Introduced as a separate make in 1955, the Chrysler Imperial bore the styling that Virgil Exner, Chrysler’s Vice President of Styling at the time, came up with for the entire line. This design remained all up to 1963, memorable for its long wheelbase, wide split egg-crate grille, and taillights mounted above the massive rear quarters.

In 1955, the Chrysler Imperial came in coupe and sedan body styles, although the limousine was also available limitedly. It featured a newly designed 331 cubic-inch V8 engine producing 250 brake horsepower paired with an automatic transmission. This power output rose to 280 brake horsepower as soon as the following year, followed by the introduction of smaller tailfins.

The 1957 Chrysler Imperial got even more upgrades, starting with a new platform, a wider body, and a sleeker front end. Another big update for this second generation was the suspension, which made the car much more stable than its competitors and provided smooth and enjoyable handling.

The Exner’s recognizable “Forward Look” design was maybe most evident in this production year because of the massive egg-crate grille, quad headlights, and tall tailfins. It boosted the sales back in the day over all three trims available: the Imperial Custom, the Imperial Crown, and the Imperial LeBaron.

Throughout 1958, little changed in the styling of the Imperial, but the sales dropped. The 1959 Chrysler Imperial got a couple of updates on the outside and new interior options, such as swivel-out front seats, but nothing drastic. Until 1963, the Chrysler Imperial got a characteristic space-age dashboard with electroluminescent lighting, a tall steering wheel with lots of legroom, and other interesting features that slightly improved the sales.

Explore The 1961 Chrysler Imperial In More Detail

Overall, it was an exaggerated styling that enriched the Chrysler Imperial in the 60s, first and foremost. The car featured a large bumper, a mesh grille, a giant chrome eagle sign, quad headlights, and massive tall rear fins.

The 1961 Chrysler Imperial that we like brought a few extras to this layout but did not change that premise of exaggerated styling. What’s more, it further added to the excessive design by adopting the largest tailfins ever to be seen in the lineup. Interestingly, this year was also the last one to see these prominent tailfins, as the Imperials from 1962 and beyond became much sleeker.

The 1961 Chrysler Imperial was overall an admirable car with great handling and road manners. Power steering, power hydraulic drum brakes, power windows, the AM radio, and many other advanced features only further boosted the comfort on the road. The fact that the power came from the 413 cubic-inch V8 engine rated at 350 horsepower is also impressive, considering such an output was quite good at the time and allowed for more than enough fun on the road.

Is 1961 Chrysler Imperial Available For Sale Today?

You should be able to find the unique 1961 Chrysler Imperial for sale on used car sites and auctions starting from about $20,000. However, it’s good to note that this production year is not that frequently on sale, so you may need to be patient and wait for the 1961 Chrysler Imperial to become available.

The low availability of the 1961 Chrysler Imperial may also increase the price of this classic ride, so it’s also good to be prepared to spend more on those massive eye-catching tailfins