Beautiful! My late grandfather had a 1960 Imperial Lebaron sedan in white with light grey cloth interior. While they were outsold by Cadillac they were just as prestigious in their day. His had the spare tire stamped deck lid. He traded his `57 Sedan DeVille in for it and it wound up being his favorite car of all time. Happy Independence Day!
@@erics9754 Agreed and yes they were indeed better engineered. I am in my 60s and all through my youth I was a MOPAR fan even though my father was a Cadillac owner and my peers were Mustang/Camaro lovers. Had I been an adult in the 1950s I would have driven either a 300 or a South Hampton. The first car I recall having an impact upon me was a black `55 or `56 Imperial while riding in my grandfather's `57 Sedan DeVille. I was 4 years old
Lou Costabile It's a shame that Imperial struggled in the luxury car market in the '60s, they were magnificent cars. Those taillights were fashioned by the space program, the same way with Cadillac. The '50s and early '60s were the dawn of the rush to outer space, unfortunately for us, the Russians had a 2-0 lead by 1961 with Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin. Then came President Kennedy, who threw down the gauntlet by saying that we should go for the moon. He tragically did not live to see it, but we made it there in 1969, about four months under the wire of 1970. So those taillights were a fashion statement that resonated from the jet age and the race to space. We did everything we set out for.
Hi Brent, High praise for the design of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Hi RoadMode _, High praise for this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
3 Caddy Fleetwood owner’s didn’t like this video. However, I give it Five Stars. This car is an outstanding piece of craftsmanship. It is always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thank you for uploading!
This video just popped up in my 'recommended'. I of course watched this 3 years ago, and coming back in 2022, it's just as cool. I loved this roofline the coupes; they squared it off in '63. I remember this year well; I was 4 when I looked in one of my father's National Geographic mags. There was an Imperial ad with a red LeBaron with white leather, asking "How's Your Sporting Blood?"
Hi LoveIsAll, Hmmm, not idea why TH-cam would add that to the recommended, however I guess that is a good thing. Thank you for sharing that. Glad to read you remember the National Geographics Magazine article and the phrase too. NICE! Lou
What a great automobile engineering and safety for 1960 I really enjoy watching this show especially when you have this gentleman I like the original condition of them thanks for the videos I hope to see you soon one day in person
Hi Jeff, Happy to read you enjoy the story on this car :-) If you see me, make sure you say hello. If it's at a car show, we'll look around to find some good ones for the Channel, Lou
What a gorgeous Imperial, Frank! Key features for me are those tail lights, the multi-toned horn, the squarish steering wheel and those big, porthole gages. I miss the fake tire on the trunk, but honestly, this car is already so glamorous, you don't even really need it. Cars like this are a thing of the past, sadly. The style, sophistication and class of these cars will never again be seen. Cars nowadays are like smartphones on wheels. Most of them look the same and all resemble each other. They "cookie cut" cars now. If someone offered me one of these versus a brand new Cadillac or what have you, I'd choose this everytime. Enjoy this fine piece of craftsmanship for years to come. I envy you. Would love to see other cars in your collection!
Hi Veronica, Happy to read you appreciate the looks and details of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
One more thought, all of Frank's cars have been featured but one, and that will be coming up so stay tuned. Here are two other of his cars I think you'll enjoy. 1) th-cam.com/video/yfu6IK2mf3I/w-d-xo.html & 2) th-cam.com/video/PsvU-8Hzu5I/w-d-xo.html
Hi hardy matters, Glad to read you appreciate this car, and think it's super cool too :-) Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you'll enjoy, Lou
I was around ten years old when I rode my first 1977 New Yorker brougham, that was an experience I couldn’t forget. To me , it was the fanciest car in the world , and when I grew up, and found many used in great condition of the same , I couldn’t find the courage to buy one and take care of it.because the authorities in my country would not allow the classic cars in, and if we do import any then we aren’t allowed to drive it , but just keep it as a piece of antique in our garages
Hi derwood 454, Agreed, Frank has some great cars. Good news! Frank has agreed to share all of his collection with us, so stay tuned. Appreciate you noticing the hard work, thank you Lou
My uncle had a pink (metallic, if I recall) '61 4-door once owned by Doris Day. I saw it in Edmonton; he'd shipped it when moving back to his native Canada. [ 7:26 Aha, that colour! ]
I love this Car! What an amazing piece of history you don’t see everyday. Love the front part of the side view. All those Lines the way they’re formed. Very regal, and classy. You know if you had the money back in 1960 and worked your way to the top you would buy a Caddy for the prestige. The people who came from money would probably be likely to buy the Imperial for something different. What a Beauty Lou.
Fabulous car ! I owned a 65 Triple Black Crown Coupe ....she was a looker ! always turned heads...she has sharp lines and a crisp roof line with a formal rear window.... Imperial was the ultimate Chrysler car ...... Cadillac .. Lincoln ....Imperial were the Triple Crown of American cars ..... they ruled ......bar none .. Happy 4th to all !
