champs; that is the sheet metal was incredibly heavy gauge. I Don't know exactly what gauge it was, but they were absolute tanks! Knock on one of these Imperials and it sounds like your thumping a battle ship, not an old car!
I proudly own and drive a 1964 and 1966 imperial. One was my mother’s, the 66. She sold it to a neighbor I was able to buy it back from in 2019. That story is featured in PBS American Portrait. My imperials are both coupes. I love all the different characteristics of each.
Lucky you! I think they're both wonderful automobiles !
Whats the PBS link?
We went to demo derbys when I was a kid, before the Imperial was banned. Looking back after a few years, it was obvious. A guy near here, Randy Fendricks, had an Imperial that showed up at the end of the summer, after already using it in several derbys. The skin, the body all around the car already looked tough, almost shredded, compared to most other cars at beginning. At the end of the night after several heats, his car looked the same😂, and he won the finals. My dad explained the Imperial frame to me.
So Lucky to have gone! I'm a little jealous ;-)
[edit: fix typo]
Adam's right, I think the big old station wagons were seen as a good option for a guy looking to enter a demo derby. We saw a lot of those back then at the county demo derbys. But, I agree with the many comments here, by the time I was 18 or 19, I had such an appreciation for all classic American automobiles and wished no more of them were being needlessly destroyed. Not that I attended derbys anymore, but I knew a few local guys that entered many every summer for a long time, I started hoping the derbys would just be Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi etc. and "Save Them All" (like cat/dog rescuers)😁 should be adopted for all American cars regardless of year or condition, you never if someone would have a use for it, once it's gone it's gone.
64-66 Imperials are some of my favorites of all time.
Yours and the Green Hornet.
Same. Terrific cars
@@dustin_4501 🎯👍👏 100% agree. As a kid I LOVED watching the Green Hornet; AND I LOVE this simple Imperial look.
The '64 Imperial was the 1st car to use structural adhesives. The car has door beams glued to door skins and beams that run from the rear wheelwells to the tail panel are glued to the quarter panels, mainly for rigidity and eliminate vibration noise. I have a Crown Coupe in Rosewood color.
A car without screens makes it refreshing
Why, you don't like a huge TV in the middle of the dash to distract you?;) What if you need to adjust your A/C or lock the doors? You mean you want to use physical buttons for that?!🤣🤣🤣
@@paulparomaYes, yes, and yes!
They did not get the 440 until 1966.The 64-65 had a 413 cid motor.
@@JosephCicilia That 413 wedge was a lot of motor. You didn't miss the extra 27 cubic inches
@@gregt8638 I know.
My grandparents had a '66. I never saw it because in 1967 it saved their lives in a mountain 2-lane highway front end crash. From around a bend, someone came at them fully in their lane in a Mustang. Both occupants of the Mustang perished immediately in the crash. My grandparents walked away, but their Imperial was totaled. They replaced it with a '67 which was handed over to me in '99 and I have it to this day. I have kind of always wished it was their '66, though.
I ran a 65 imperial as a derby car in the 90s in Portland at Portland speedway. won one but broke an axle in another. We won the class championship because of that car. It was epic watching guys bounce off the car when they hit it. Good times.
From 5 on I loved cars so much that I never understood the demolition derby mindset. Sure I enjoyed amusement park bumper cars, tv/movie chase scenes and crashes, like Bullitt and Speed Racer, but just destroying a car for kicks never resonated with me. If a villain was behind the wheel, ok. When I saw the Continental being crushed in the 007 classic, Goldfinger, I was pissed for d-a-y-s. 1964-'66 Imperials are so impressive, I dont think I'd ever recover from seeing one hit, even if it survived 🥴. I know, I'm car crazy...😆
I saw one of these at a car show years ago as a kid and fell in love.
That’s indeed correct!
