
In 1961 Virgil Exner is on the point of departure. Elwood Engel moves over from Ford,
where he took part in the design of the 61 Lincoln. Engel, assisted by Lynn
Townsend, takes Exners place. His influence on styling will be noticeable only in
1964, and the 1961 models can be seen, for better or worse, as the apotheosis of the Exner
style. A year before, Chryslers competitors had abandoned tailfins and restored a
straighter, purer line to car bodies. Exner, by contrast, put up a defiant last stand. For 1961 he delivered
overwhelming tailfins (Imperial), tormented shapes (Dodge, Plymouth) and a style that was
at best questionable for Chryslers and the Dodge Dart. Public reaction was cold, and
starting in 1962 the excesses were stripped away, to the great disappointment of Exner,
who saw the result as "plucked chickens." In effect, 1961 was the last of a line
that had begun in 1957. Drawings and a model were produced for a "new" Imperial
in the manner of the Valiant: Shorter wheelbase, big hood, short trunk lid, ridges running
along the sides, and so on. The new chairman of Chrysler, L. L. "Tex" Colbert,
rejected these proposals and told Exner to whip up something new-looking out of the old
ingredients. Hence the "plucked chickens" of 1962. |

|
 |
Returning to the 1961 Imperial: Everybody recognizes the audacious front end,
with headlights detached from the body and perched on the bumper. This peculiarity leads
to another - the front fenders are integral with the grille and
are no longer independently detachable. Otherwise, the grille is relatively simple, and
the bumper regains its horizontal line. In back, the tailfins become truly imposing in
size as well as shape, and their concave rear surface wraps around the
"microphone" taillights of the year before. The flanks of the car are dressed
with thick stainless-steel moldings. Inside, the dashboard takes on a space-ship aura,
with a linear speedometer and bizarre tilted ovals containing the pushbutton shift and
climate controls, all behind a nearly rectangular steering wheel. After these
eccentricities, the pivoting seats and the false spare wheel on the trunk lid seem almost
ordinary!
No change is seen in the 413 cu.in. "Wedge" under the hood. The Torqueflite
transmission is now in an aluminum housing and has had some internal improvements. For the
rest of it, little evolution since 1957, with torsion bar and leaf-spring suspension, drum
braking, and conventional steel frame. Imperial is by now the only Chrysler car not using
unibody construction.
The disappearance of the sedan with doorposts from the Imperial line is notable - its available only in the four-door Southampton. The
Ghia-built limousines still have doorposts, but in reality they are unsold 1960 models, so
theres no Imperial limo with free-standing headlights and tailfins. You dont
have much chance of finding any 1961 limousine, for only 9 of them were shipped from
Italy! |
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 3108 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. (Ghia: 149.5)
Length x width : 227 (Ghia: 248) x 81,5.
Weight: 4715 to 4875 lbs (Ghia: 5960 lbs)
Height: 56.7 in loaded
Tires 8.20 x 15 (Ghia: 8.90 x 15) |
Production, prices
RY1-L Custom Southampton 4dr: 4129 at $5111
RY1-L Custom Southampton 2dr: 889 at $4925
RY1-M Crown Southampton 4dr: 4769 at $5649
RY1-M Crown Southampton 2dr: 1007 . at $5405
RY1-M Crown convertible 2dr: 429 at $5776
RY1-H LeBaron Southampton 4dr: 1026 at $6428
PY1- ? Crown Imperial limousine: 9 at $16000
|
Options
(some
of them..)
- A/C. ($ 590)
- "Sure Grip" differential
- Pw. windows and seats on RY1-L (std on others).
- Pw. vent windows (std LeBaron)
- Solex glass
- Power "Swivel seat" or 6 Way power seat.
- automatic rear view miror "Miror-matic"
- "Electro touch" Radio
- Auto pilot.
- Electric door locks
- Highway HiFI RCA 45 rpm |
Serial number
(on right front door post):
Custom: 9114 100001 à 9114 1.....
Crown: 9214 100001 à 9214 1.....
LeBaron: 9314 100001 à 9314 1.....
Ghia Crown Imperial: 9914 100001 à 9914 1.....
Engine number (on the block in a flat space behind the
water pump):
P 41 ....... |
1961 IMPERIAL photo
gallery
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Shriner" Convertible (pic:
04/98)
(see also here) |
and its dash |
2dr H/T Crown |
and its upholstery |
Custom coupé |
Convertible |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crown Imperial (Ghia) ad |
Sandra Dee + Imperial.. |
4dr H/T LeBaron |
Wheelcover eagle |
LeBaron wheelcover |
Crown wheelcover |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sticker |
"Microphone tail lite" |
conv. upholstery |
Pushbuttons |
"FliteSweep" |
Eagle handle |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|