Talk about a time capsule. This spectacular 1957 Imperial Crown Southampton has just 30,000 miles on its odometer, and was recently offered on eBay for $49,000. The car could earn its passage as a rental for any movie set in the late 1950s. Men with hats and women with white gloves would drive it.
item 1 of 20
This is the very pinnacle of Mopar offerings in 1957, up there with that year’s Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz - opens in new window or tab.. The sharp photography of this beauty reveals no flaws. It is a true survivor that must have been kept out of the California sun and driven sparingly. The seller says that both previous owners were wealthy businesspeople. The second owner acquired it from a close family friend in 1980.
Hemi-Powered Luxury
The massive body is free of rust, and the emerald green metallic paint nicely complements the factory original leather-and-cloth interior. The steering wheel and instrument panel are color-coordinated with the green scheme. Pot metal trim pieces can be a challenge to restore, but there’s no need here, because they are in excellent condition, as are the original chrome, rubber seals, and extensive trim.
Count the badges: four Imperial eagles, seven Imperial scripts, and 10 gold crowns.
Powering this top-of-the-market Imperial is a 392-cubic-inch Hemi V-8 with 325 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, linked to a pushbutton Torqueflite automatic transmission. The car has features you’d expect in this class—power steering, brakes, windows, antenna and a six-way power seat. It drives smoothly and quietly, and its new-that-year Torsion-Aire suspension results in suprisingly good handling.
For 1957, the Imperial—and all Chrysler-built cars—incorporated Torsion-Aire suspension. This was an indirect, torsion-bar front suspension system that reduced unsprung weight and shifted the car's center of gravity downward and rearward. Torsion-bar suspension on the front combined with multi-leaf springs on the rear provided a smoother ride and improved handling.
This ’57 represents the launching of the Imperial’s second generation, which lasted until 1966. These were big body-on-frame cars—unibody construction didn’t arrive until 1960. The “Forward Look” styling was previewed in the Chrysler Norseman show car, though it didn’t get that car’s cantilevered roof (supported only in the back). The Southampton designation was for the pillarless hardtops, either two- or four-door models (like the one on offer).
The Comforts of Home
The Imperial was not only the widest American cars (6.8 feet) that wasn’t a limousine, at 18.6 feet long, it was the biggest American car, period. It was also a 5,000-pound heavyweight, though today’s electric vehicles are often heftier—the Hummer EV weighs more than 9,000 pounds. Fuel economy was 9.9 miles per gallon. Still, it could move—zero to 60 took 9.5 seconds.
These were not cheap cars, but the 1957s were a sales home run. Chrysler sold 37,593 Imperials that year, versus 10,684 in 1956. Entry-level Imperials sold for $4,736, the Crown convertible at $5,598, and the ultra-exotic Ghia limousine for $15,075 (with only 74 built in Italy). This one might have been around $5,000 new—a dollar per pound. The Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was pricier, at $7,286 for the convertible.
Hagerty says a two-door Chrysler Imperial Crown Southampton in good condition is worth $28,900, but this one is better than good. Cars from the 1950s have become harder sells in the marketplace. Relatively rare cars like this one, in top condition, should find ready buyers.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.