Because those big Chryslers were virtually unstoppable….they were banned in some derby’s
The '64-66 Imperial was actually a Thunderbird/Continental design proposal but Ford liked the other design so much it became the Continental. Thankfully, this design was produced as the Imperial with a few tweaks to fit in the existing glass, door openings and other features. One of my favorite cars, I even owned a small scale diecast one as a kid. If I hit the lottery, this will be at the top of my list of classics to purchase.
Very cool! Even though I'm a Lincoln guy, I like the Imperial. The luxury cars of the 60's were just excellent vehicles and really good looking. It's too bad that the Imperials were used in the derbies, but I'm sure that it was a very small percentage of those manufactured and nobody even thought of future value back then. An excellent video, as always.
One of the best looking American cars ever offered. I have a 1965 LeBaron Coupe. All original.
Many derby promoters also banned Lincon/Continentals 59-68 unibody cars. Some even banned Pacers. Yes, AMC Pacers. Pacers were CRAZY strong cars.
Pacers were only banned in some compact classes. They are stout little cars but no match for full size.
@ns8553 I'm talking full-size class.
Action Auto Promotions did not allow Pacers in thier "Metric" class, which was thier 1977-newer full-size class.
A rust free Pacer will knock the shit out of any full-size metric Ford or GM in stock form.
@johneckert1365 no, no it won't. I've ran Pacers, stock and modified as well as plenty of 80s and newer chain classes. Like I said, Pacers are great for compacts, no match for the mass of a fullsize.
One more advantage was the location of the distributor on big block Chrysler engines. Notice that the front mounted distributor is canted at an angle and buried behind some hoses and brackets, protecting it from damage in front end collisions. One reason why Cadillac and Lincoln didn't always fare well in demo derbies was that the front mounted distributors on those engines were mounted fairly forward and easily sheared off.
I sure wish we had these cars today. We had it so good for about 25 years 45-60s.. We didnt know how good we had it.
Love these cars, specifically of the this time period. I had a '70 gran fury3 four door with a tow package and it was so big and heavy that I sometimes ran into things like dumpsters or other cars and it barely effected the car at all. I once backed a Nova out of its parking space when they had taken up two spaces. Even with the big block there was a good foot between the engine and the bumper. And in '92 I did get a note and business card put on my windshield offering to buy it for derby use. I was half proud that they thought it to be a strong car but a little embarrassed that they thought it was in rough enough shape that I would want to sell it for that. I love that you post about all cars and not just muscle cars. Keep it up!
I remember going to the demolition derby at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds in the summer of 1982.
There were a few elimination rounds a last chance round and then the main event. I remember the Imperials wreaked havoc on anything that got in their and clawed their way to the top. When the time came for the main event there were only six cars left and they were all Imperials.
What was amazing is that when the Imperials all came in, from the stands, they all still looked relatively unscathed despite each of them having destroyed several other cars.
It was a long and loud main event till finally only one imperial remains standing. About 5 years later I came back to the same fairgrounds for another demolition derby but by then Imperials had been banned.
Since Imperials were fairly low production, it would be interesting to know just what percentage of Imperials of that vintage had been sacrificed for demolition derbys. I'm going to guess that it was well into the double digits, but it's impossible to know.
They look as good today as when they rolled off the assembly line. 1 of my person fav's. Thanx Adam!😀
Just thinking of any Imperial in a demolition derby makes me nauseous
Look online. There are actually "Imperial only" demo derbies around the country. Big money shows 💰💰💰
Nice to see that I'm not the only one that gets nauseous - destroying a beautiful car which there were very few of even when new just for sum jive prize money! I actually stopped going to demo derbys because it would stress me out watching cars like these getting destroyed.
@@TomSnyder-gx5ru try to keep in mind, many of these cars would've ended up at junkyards and then go to the shredder to be recycled. Yes, some cars were too nice to smash, and that sucks, but to be fair, someone else should've bought those cars then and restored them. Demo Derbies are fun, and I can admit, I wrecked a few cars I wish I hadn't, including a very solid 68 New Yorker.