'parade on wheels'...absolutely. gawd, what style! I'll always pick a hardtop coupe over a convertible, and with this roofline, you can see why...the fixed roof gives the designers another opportunity for adding style to a car, and this one has it in spades.I've been waiting for this...this car was in the background of a couple other vids of this gentleman's car collection. beautiful.
Hi Mr Welsh, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
I was a frequent spectator at demolition derbies as a young teenager back in the early eighties. My most vivid memory of these old Chrysler Imperials was watching them ruthlessly dominate and crush their doomed opponents. It was a sight to see just how solid these cars were built. Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
I had new the '69. One if the finest Automobiles I've ever had the pleasure of owning. 👍 His is a touch of class. Remember that Imperial sold by Chrysler.
Absolutely beautiful car. The options that were available were surprising ie power vent windows , cruise control ,automatic beam changer. Base price was $5403 and air conditioning was $590 or over 10% of the base price, what an expensive option in its day. Great vid.
BREATHTAKING.One of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen.I have never seen one in person.I know have 2 favorite cars.This one I love the options from 1960 a/c,cruise,centennial lights. Love this car.My other favorite car is the 1965 Lamborghini 350 gt.I now have 2 favorites this Imperial and the Lamborghini.Your videos are very informative and I love how you cover every inch of the vehicle.I love your channel as well as Jay Leno.Keep up the GOOD work and thank you for showing these beautiful works of art.
Everything about this work of art is amazing, the color, dash, interior, tri-horns, engine, roof, it's more over the top than the '59 Caddie, IMO. Thanks Lou 👍🏻
I've probably seen at least 100 of your "Car Stories," by now. This was the most interesting one I have seen. What a beautiful car and I've seen this owner before. He does such a great job showing this car. You've definitely outdone yourself again Lou!!!
in 1960, Chrysler went to unibody for the entire lineup, except for Imperial which kept the full frame for ride quality. Perhaps in opposition to ride quality, you also got the 413 and torsion bars, which made for lively performance in such a big car...superior to Cadillac and Lincoln. Interesting about the alternator...I had thought only the Valiant had it in '60, but maybe they ran out of generators late in the model year.
Some other manufacturers made the change to alternator as a midyear item. The brochure the owner was reading through mentioned a 35 amp generator of course those were issued early in the model year.
I think the Imperials kept the frame mainly because of their low production and differentiation from other Chrysler products. The Chrysler cars introduced in 1957 all shared the same basic body except the Imperial, so the basic design was only on its fourth year in 1960 when the rest went unit body. The Imperial had a straight frame like the others but unlike the rest it had depressions accommodating rear seat floor wells. It also had the first curved side windows on a production car so it was still ahead in 1960, when no one else did yet.
Lou, my lottery jackpot dream car. A few years ago I saw a Chrysler produced video of a ' 62 sedan with Bosch mechanical antilock brakes. A portion of the Highland Park test track was flooded and frozen. Their were two Crown sedans, one with, one without the Bosch antilock brakes. What a contrast! On ice,the control with the antilock brakes was impressive. Antilock wasn't available again until around 1970.
Hi Lou! This is a beautiful car! I like green! Aerospace design is awesome! Thank you Lou for the video! And congratulations to you on United States Independence Day! God bless America!
Love those late 50's early 60's 2 dr land yacht's. The tail fins are the best of that era! Great car and a cigarette lighter for each passenger! Classic! I had a 71 Ford LTD and it had 2 ash trays in the dash and both had a lighter in it! The back seat had individual ash trays too, but no lighters... Ah, the good ol' days!
Great car, what a blast from the past my aunt Blanche had one in the same color and let everyone know it was the best car,, my family had a a new'61 Impala but couldn't compare to the Imperial, thanks for sharing
Thanks for the reply, seems like everyone had a aunt Blanche, always better stuff, but we loved our Impala was white/red interior bubble top and 409 my dad said would eat the Imperial for lunch. LOL
My best friend had a white 60 Imperial convertible with red leather interior back in 1968. It was 8 years old and in perfect condition. He paid $800 for it. Unfortunately he doesn't have it anymore. I still have a 56 4 dr & 59 2 dr Imperial. The 56 has the factory optioned record player. Great cars.
An absolutely amazing vehicle, Lou! Definitely one of the greatest vehicles of its generation. Thanks for sharing, making a great start to this otherwise ordinary day! Love that chrome!
Hi Rob, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Hi Stephen Phillip, Happy to read you've Subscribed to the Channel and welcome. Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you'll enjoy, and please share with your other UK Car Friends, Lou
WOW, what a beauty! Love light green cars. It's my fav color for a car. Not sure why this wsn't a big seller. It's a beauty from every angle. Class all the way. It is certainly nicer than a 1960 Lincoln.
