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What do you think of the 59 Imperial ? I like it. Isnt that toothy grille
striking? Excessive, its true, but without the bad taste and caricature we see in
that same years Cadillac. Unfortunately, automotive history likes to recall the
extravagant 59 Caddy, not the Imperial.
After a disappointing 1958,
Imperial felt the need to refresh its appearance, yet not to spend millions in doing so.
GM changed its chassis and body, while Chrysler applied only some thrifty retouching: The
front of the cars body is redesigned, and some chrome and stainless steel is added,
as suits the times. Thats about it. Oh yes, the engine production cost of the
"Hemi" has grown burdensome so the company has developed, and introduced in 1958
Chrysler and DeSoto models, the "big-block Wedge." So for Imperial, the 392 Hemi
now goes out and the 413 cu.in. Wedge (meaning an angled or wedge-shaped combustion
chamber, rather than the convex Hemi) comes in. This motor, with "Max Wedge"
refinements, was destined to power Chrysler "muscle cars" in the horsepower-race
years of 1961-64, and it propelled the Imperial until 1965. In any event, Imperial
customers were more drawn by what they found in the passenger compartment than under the
hood! The big "dinner-plate" instrument clusters are supplanted by a substantial
panel combining a linear speedometer, gauges and various controls. On the left is the
pushbutton gearshift, on the right the heat and air conditioning controls, also
pushbuttons. The rear-view mirror placement remains rather awkward. There is an imposing
list of options, including "swivel seats" that rotate in a limited arc toward
the door, for easier getting in and out. "Mirror-Matic" adjusts the rear-view
mirror automatically to day or night conditions, and another automatic feature dims
headlights as a courtesy to approaching cars.
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Roofs of the hardtops have three optional
decorative schemes. Silvercrest presents the front of the roof in stainless steel; Landau
coats the rear part in black paint textured to simulate leather; Silvercrest Landau
combines the two. The rear bumper and taillights are redesigned in a more
"Cadillesque" manner. The strip between the rear bumper and wheel-well is
protected against corrosion and decorated with stainless steel. An option this year are
huge 11-by-14 tires (std: 9.50 x 14) running on only 22 lbs. pressure, the idea being to
give a softer ride, but these were soon dropped because of their poor tracking. They were
replaced on the option list with 8.20-by-15s, the larger rim allowing a larger,
better-cooled brake drum, hence better braking. Comfort concerns also brought forth air
suspension as an Imperial option, following GMs example. Chryslers version was
better thought out, with the experience of the 58 Buick and Cadillac in mind: Keep
the springs and add "inflatable cushions," but only in the rear suspension! Even
so, reliability was not good and the device was dropped the following year.
The Ghia-built Crown Imperial was the only 1959 Chrysler car to retain the 392 Hemi
engine, and that was because of the slowness of production in Italy. Seven were built that
year, one of them for the Queen of England to use on a visit to Canada. We dont know
who paid the bill for that limousine - $16,000!
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Engine
V8 Wedge "Golden Lion" 413 CI (6769 cc)
Bore x stroke: 4.18 x 3.75 inches.
Horsepower: 350 hp at 4600 rpm
Torque: 470 ft/lbs at 2800 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.0 / 1.
Carburator: 4 BBL Carter AFB 2797 S
Electrical: 12 V |
Transmission
Automatic transmission "Torqueflite" 3 speeds
Converter ratio: 2.2 /1
gear selection: 5 pushbuttons (left-hand side of inst. panel): N, D, 1, 2, R.
Ratios: 1° : 2,45 ; 2° : 1,45 ; Drive: 1 ; Reverse : 2,2.
Rear axle: 2.93 / 1. |
Suspension, brakes
Front, type independent, torsion-bar with ball joints,
power steering : "Constant Control Power steering".
Rear, type semi elliptic leaves
Brakes: power, 4 drums ( 12 in.)
Parking brake (drum) at rear of transmission |
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 129 in. (3,28 m)
Length x width : 226 x 81,1.
Weight: 4675 to 4875 lbs
Height: 57.5 in loaded
Tires 9.50 x 14 then 8.20 x 15 |
Production, prices
MY1-L Custom sedan 4dr: 2071 at $5016
MY1-L Custom Southampton 4dr: 3984 at $5016
MY1-L Custom Southampton 2dr: 1743 at $4910
MY1-M Crown sedan 4dr: 1335 at $5647
MY1-M Crown Southampton 4dr: 4714 . at $5647
MY1-M Crown Southampton 2dr: 1728. at $5403
MY1-M Crown convertible 2dr: 555 at $5774
MY1-H LeBaron sedan 4dr: 510 . at $6103
MY1-H LeBaron Southampton 4dr: 622 at $6103
MY1- ? Crown Imperial limousine: 7 at $16000 |
Options
(some
of them..)
- A/C. ($ 590)
- "True level" rear air suspension ($ 156)
- "Sure Grip" differential
- Pw. windows and seats on MY1-L (std on others).
- Solex glass
- Power "Swivel seat" or 6 Way power seat.
- automatic rear view miror "Miror-matic"
- "Electro touch" Radio
- Auto pilot.
- Electric door locks
- "imperial eagle" hood ornament |
Serial number
(on right front door post):
Custom: M617 100001 to M617 1.......
Crown: M637 100001 to M637 1......
LeBaron: M657 100001 to M657 1...... except below:
Ghia limo: M657 100 131 à M657 100 140
Engine number, except limo (on the block in a flat space behind the water pump):
MR 413 1001 à MR 413 ..... Limo: see 57
Serial and engine numbers are not the same. |
1959 IMPERIAL photo
gallery
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures.
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Crown Southampton |
same, rear view |
2 dr H/T and Tour Eiffel |
French Convertible |
dashboard |
Convertible |
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Hood ornament |
The 21 "Shriners" convertibles.. |
59 "custom" from Sweden |
Indonesian parade phaeton |
A lot of 59 ! |
Sedan H/T |
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Tom Green's Crown 2dr HT and its engine |
The wonderful convertible of Tony
Bevacqua |
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Bill White's LeBaron |
The Ruffalo's conv. |
Peter's conv. |
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