Don't forget that many nice cars also got/get sacrificed to stock car racing too. The 71-76 GM wagons that are demo derby favorites were also sacrificed for thier frames to build early "modified" class dirt track cars. The rules demanded full frame cars and stock style suspension. Leaf springs were preferred back then, and the only full framed cars with leaf springs was those wagons. 55-57 Chevy frames were sometimes used, but the front suspension kinda sucked. Same with 57-59 & 60-64 Fords.
71-76 GM wagons was the ticket!
Same here. I've wanted a 64 to 66 Imperial for ages. Hate seeing seemingly nice ones being sold as demo derby cars on FB marketplace...
Proud American but we have been so very ignorant of what we have and really so wasteful.
Also, the Imperial frame was fully boxed while most other car frames used “C” open one side frames…and GM had their questionable safety X frame.
So ironic that Imperials were almost always #3 among the Big Three luxury cars in sales, but #1 among demo derby warriors. That makes ANY '64-'66 Imperial truly rare indeed...
...I've owned '61 and '64 Imperials....the '61 got more looks, but the '64 was a fine car as well....thanks Adam for bringing back some fond memories.....
Thanks for the video, love the info
Beautiful cars.
My grandpa has one of these, sadly the original engine kicked the bucket decades ago and the car is a bit rough looking. It has been swapped with a dodge v8 engine. He got rear ended by a dui driver in a pickup truck who was going somewhere around 40 mph. He was fine and the car came out with only a broken tail lamp and a bent trunk lid. Very tough car!
Great video Adam.On the island there is a gentleman that owns a 66 Imperial convertible.Starmist blue with black leather and a black top.I have had the opportunity to drive this car 3 or 4 times.Arguably the smoothest,quietest, vehicle I have ever driven.What a joy to drive.Its perfect numbers matching.He keeps it in impeccable condition. Here in Eulethra the population is 11,000 people and there are a number of collector cars..I myself on a 73 Cougar XR-7 convertible and a 77 Trans am.We love our cars and have a car show twice a year in Governors Harbor,the municipal seat of Eulethra. Again great video and as always cheers from Eulethra.
More or less every weekend in the 70's as a kid I enjoyed watching demolition derbies on ABC wide world of sports. Sure miss watching those big cars taking on pounding.
It was a GREAT time to be a kid 🙂
I saw an advertisement for a demo derby once that specifically said no imperials allowed
The irony of, nowadays, there being a shortage of suitable cars for demo derbies, when demo derbies of the past are at least partially responsible for the shortage of suitable nice old boats these days too!
Yep. The imperial was the best choice for the demolition derby so now there are none left.
Demo derbys only used a handful of the millions produced.
A '65 conti is my dream vehicle, no screens, no gps, no way it listens to you. You listen to it purr down the road. BIG is back, baby!
When it comes to luxury, style and prestige, size matters. No SUV has the class that these land yachts have.
The father of a friend of mine had the '66 Crown Coupe, green with black vinyl roof and black leather interior. I rode in it many times. I'm sure it was mostly illusion, but the interior seemed cavernous to me compared to my parents' '66 Bonneville. It was huge and very quiet. For a coupe the amount of leg room for me, a boy in junior high, was so spacious. I'll never forget my disappointment at Chrysler making the '67 Imp into just a New Yorker with a stretched hood.
1:23 this Imperial was for sale forever at a Nissan dealer in Tacoma. Failed BAT auction too. When I checked it out at the dealer, brakes were inop! Pedal to the floor. Engine would not build cooling system pressure. Quite a bit of bondo but top coat first class. Amazingly upholstery job. Tons of receipts going back to 80’s. Strange engine build - had a roller cam. Too much duration as needed a vacuum reservoir. Somebody finally bought it. Posted for help on repairs to the the Budd calipers. Then put it up for sale pretty soon after. A nice car to look at but too many unique to Imperial systems that do not have any meaningful aftermarket support as the cars sold poorly and many died with the OPEC situation. Harvested for the 440/727/8 3/4.
