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Vehicle DetailsLET'S LOOK AT THIS IMPERIAL FROM A DIFFERENT STANDPOINTWHAT IT IS NOT: It is not a convertible with the resulting $40,000 or $50,000 or more price tag. You will never have to buy a convertible top and put up with wind or water leaks or the lack of rigidity so common in convertibles.WHAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO SPEND: (estimates based on current averages of quality work)1, The 1990's repaint was a high quality job and is still in excellent condition. You Save $4,000-$10,0002. The 1990's re-upholstery absolutely correct and still in beautiful condition. You Save $3,000- $6,0003. Chrome is in great condition. Bumpers, mirrors and assorted other parts were re-chromed in the 2000's You Save $2,000-$3,0004. Radial tires are fresh with less than 500 miles on them. You Save $1,200-$1,5005. Trunk interior kit was replaced and in good condition You Save $8006. Car is missing no parts of any kind You Save Money7. Headliner is original and in very good condition You Save $5008. Car has no rust issues at all. Undercarriage in great shape. You Save Money9. Transmission was rebuilt in the early 2000's and works perfectly You Save $3,60010. Engine runs great, never been opened, uses no oil, powerful and solid You Save Money11, Recent rear leaf springs replaced You Save Money 12. All the glass is original and in great shape. You Save Money13. All gauges, lights and windows work You Save Money14. You will not have to add seat belts because they have already been installed You Save Money15. Knowing the history, knowing the story of a car from its beginning right up to today. Invaluable16. Your joy in owning, driving, luxuriating in this gorgeous time traveler. InvaluableWhen purchasing a vintage or special car you must consider two elements. First of course the purchase price and what you are getting for your money. Second, what will you have to do, how much will you have to spend on various elements of the car to make it dependable and worthy of your pride and confidence. If you are after a 100 point show car, a trailer queen, no matter what has been done, you would probably do it all over to hit that mark of perfection. If you are after a beautiful, dependable car you can drive and enjoy, your cost will be the purchase price plus whatever you will need to spend or whatever you will NOT need to spend on the car.Good luck in your search. Here is the story of my lovely and gracious 1963 Chrysler Imperial Southampton! This is a beautifully restored and maintained, highly optioned four door hardtop, an example of the best that Chrysler fielded to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln. It is equal or better in quality of materials and quality of construction to its competitors and surpasses them in ride quality, braking, handling and sheer joy of ownership. With its pushbutton automatic transmission, elliptical steering wheel, futuristic modern design and space age instrumentation enveloped in a smooth sumptuous body, it stands out as the epitome of early 1960's American luxury. The attention to detail in both the interior and exterior design work is a feast for the eyes, This Imperial Crown Southhampton was delivered new to the Chrysler Dealership in Salisbury, North Carolina and displayed in the one car showroom of the dealership until purchased by a local businessman and his wife. I purchased it from the widow in 1981 and it was my daily driver for a completely reliable 8 years then retired for a good quality re-paint, re-chrome, re-upholstery and mechanical refurbishment. It then spent two years on display in the Automotive Collection at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina, just 10 minutes from my home and its selling dealership. A close friend who greatly admired the car purchased it from me and lovingly cared for it for a few years until I re-purchased it 8 years ago. It resides in a beautiful carriage house style garage/display building on my property known by locals as the Garage - ma - Hal. The car is still beautiful inside and out and is a great and dependable runner and a delight to drive. It is not perfect but a combination of original and restored condition that has been driven and enjoyed and carefully preserved. It has almost new radial tires and recent new factory spec rear leaf springs. A few of the power options including the A/C are not currently working but could be put in order easily. There is one paint blemish below the rear deck lid (in Chrysler speak, the Flight Swept Deck) and is shown in one of the pictures. The passenger side sun visor has pulled apart at the stitching as shown in the picture and one of the tufted seat buttons is missing, also pictured. All four door panels are original and in exceptional condition (these often sag or wrinkle with age). All of the glass is in very good condition and is original. The headliner is original and is excellent. Note that the re-upholstery work done in the 1990's is absolutely factory correct. The fabric and leather are absolutely correct. The very complicated stitching and tufting of the seat fabric perfectly matches the original and was costly and difficult to achieve and required transport to a first-class upholstery shop in Ohio known for such quality detailed workmanship. So many cars of this vintage have been ruined with second class simplified workmanship and incorrect fabrics or design. My car is spot on correct and would be very hard to duplicate in today's shrinking market of craftspeople and materials. Thank you for your consideration.
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