Hi, Lou! In 1960, Chrysler began building all its cars with Unibody construction, except the Imperial. That roof treatment with the color contrast panel had me fooled. It looked like glass to me too! The last year for the original run of Imperials was 1975. There were revivals from 1981 to 1983 as a coupe only, and from 1990 to 1993 as a sedan only, which was a Chrysler Imperial. I believe Frank is correct about Imperial (and the Chrysler brand) being the first to offer cruise control, which they called Auto-Pilot, in 1958. Generally speaking it's not just the upholstery that's ornate, same goes for the rest of the car, especially those fins and taillights! Frank's got lots of interesting ones for sure. Thanks to both of you for sharing!
Hi Nancy, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Hi GT-37 Guy, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
The owner is knowledgeable and pretty hilarious as well. The bodies in the trunk thing is a reference to Imperials back then being at least thought of as the Mafia car of choice. I think probably in films they often showed Mafia guys driving Imperials.
"...a weather eye or something"? Someone who is into classic cars should know that it's an automatic dimmer. The 1960 models were some of of the most beautiful Imperials ever made. It's probably my favorite model year of Imperials.
Hi Gary, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
The tail lights on that car were to represent rocket engines. Not so much that you can see them from the side. What a beautiful machine. I knew a woman at one time that owned three of them! I wish I knew then what I know now about the imperial
Hi Mike, Thanks for sharing your tail light knowledge. Happy to read this car brings back memories of the woman you knew who had 3 of them :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Kaboom!! This one is as magnificent as a July 4th Grand Finale. The Perfect Circle cruise control was used by GM, in 1960 as well. Had it on my 1964 Starfire. Worked like a charm. In addition to controlling the speed, it would also adjust, to give your foot a solid resting spot, to maintain your speed. This owner seems square, but actually has a good sense of humor. Thanks for sharing this gem.
I love the fact that the faux spare tire on the trunk is not there. I had a 1960 Imperial but it had the fake spare tire thingy and I didn't like it at all. Mine had everything that this one has on it with the exception of the side top panels. It was a solid cream or eggshell color almost white. It had the 413 with a single 4 barrel carb. From what I understood this car was the most powerful car in the world at the time it was made. It looks very big and heavy and it was but when you were doing anywhere over 35-40 mph and you put your foot in it the wheels would actually start spinning until it gained enough speed so that they stopped smoking and caught up on the traction. It drank gasoline like an elephant drinks water but it was one of the most stable, fast, and really one of the most comfortable vehicles you could ever ride in. When you got over 100 mph the car would just float over the highway and you didn't feel any bumps or inconsistencies from the road. It was truly way ahead of it's time. Dollar for dollar these cars cost as much as a Rolls Royce back then but it was way ahead in it's engineering. This thing would still freeze you out if you wanted it to in the middle of a hot Louisiana summer day. Out of all of the cars that I ever owned I regret selling this car the most. My car was also a two door car and I think it was a custom but it was loaded out with everything you could put in them.
Hi TBull Cajunbreadmaker, Thank you for viewing and sharing you had one like this too. Hope you see many more cars you'll enjoy on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
My mom had a 58 two door coupe in blue, and my dad had a black 60 four door. I can remember one time my mom bought gas and she said "I can't believe this car took $7 to fill up". Funny thing was, neither car had air conditioning. I can't imagine a luxury car being built without air-con. Power everything else though, and an AM radio with front and back speakers
I never knew this car existed until today. Beautiful!
My pleasure sharing this car with you.
Gotta be one of the most beautiful cars on the planet....wow
High praise Rocketman :-)
It is!!
Beautiful! My late grandfather had a 1960 Imperial Lebaron sedan in white with light grey cloth interior. While they were outsold by Cadillac they were just as prestigious in their day. His had the spare tire stamped deck lid. He traded his `57 Sedan DeVille in for it and it wound up being his favorite car of all time. Happy Independence Day!
Hi Clarkecars, Glad to read this car brought back memories of your Grandfathers car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Good taste is not that common that is why they sold less despite being the better engineered car.
@@erics9754 Agreed and yes they were indeed better engineered. I am in my 60s and all through my youth I was a MOPAR fan even though my father was a Cadillac owner and my peers were Mustang/Camaro lovers. Had I been an adult in the 1950s I would have driven either a 300 or a South Hampton. The first car I recall having an impact upon me was a black `55 or `56 Imperial while riding in my grandfather's `57 Sedan DeVille. I was 4 years old
Lou Costabile It's a shame that Imperial struggled in the luxury car market in the '60s, they were magnificent cars. Those taillights were fashioned by the space program, the same way with Cadillac. The '50s and early '60s were the dawn of the rush to outer space, unfortunately for us, the Russians had a 2-0 lead by 1961 with Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin. Then came President Kennedy, who threw down the gauntlet by saying that we should go for the moon. He tragically did not live to see it, but we made it there in 1969, about four months under the wire of 1970. So those taillights were a fashion statement that resonated from the jet age and the race to space. We did everything we set out for.