Interesting. And sad. But it's not that hard to figure things out on a '60s Imperial.
Most people should stick to small block Chevy powered vintage cars I guess.
Sad...
I'm interested in how it got the red paint color, I don't believe it was a choice at the time....maybe special ordered or a repaint. Or maybe it's just the lighting in the photo.
I"ve loved these since I was a kid and our neighbor's rich in-laws drove '64 Crown 4-dr in Nassau Blue.
@Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History I am surprised you don't own one of these luxurious, well-handling Imperials.
My very first car...Persian White with red leather Crown. Indesctructible!
I have a 66 Persian white on red crown coupe. The best color combo I believe.
@@boothunterexploringtheworl6146 it is! awesome. I miss it - hope you enjoy yours a long time.
I currently own a Persian white 64 crown with a pearl white interior with red accents
Imperial was a beautiful car
Even as a kid, I knew the value of most of these cars in at least for valuable parts. I was horrified seeing '50's, '60's and '70's Imperials, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Thunderbirds, Etc. being destroyed. I NEVER attended these horrific events as a teenager in the mid-'70's, or even as a kid if the '60's. Makes me sick. My father felt the same way. I never understood this barbaric treatment of old cars when I knew some poor soul needed a part that was rare for their classic car.
I find these some of the most magnificent cars of all time, especially the '64 with that split grille. Wanted a '64 Crown Coupe or convertible from when I was a child.
Hey Pal always enjoy your videos. However, the 64 - 65 Imperials had 413 rated at 340 hp 470 torque. The 66 had the 440 rated at 350hp 480 torque. My dad had one of each and it was a great car. I had one as a collector but due to medical issues had to sell it.
If that generation Imperial was good enough for the Green Hornet and Kato, it was good enough for demolition derbies!
👏👏👏
The 1964 Imperial was the most attractive of this series. Clean lines that exuded luxury.
Adam, This just goes to show that a real land yacht needs a full frame underneath. 😉
Yep. Beautiful vehicles. Thanks. I'm so glad you post these and all the rest. So far I only have 312 on my wish list. Must. Win. Lottery.
Great video. A couple of minor points: (1) The 440 was only on ‘66 (but your assessments apply to the 413 too); (2) while the last body on frame imperials can attract a buyer based on that, it’s important to keep in mind that the cost of restoration, repair, and maintenance are materially higher for pre-67 Imperials. Most parts are harder to source and more expensive than the C body imperials like my 68 or your 70s Imperials. Not a reason to avoid them, but just to be aware that low pre-67 purchase cost can be a trap unless a person has time and money -or both, without which the risk is a large paperweight project forever unmoved in the garage. As always, great content Adam!
You’re right. Mental slip on the 440
I'll concur. 65 New Yorker is my knowledge base. 413 standard (last year), column shift (first year), unibody.
Thank goodness you’re back! I was having withdrawal symptoms and going back and re-watching older ones.
Great in-depth video! I own a '65 Crown Coupe. The '64 and '65 models came with the 413. Only the '66 had the 440 V8.
Also, these are beautiful cars. My '65 interior is all leather with a real walnut dash and trim. LOL! Sorry at 9:50 those are not original seat covers. Too much of a fan not to notice.
Emailed you an interior shot of my 1965 interior. Feel free to use it!
Slight correction
The 1964 & 1965 have 413 V8s. The 440 V8 was new for 1966.
I completely agree with and appreciate your in-depth review of this significant Chrysler, Adam.
Chrysler introduced the 904 Torqueflite pushbutton automatic with a commercial showing the car going forward at 60 mph. A camera mounted on the right rear fender showed the rolling right rear tire. Then the driver punched reverse and floored it. The rear tire immediately went backwards and burned a bunch of rubber, and made lots of smoke. Purchasers soon tried this on their own new, under warranty cars. Whoda thunk that commercial was not such a good idea.