This is so much more beautiful than any Cadillac of the time
Hi Brent, High praise for the design of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
MAN, MAN, MAN, MAN, OH MAN......MOUTH WATERING UNCONTROLLABLY. WOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Hi RoadMode _, High praise for this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
cars back then were truly works of art
today its all look alike suv's.
Hi rub one out rosie, Glad to read you enjoy the design of this car :-) Lou
Mickey Rourks's character said it best in the movie "Sin City". "modern cars,,, they all look like electric shavers". I agree.
People are losing their individuality and becoming clones. Creativity needs to be brought back!
@Big Bill O'Reilly Thanks Bill! Point noted!😉
Years ago artists actually drew the cars up. Now computers do it.
Nice to see this great 1960 Imperial. Thank you and Frank for showing it.
Hi Daniel, Happy to see you enjoy this "great" car :-) You're welcome, Lou
3 Caddy Fleetwood owner’s didn’t like this video.
However, I give it Five Stars.
This car is an outstanding piece of craftsmanship.
It is always a pleasure to watch your videos.
Thank you for uploading!
Hi Guillermo, High praise for this car :-) Thank you for the support, Lou
It never ceases to amaze me the diversity of cars over the years, especially these beauties.
Hi Robert, I think you're on the right TH-cam Channel :-) Enjoy! Lou
This video just popped up in my 'recommended'. I of course watched this 3 years ago, and coming back in 2022, it's just as cool. I loved this roofline the coupes; they squared it off in '63. I remember this year well; I was 4 when I looked in one of my father's National Geographic mags. There was an Imperial ad with a red LeBaron with white leather, asking "How's Your Sporting Blood?"
Hi LoveIsAll, Hmmm, not idea why TH-cam would add that to the recommended, however I guess that is a good thing. Thank you for sharing that. Glad to read you remember the National Geographics Magazine article and the phrase too. NICE! Lou
What a great automobile engineering and safety for 1960 I really enjoy watching this show especially when you have this gentleman I like the original condition of them thanks for the videos I hope to see you soon one day in person
Hi Jeff, Happy to read you enjoy the story on this car :-) If you see me, make sure you say hello. If it's at a car show, we'll look around to find some good ones for the Channel, Lou
1960 Chrysler Imperial with its perpetual grin of satisfaction as though just going through life as an Imperial was enough...
Hi Steven, Well said :-) Lou
My Daddy had 2 Imperials..a 2 door and a 4 door..early 70s tho..then a New Yorker.
He loved Chryslers. This car is beautiful
You're Daddy had some stylish classy rides :-)
Those massive fins help keep the car going straight when the flux capacitor kicks in. What a blast (triple horns) from the past!
Nice :-)
What a gorgeous Imperial, Frank! Key features for me are those tail lights, the multi-toned horn, the squarish steering wheel and those big, porthole gages. I miss the fake tire on the trunk, but honestly, this car is already so glamorous, you don't even really need it. Cars like this are a thing of the past, sadly. The style, sophistication and class of these cars will never again be seen. Cars nowadays are like smartphones on wheels. Most of them look the same and all resemble each other. They "cookie cut" cars now. If someone offered me one of these versus a brand new Cadillac or what have you, I'd choose this everytime. Enjoy this fine piece of craftsmanship for years to come. I envy you. Would love to see other cars in your collection!
Hi Veronica, Happy to read you appreciate the looks and details of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
One more thought, all of Frank's cars have been featured but one, and that will be coming up so stay tuned. Here are two other of his cars I think you'll enjoy. 1) th-cam.com/video/yfu6IK2mf3I/w-d-xo.html & 2) th-cam.com/video/PsvU-8Hzu5I/w-d-xo.html
Sculpture on 4 wheels. The craftsmanship is astonishing
Hi fordlandau, High praise for the design of this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Another great classic. He is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner- certainly adds to the Car Story.
Thanks Lou!
Hi Jeff King, Glad to read you enjoy this classic :-) Me too. My pleasure to share with you, Lou
Imperials were beautiful.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
That is a really sweet machine. Frank has something pretty special there and its nice to see that its driven and enjoyed.
Hi Robert DeMilo, Glad to read you enjoy this "sweet" machine :-) I like when the car is driven too, Lou
That is a very classy car especially when it was new. You Were King of the Road. MR WELSH
Hi Mr Welsh, Happy to read you enjoy this "King of the Road" car :-) Lou
Such a great car, so many unique features. As a chev owner I'm really starting to appreciate Chrysler's of this era, just super cool.
Hi hardy matters, Glad to read you appreciate this car, and think it's super cool too :-) Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you'll enjoy, Lou
Start looking more into them! Chrysler was simply the best back then...
Caddies had the crowd, BUT Chrysler offered the GOODS.
Love those FINS!!!!,
“Parade on wheels.”😀👏Great color! Frank is so kind and funny...Where’s the body? Call Columbo.😅
Hi Ramon, Happy to read you enjoy this car. Glad to read you enjoy Frank's humor too, Lou
The styling and color of that car are so elegant.
Happy to read you enjoy this car :-)
I was around ten years old when I rode my first 1977 New Yorker brougham, that was an experience I couldn’t forget. To me , it was the fanciest car in the world , and when I grew up, and found many used in great condition of the same , I couldn’t find the courage to buy one and take care of it.because the authorities in my country would not allow the classic cars in, and if we do import any then we aren’t allowed to drive it , but just keep it as a piece of antique in our garages
Thank you for viewing and sharing your New Yorker story :-)
Frank is just great seams like good guy.
You're right, and shares his car & stories with us too :-)
Frank has fine taste in luxury classics.thanks Lou your one hard working youtuber.
Hi derwood 454, Agreed, Frank has some great cars. Good news! Frank has agreed to share all of his collection with us, so stay tuned. Appreciate you noticing the hard work, thank you Lou
Beautiful, gorgeous. Wish I had one. Love the original condition.
Hi anthony calandra, High praise for this car :-) Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you enjoy, Lou
My uncle had a pink (metallic, if I recall) '61 4-door once owned by Doris Day. I saw it in Edmonton; he'd shipped it when moving back to his native Canada. [ 7:26 Aha, that colour! ]
Hi Arne, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Uncles car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Beautiful car and with the push-button transmission of the day.
Hi Larry Be, Glad to read you enjoy the design of this car :-) Lou
I talked a friend of mine of mine back in the 80s into buying a 1960 four door hard top it was a beautiful car black and everyting worked.
Do you know what happened to it by any chance?
Did your Friend enjoy the car?
I love this Car! What an amazing piece of history you don’t see everyday. Love the front part of the side view. All those Lines the way they’re formed. Very regal, and classy. You know if you had the money back in 1960 and worked your way to the top you would buy a Caddy for the prestige. The people who came from money would probably be likely to buy the Imperial for something different. What a Beauty Lou.
Hi gene978, High praise :-) Lou
What I find so interesting is the wild design of American cars of this era. Beautiful car Lou!
Hi DJ THE SHOOTER, Happy to read you enjoy this design :-) Agreed, designs so different and unique, Lou
Fabulous car ! I owned a 65 Triple Black Crown Coupe ....she was a looker ! always turned heads...she has sharp lines and a crisp roof line with a formal rear window.... Imperial was the ultimate Chrysler car ...... Cadillac .. Lincoln ....Imperial were the Triple Crown of American cars ..... they ruled ......bar none .. Happy 4th to all !
High praise for this car :-) Thanks for sharing you had a cool car too.
'parade on wheels'...absolutely. gawd, what style! I'll always pick a hardtop coupe over a convertible, and with this roofline, you can see why...the fixed roof gives the designers another opportunity for adding style to a car, and this one has it in spades.I've been waiting for this...this car was in the background of a couple other vids of this gentleman's car collection. beautiful.
Hi Steve S, I enjoy reading your comment and understanding the details you enjoy, Lou
What a TRUE beauty and a classic as well !! Imperials are amazing cars !! Thank you !
Happy to read you enjoy the design of this car :-) You're welcome.
Beautiful Imperial take good care of her She's a Beauty. MR WELSH
Hi Mr Welsh, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
I was a frequent spectator at demolition derbies as a young teenager back in the early eighties. My most vivid memory of these old Chrysler Imperials was watching them ruthlessly dominate and crush their doomed opponents. It was a sight to see just how solid these cars were built. Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
They were banned at many events. Which is good, since they were such low production.
Sounds like wonderful fun memories :-) You're welcome.
I had new the '69. One if the finest Automobiles I've ever had the pleasure of owning. 👍 His is a touch of class. Remember that Imperial sold by Chrysler.
Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Sounds like good memories of your 69 too. Nice! Lou
Absolutely beautiful car. The options that were available were surprising ie power vent windows , cruise control ,automatic beam changer. Base price was $5403 and air conditioning was $590 or over 10% of the base price, what an expensive option in its day. Great vid.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Appreciate the kind words on the video too.
BREATHTAKING.One of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen.I have never seen one in person.I know have 2 favorite cars.This one I love the options from 1960 a/c,cruise,centennial lights.
Love this car.My other favorite car is the 1965 Lamborghini 350 gt.I now have 2 favorites this Imperial and the Lamborghini.Your videos are very informative and I love how you cover every inch of the vehicle.I love your channel as well as Jay Leno.Keep up the GOOD work and thank you for showing these beautiful works of art.