The Imperial engine for 1964 and 1965 was the 413. The 440 came out for the 1966 model year
There's a '65 Coupe for sale near me in beautiful condition. Asking price is 17,000 euros. That's not too bad for northern Europe.
To my mind, peak American luxury car.
Modern demo derbies use full size pickup trucks now as the tough vehicles that can hold up pretty well and there's certainly no shortage of those. They are a separate class though.
That red "Don Draper" convertible just oozes you've arrived.
I have a 1960, the frame is built heavier than a lot of trucks I’ve seen.
1:43 Dang, that's a NICE looking car. Complete ELEGANCE (in my view).
Can you imagine if the Green Hornet and Batman got into some road rage? The Batmobile would be demolished. And if they got out and it came to fisticuffs, well, Kato was Bruce Lee so.....
Adam is always a great presenter
Engel did a masterful job indeed, but even more so because, he actually did NOT have a blank canvas. These Imperials carried over their basic structure, including cowl, dating back to 1957. The giveaway is the wraparound windshield, which was not in harmony with the rest of the design. The brand was not selling well enough for Chrysler to justify a whole new platform, and Engel’s priorities were on the volume models anyway.
The Imperials had several other attributes that make them stout. Starting in 1960, Chrysler consider them to be a unibody on a frame. The body was solidly mounted to the frame without rubber. I don't know if they added rubber later like other brands. Also, many years had front end sheetmetal that was welded together in one unit. Made it hard to swap a fender after a collision but made the cars very stiff, especially the ones with the small hatch hoods. Unfortunately Imperials are now allowed in many derbies and there are some really good cars getting smashed. At least some of the derby guys are offering up trim and windows to other people before they smash them.
In that first photo, its funny to see a Neon and what looked like a Civic. Never knew they were using these types of cars in derbys.
I've always appreciated these cars greatly. Another great episode, Adam! (And I'd love to see you do an episode on the '67 and '68s as well someday.)
Great looking, durable. A winner.
I had the pleasure of watching team demo derbies at Santa Fe Speedway (located in a southwest suburb of Chicago) back in the mid 70s. Back then there were tons of rusted Imperials you could get dirt cheap because of the 73 gas shortage. Imperials were like tanks, even rusted out! It usually took an onslaught of other Imperials to take one out. And, thanks to that wonderful Chrysler starter, they would almost always restart, even with an overheated engine. And, yes, Imperials were outlawed there, too.
PS: some of those teams are still running at Joliet, if I remember correctly. There is a small cable TV channel that features the demos, but I can't remember the name of the channel!
Imagine a '67 Eldorado in reverse with the can opener rear bumper. Deadly!
@@stevendaleschmitt You can only imagine something like that, nowadays this would never be allowed.
I like the way you think! Massive traction in reverse with front wheel drive.
But the rear of those cars fold like a bad poker hand compared to Imperial & others.
@UberLummox Compared to an Imperial, yes Eldos/Tornados weren't all that tough, but going up against the rest of 60's & 70's full-size cars, they were VERY tough, as long as they weren't rusted out too bad.
Tornados front axel was essentially glass in a derby, one hit on a front wheel and they were dead in the water.
@richsarchet9762 No they weren't. The only vulnerability was the cv joints. They need steering stops in both directions welded onto the lower control arms so they weren't able to ever turn at an angle sharper than the cv joint can handle.
Removing the cv joint boot and welding an outer ring in place is a cheap easy trick to keep them together as well. Now days there's aftermarket cv joints for them specifically for demo derbies (they're not cheap)
The 2 actually downfalls of Eldorado/Toronado is how far forward the engines are (not much radiator clearance), and that none of the engines can handle being severely overheated. Caddy's 429 hated running hot, as well as the more modern 472/500/425. Olds 430 wasn't horrible, but thier 455 hated heat as well, and never re-started if it stalled hot. Later Olds 403 was better but the siamezed cylinders burn out head gaskets too easily, similar to a Chevy 400 SB. The only good powerplants to run those cars was to use 455/403 FWD oil pan & accessories on an Olds 350. Those ran good hot and were tough as nails. A 307 was alright too but no power. Even an Olds 350 diesel is a good alternative, but the lack of power sucks.