Hi John Plovanich, High praise for this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
That front end is perfection !
Nice :-)
Everything about this work of art is amazing, the color, dash, interior, tri-horns, engine, roof, it's more over the top than the '59 Caddie, IMO. Thanks Lou 👍🏻
Hi Andy, Happy to share this "work of art" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
Wow what a boat, a real land yacht!
ALL ABOARD!
Out of all the Imperials, !960 is my absolute favorite! Beautiful car!!!
Hi m p, Happy to read this one is a favorite of yours :-) Lou
OMG, what a WONDERFUL thing!!!
Glad to read you enjoy this car :-)
This is why i subscribe. Not your average Camaro or Mustang.
Even when I do a Camaro or Mustang, they are not your average Camaro and Mustang Daniel Scott :-) Glad you're along for the ride! Lou
Precisely! Lou finds some true Jewels. Most are mint, BUT all are gorgeous.
Nice! Well preserved and the color is spot on.
Hi Mike Gehre, Glad to read you enjoy this car :-) Lou
Mike Gehre.....WHAT..!!!!
That color is COLOSSAL ugly....
Doesn't shine when waxed...
I've probably seen at least 100 of your "Car Stories," by now. This was the most interesting one I have seen. What a beautiful car and I've seen this owner before. He does such a great job showing this car. You've definitely outdone yourself again Lou!!!
High praise for this episode Jed Clampett :-)
in 1960, Chrysler went to unibody for the entire lineup, except for Imperial which kept the full frame for ride quality. Perhaps in opposition to ride quality, you also got the 413 and torsion bars, which made for lively performance in such a big car...superior to Cadillac and Lincoln. Interesting about the alternator...I had thought only the Valiant had it in '60, but maybe they ran out of generators late in the model year.
HI Steve S, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou
Original owner took good care of it, so too the others that followed
Some other manufacturers made the change to alternator as a midyear item. The brochure the owner was reading through mentioned a 35 amp generator of course those were issued early in the model year.
I think the Imperials kept the frame mainly because of their low production and differentiation from other Chrysler products. The Chrysler cars introduced in 1957 all shared the same basic body except the Imperial, so the basic design was only on its fourth year in 1960 when the rest went unit body. The Imperial had a straight frame like the others but unlike the rest it had depressions accommodating rear seat floor wells. It also had the first curved side windows on a production car so it was still ahead in 1960, when no one else did yet.
That alternator sure looked like it came off a 77 Volare...ha ha ha...
Lou, thank you for showing us all of these fine cars! I am glad that you seek out the owners to present your reports! This Imperial is so great!
Hi Clare Butterfield, My pleasure sharing with you, and you're welcome, Lou
A really imperial and impressive car! I can only rember the rear part with these huge fins
Hi Marco, Fins are fun and I can understand why you would remember them :-) Lou
My brother had a 1960 Crown four-door hardtop, white with silver grey interior with swivel bucket seats. Beautiful car!
Glad to read this one brings back memories of your Brothers car :-)
Lou, my lottery jackpot dream car.
A few years ago I saw a Chrysler produced video of a ' 62 sedan with Bosch mechanical antilock brakes.
A portion of the Highland Park test track was flooded and frozen.
Their were two Crown sedans, one with, one without the Bosch antilock brakes.
What a contrast!
On ice,the control with the antilock brakes was impressive.
Antilock wasn't available again until around 1970.
Hi Tim Blaker, I hope all your numbers come up right, and then make sure you pick me up for a ride, Lou
@@loucostabile You'll be the first.
Cool :-)
Hi Lou! This is a beautiful car! I like green! Aerospace design is awesome! Thank you Lou for the video! And congratulations to you on United States Independence Day! God bless America!
Hi Good Russian, Always good to read your comment :-) Happy you enjoy this car, yes, God Bless America, and Russia too, Lou
Hi Lou! Thank you very much!
A fantastically styled unique car. What an era. Thanks for featuring it!
Hi Robert F Kaz, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
Thanks Lou! Love these old Chrysler cars!
You're welcome Brady Dog.
an Imperial of 1960 and in that colour, wow, thanks Lou as usual, amazing, one of the craziest design ever.
Hi Francois, Agreed an amazing design and my pleasure to share with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
Keep finding the weird and wonderful and rare , always love your work lou.
Cheers Steve
Hi Steve, Appreciate the kind words, and glad you're along for the ride, Lou
Love those late 50's early 60's 2 dr land yacht's. The tail fins are the best of that era! Great car and a cigarette lighter for each passenger! Classic! I had a 71 Ford LTD and it had 2 ash trays in the dash and both had a lighter in it! The back seat had individual ash trays too, but no lighters... Ah, the good ol' days!
High praise for this car :-) Your LTD sounds like a nice cruiser.
Great car, what a blast from the past my aunt Blanche had one in the same color and let everyone know it was the best car,, my family had a a new'61 Impala but couldn't compare to the Imperial, thanks for sharing
Hi Greg Foster, Happy to read this car brought back memories of Aunt Blanche's car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou
Thanks for the reply, seems like everyone had a aunt Blanche, always better stuff, but we loved our Impala was white/red interior bubble top and 409 my dad said would eat the Imperial for lunch. LOL
409 Impala's are very cool :-)
My best friend had a white 60 Imperial convertible with red leather interior back in 1968. It was 8 years old and in perfect condition. He paid $800 for it. Unfortunately he doesn't have it anymore. I still have a 56 4 dr & 59 2 dr Imperial. The 56 has the factory optioned record player. Great cars.
Hi William, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your best friends car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Happy to read you still have some fun cars :-)
I can appreciate how well those cars were made. but those fins! i think those are the tallest i have seen. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hi Happy Hands, Agreed, Big Fins :-) Regarding sharing, it's my pleasure and you're welcome, Lou
An absolutely amazing vehicle, Lou! Definitely one of the greatest vehicles of its generation. Thanks for sharing, making a great start to this otherwise ordinary day! Love that chrome!
Hi Joseph Trunk, High praise for this car :-) My pleasure sharing with you, and you're welcome, Lou
god i love sheet metal and chrome
Hi julius ceasar, Nice :-) Me too, Lou
LARGE G. Julius Ceaser
Chrysler/ Dodge etc
Was always willing to go where others would never go in styling and innovation
Hi Isle Sanctum, NICE :-) Lou
Thank you Frank and Lou. That was a true feast fit the eyes. Keep them coming! God bless!
Hi Christopher Hereford, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Blessings received, and you're welcome, Lou
Gorgeous car Lou and thanks for sharing. Happy 4th!!!
HI Ed B., Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Me too. Thank you and Happy 4th to you also, Lou
A museum piece
This car shouts, “I AM AN AUTOMOBILE!” Detroit was king when American design,
style, production, and engineering was at its zenith.
Hi Rob, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
A lovely example of Americana. Thank you for sharing this with us. You've got a (UK) subscriber.
Hi Stephen Phillip, Happy to read you've Subscribed to the Channel and welcome. Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you'll enjoy, and please share with your other UK Car Friends, Lou
WOW, what a beauty! Love light green cars. It's my fav color for a car. Not sure why this wsn't a big seller. It's a beauty from every angle. Class all the way. It is certainly nicer than a 1960 Lincoln.
Hi Brian, Happy to read "WOW, what a beauty!" :-) NICE! Lou
That car is beautiful. I think the backend looks much better without the goofy looking lump on the deck lid.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car, minus the lump in the back :-)
I am a wheelcover appreciater and fanatic... these are understated and a work of art.
High praise :-)
What a Beauty! I have never seen one of these, Thanks Lou! Have a Great 4th
Glad to read you enjoy this rarely seen car :-) You're welcome Newton, and hope you have a great 4th too, Lou
Hi, Lou! In 1960, Chrysler began building all its cars with Unibody construction, except the Imperial. That roof treatment with the color contrast panel had me fooled. It looked like glass to me too! The last year for the original run of Imperials was 1975. There were revivals from 1981 to 1983 as a coupe only, and from 1990 to 1993 as a sedan only, which was a Chrysler Imperial. I believe Frank is correct about Imperial (and the Chrysler brand) being the first to offer cruise control, which they called Auto-Pilot, in 1958. Generally speaking it's not just the upholstery that's ornate, same goes for the rest of the car, especially those fins and taillights! Frank's got lots of interesting ones for sure. Thanks to both of you for sharing!
Hi iswc27, Thanks for sharing your knowledge. My pleasure sharing this one with you, and you're welcome, Lou
I WANT this CAR
Hope you're behind the wheel of the right one for you soon.
You've got me hooked Lou , I subscribed. 😁 You show really great classic cars that bring back wonderful memories. Keep up the good work!!! 👍👍
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. Welcome Gary :-) Lou
Beast!........elegant , beautifully engineered and built BEAST! Thanks Lou! I Iove Imperials!
Hi allen max, Happy to read you "love" this model :-) You're welcome, Lou
WOW! Look how beautiful that Imperial is!!! It's so sad there's one that just sits in a backyard just up the street from me!!!
Hi Greg Fair, Happy to receive a "WOW!" from you :-) Lou
One sweet automobile!
Happy to read you enjoy this car :-)
Gorgeous car
Hi Nancy, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Very nice. I have a 1960 LeBaron sedan.
Hi Mark, Happy to read you have a FUN car :-) Lou
Reminds me of the Cadillac Seville....gorgeous!