78-down Toronados & Eldorados are great derby cars, they just require a little more work and know how. They're just as strong as 71-76 full-size GM RWD cars, not counting wagons.
3:40 AND, my favorite design, remains the '61 Continental.
I guess I like that simple, understated elegance look.
Another perfect topic! How do you think of these things, Adam? It's like you're reading our mind, even before it comes to our mind! Thank you! Greg, in California
Thanks so much for your extremely detailed knowledge. What a drastic difference from today's Stellantis
The 62 Plymouth is a beauty
1964/65/66 Imperial Tank.
A division of Chrysler Corporation.
I believe that Chrysler did have a defense division. Perhaps the Imperial was part of that?
@@martinliehs2513 Luxury and heavy artillery division...
@@dustin_4501 😃
lets say, the 62 Plymouth has a facia only a mother can love😉
Still love that 67 Imperial from the movie, Charley Varrick!
I love the color scheme on Joe Don's car, but I always feel sorry for Charley's '71 Continental... 😢
I love Lee Marvin's test drive of the 67 Imperial convertible in Point Blank. Takes on a bridge support pillar and there's no way that damage got to the radiator.
@@arise2945 I just watched that OnDemand... My God, that scene was like an automotive snuff film! And in the IMDb trivia, someone claimed there were only 577 Crown convertibles built that year!!! Arghhhhh 😭
The 1964 through ‘66 Imperials were such a beautiful design inside and out. It’s amazing what Elwood Engle and his design team did with the 1957 platform. The wraparound windshield dating back to 1957 was apparently the only major exterior portion he was unable to change due to cost constraints.
Mr Drysdale drove these 64'66 era Imperials on The Beverly Hillbillies. Miss Hathaway I wanna say a Dodge convertible.
I was 5-6 years old when this was built. My Dad was a Mopar guy and I vaguely remember going to the demolition derby and rooting for the Chryslers
Miss my black '64 4dr hdtp. Then again, I miss my '68 Imperial just as much if not more.
I found the '67/8 Imps to have all the quality & style inside & out as the previous generation.
What a shame so many were trashed in demo derbies. Those were nice cars!
Actually a 413 cu inch displacement engine was in the 64 and 65
440 wasnt even out yet.
64-66 Imperials timeless streamliner design, still fresh.
This is an interesting episode in that it is unusual that it depicts a vehicle made popular for unconventional reasons. I hope there's more like it.
I know one from the top of my mind is the Australian Falcon Station Wagon. Because it had leaf springs all the way through from the 1960s to the 2010s, and that it had a low clearance compared to other utility vehicles, and yet it was fully enclosed... the national telecom company (Telstra) had a large place for these vehicles as they could access low clearance areas like underneath buildings, and could carry heavy weight like cable and tools (and could be fitted with heavy duty 1 tonne springs). A completely unique design in the later decades.
I have always appreciated the less is more elegant styling of the mid century modern luxury cars of the '60's. As a middle aged man I can't understand why the Imperial didn't sell better. In my opinion these cars were slightly better than the competition. They ooze quality.
Stylingwise my favorite of the '60's Imperials are the '67-68's. In some cases I find the Exner era styling a little too over the top but elegant none the less. The Fuselage style cars are also appealing. My father had a '73 LeBaron two door. Fantastic road car!
Right on. I found my '68 to be a bit more appealing than my '64. (Just now finally sold my black '71 Coupe)
The overall quality was just as good. It was a "lowly Chrysler" in inner body stampings only. Most everything else was as good or better than the '64-'66s and miles better than a '67 or newer Cadillac. And I love pre-'67 Cadillacs. Had 5 of them.