Hi GT-37 Guy, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
The engine's perfectly balanced . It didn't shake like most do when you start them up.
Hi heycolslaw, That's nice :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Wow, what a beautiful car! Makes me almost wish I'd been alive in the early 60s to own one myself.
Hi HotWax93, Happy to read you enjoy this "beautiful" car :-) Thank you for viewing & sharing, Lou
one unique car American mastery of automotive design
High praise :-)
The owner is knowledgeable and pretty hilarious as well. The bodies in the trunk thing is a reference to Imperials back then being at least thought of as the Mafia car of choice. I think probably in films they often showed Mafia guys driving Imperials.
Hi emjayay, Happy to read you enjoy the humor in this episode :-) I like the Channel to be fun, and glad you're watching, Lou
"...a weather eye or something"? Someone who is into classic cars should know that it's an automatic dimmer.
The 1960 models were some of of the most beautiful Imperials ever made. It's probably my favorite model year of Imperials.
Hi Gary, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
The tail lights on that car were to represent rocket engines. Not so much that you can see them from the side. What a beautiful machine. I knew a woman at one time that owned three of them! I wish I knew then what I know now about the imperial
Hi Mike, Thanks for sharing your tail light knowledge. Happy to read this car brings back memories of the woman you knew who had 3 of them :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Kaboom!! This one is as magnificent as a July 4th Grand Finale. The Perfect Circle cruise control was used by GM, in 1960 as well. Had it on my 1964 Starfire. Worked like a charm. In addition to controlling the speed, it would also adjust, to give your foot a solid resting spot, to maintain your speed. This owner seems square, but actually has a good sense of humor. Thanks for sharing this gem.
Hi jakespeed63, High praise for this car. Your 64 Starfire sounds like a great cruiser :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou
I love the fact that the faux spare tire on the trunk is not there. I had a 1960 Imperial but it had the fake spare tire thingy and I didn't like it at all. Mine had everything that this one has on it with the exception of the side top panels. It was a solid cream or eggshell color almost white. It had the 413 with a single 4 barrel carb. From what I understood this car was the most powerful car in the world at the time it was made. It looks very big and heavy and it was but when you were doing anywhere over 35-40 mph and you put your foot in it the wheels would actually start spinning until it gained enough speed so that they stopped smoking and caught up on the traction. It drank gasoline like an elephant drinks water but it was one of the most stable, fast, and really one of the most comfortable vehicles you could ever ride in. When you got over 100 mph the car would just float over the highway and you didn't feel any bumps or inconsistencies from the road. It was truly way ahead of it's time. Dollar for dollar these cars cost as much as a Rolls Royce back then but it was way ahead in it's engineering. This thing would still freeze you out if you wanted it to in the middle of a hot Louisiana summer day. Out of all of the cars that I ever owned I regret selling this car the most. My car was also a two door car and I think it was a custom but it was loaded out with everything you could put in them.
Hi TBull Cajunbreadmaker, Thank you for viewing and sharing you had one like this too. Hope you see many more cars you'll enjoy on this TH-cam Channel, Lou
Amazing Imperial
Hi My Bronco, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Hope you see many more cars on this TH-cam Channel you'll enjoy, Lou
If I could pick one car for the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, this Imperial would be the one!
High praise for the design of this car :-)
Imperial Crown. Magnífico!!
Glad to read you enjoy this car :-)
What a wonderful trip down memory lane, Lou. A beautiful car. I'm surprised so few were sold as I remember seeing many of them.
Hi Steve W, Glad to read this car brings back memories for you :-) I believe the high price was the reason so few were sold, Lou
Another great video of a non run of the mill cars, this is one lucky owner.
Thank you Will Scott :-) Appreciate your kind words.
My family had two Imperials. My grandfather bought one every other year and my Dad then got his old one. Always black.
Hi sr633, Sounds like your Family knows how to ride in style :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
My mom had a 58 two door coupe in blue, and my dad had a black 60 four door. I can remember one time my mom bought gas and she said "I can't believe this car took $7 to fill up". Funny thing was, neither car had air conditioning. I can't imagine a luxury car being built without air-con. Power everything else though, and an AM radio with front and back speakers
Hi Cindy, Happy to read this cars brings back memories of your Mom's 58 :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
What a nice guy, and great with a story - and the Imperial (!) aptly named.
Hi Peasdar Macewen, Happy to read you enjoy this episode :-) Lou
@@loucostabile Thank you for all the time and considerable effort that must go into this important historical work.
Automatic headlight dimmer 1960 that's outstanding and I like to push button transmission too
Hi acts2211, Enjoy reading the details you see :-) Lou
МАШИНА ПРОСТО ШИКАРНАЯ!!! МОЛОДЕЦ АВТОР!!! ЧТО ПОКАЗЫВАЕШЬ ТАКИЕ АВТО
Thank you for viewing & sharing.