Part of the problem with the Imperial had to be the dealerships. At least here in Texas at the time, Cadillac dealers treated their customers so well compared to 'normal' dealerships, considering that treatment as part of the whole owner experience. I'm not saying that Chrysler/Plymouth dealers treated Imperial owners badly, but certainly they didn't match the Cadillac level of courtesy.
@@loveisall5520 You might really be onto something with that.
Caddy dealerships may have included maybe Oldsmobiles & GMC trucks, but CADILLAC was always the prominent wording on the dealership, and the building itself would often have a real mid-century modern look.
Whereas I don't recall any special Imperial-specific dealership buildings at all. And I think the Imperial brand would be second or third, like a Chrysler Plymouth & Dodge Trucks line-up maybe.
Chrysler knew their place though. Lincoln as well. Knowing there was no competing with Cadillac for name recognition & mass appeal styling. Imperial was more the thinking man's car. 👍
@@loveisall5520 I agree with you assessment. I worked at a Cadillac exclusive dealership in the early '80's. How the clientele is treated plays into the ownership experience.
The parents of a friend of mine had a 1966 Imperial Crown Coupe', which I rode in several times, but drove only once. The interior quality was the best of its era, bar none. As for driving it, the Imperial was like a locomotive. It was not the quickest off the line, but once underway, it just kept going and going. It felt like there was no limit to its power.
I can personally attest to the dominance of those early 60’s imperials in the demo derby ring
It was in the early 80’s and myself and some friends were in attendance at a derby contest in San Jose California
One that day there were what would now be considered classic cars at the time classified as Jalopy’s in the Derby world battling it out in the arena and this contest was very intense in comparison to others I had attended, there were a couple of drivers that were being overly competitive in this event and I can clearly remember that one of them was in a mid 60’s Imperial
This thing went on longer than any other Derby I had previously attended and as clear as it was happening today, it was at the end of the bout and there was the two vehicles left standing, and it was that Imperial and the other was one of those big T birds from the late 60’s
The final blow was when the T bird and the Imperial went head on into each other as the did in those days, and the impact of that collision combined with the excitement in that arena
When the two cars impacted there was a huge backfire that could be heard throughout the arena and in that moment the hood blew back on the T bird and a smoke ring blew out of the carburetor about 30 feet in the air, and that was it the T bird was done
The driver in the Imperial put what was left of her in reverse backed up and started doing doughnuts around all the other disabled cars
It was truly a climatic ending to a very enduring contest
All of us in attendance went ballistic
I can remember the Imperial getting a standing ovation at the end
That and other events I attended
What memories !!!!!!
Now that you have our interest can you make a drive video with that car? Would love to hear and see how it drives.
Chrysler used the same platform for the 1957-1966 Imperials.
The windshields are interchangeable.
Correct! I would think a '57-'63 would do almost as good as '64-'66.
@@olmstedfirsttwo-toneavanti4183 Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth did use the same underpinning for that long too, the Forward Look was very expensive for Chrysler to came up with new tooling so they had to use what they had in hand.
Except the other divisions all switched to unibody in 1960.
@@UberLummoxthey were. 64-66 had a little bit stronger bumpers, but 57-63 were very strong tanks as well. The best combo was to use a convertible frame with a non-convertible body. 💪
@@dustin_4501they really didn't. 1957 is when the Forward look started, and Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth only ran that through 1960. That all changed in 1961 when they switched to unibody, except for Imperial.
Premium gas required, the MPG's were probably below 15 MPG, and probably closer to 10 or 12 MPG. That aside, these cars are superior in quality and style to the stuff people are driving today.
Whenever I see one of those cars I think of the TV show The Green Hornet and his car The Black Beauty.
Right on. My first car was to be a 49 Ford 2 door hardtop that my dad bought in the early 80's when i was 12 or so. Flat head V-8 with the 3 deuces and 3 on the tree. Dad brother and I started taking her apart, pulled the engine and sent to machine shop. Body went to restoration and the frame was rotten from Hurricane Betty or some shit. Damn it!!!!
If you remember, the rungs of Mopar’s ladder were: Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, Imperial. In that order.
These cars were legendary on the demo derby circuit. A close runner up, unfortunately, was the 1971-76 GM clamshell wagon. How many of those have been lost to demo action I shudder to think.
The 71-76 gm clamshell wagons were probably the number 2 demo derby car behind the 64-66 imperial
Yes. I remember those taking a pounding.
We love those wagons, but they probably take 3rd place. Unibody Lincoln Continentals (59-68 I believe) are generally accepted as 2nd place. If they aren't rusty, they're damn near as tough as an Imperial.
I used to watch Mythbusters. In one episode they bought an Imperial from this generation, from a collector (that alone blew my mind). Then they drove it into an elevator to re-create a scene from the Green Hornet (which I never saw). The elevator went up and the car, with only half of it in the elevator, was supposed to have gotten chopped in half or something. Well what did happen was that the car was destroyed, and I was just sickened by the whole thing.
Anyway, in 1983 I had bought a copy of a small paper called the Want Ad Press, and found a `65 Imperial for sale, so I went to check it out. The guy took me for a ride in it, and it was the quietest car I had ever been in. He was asking something like $850 for it. The only thing was, he had wires running all through the inside of the car, to re-power the power windows. Apparently there was serious damage to the power window wiring where it went in and out of the doors. I ended up not buying it. That was the only Imperial I went to see. Otherwise I may have owned one back then. I'd still love to own one from this generation.
I remember that Mythbusters episode. That was the last time I watched the show. Those idiots destroyed a nice car knowing well that the movie car was rigged to do what it did. They were jerks looking for ratings.
@@LongIslandMopars That was also the last time I watched that show.
@@MillerMeteor74 I hope you guys never watch Canada's Worst Driver. The producers should be flogged.
@@MillerMeteor74 copy that
Nice! Might've just found my next project car to enjoy. Beautiful needless to say.
Just read the rules for our fair this week. It indeed says that Imperials are banned. The sad thing is that last year there was a 64 Imperial Crown in the derby. Got 2nd place because it got stuck.
@@djplonghead5403 Wow…
I think that you are missing the best demolition derby vehicle ever. The 1971-1976 GM full sized wagons with the clamshell tailgate. I saw several of these and they were absolutely bulletproof.
I've always preferred the '57-'63 Imperials due to the space-age styling but I have to admit the more subdued and elegant styling of the '64-'66 models has grown on me in recent years. Same body-on-frame chassis across all nine years and the convertibles added heavy X member I-beams for extra stiffening.
I'm old enough to remember when cars like the 1962 Plymouth came, out as well as the 1961 Continental. The former made the Edsels look beautiful. But the latter, changed everything. It was so strikingly unique.
One of my favorite cars of all time, is the 1963 Pontiac Grand Priz. I always thought it borrowed heavily from the Continental. Beautiful, simple lines, and minimal 'jewelry' adornment.
I remember an old article I read on Imperial Club Online about a ‘64 Crown that was hacked to bits to improve its quarter mile time.
The people who did that, and wrote the article, were inspired by a Hot Rod magazine article that hacked up a ‘70 Coupe deVille for the same reason. The guys with the Crown bought a near-mint 40,000-mile example and trashed the hell out of it. Those images are seared into my memory. Poor car.
However, it was in that article I learned how sturdy those old Imperials are. Miles and miles higher quality than the Cadillac.
I remember that article. Mopar Action magazine did it. It was a 64, and it annoyed me greatly they destroyed a car i would have wanted.
Caprice, crown Vic, Lincoln town car, Buick roadmaster, anything with a full perimeter frame make great derby cars.