1960 Chrysler Imperial
Written by Keith Fudge

In the world of car collecting and restoration there are always favorites such as Corvettes, Camaros, and Mustangs; however, there are many underappreciated cars that are truly special and that demonstrate great design and appeal. Recently, Dennis Gage and the crew from My Classic Car had the chance to visit the California home of Steve Nye and see a spectacular array of restored vehicles including vintage Mercurys, Chryslers, and a stunning T-Bird. In fact, the one feature that Dennis really loved is that Steve has a twelve-car garage! But, the car that really caught our attention, and which is a personal favorite of Steve's, is a 1961 Chrysler New Yorker.

To begin, Steve pointed out the rarity of the New Yorker in saying that during this era the Chrysler 300 was a much more popular car. As Steve walked Dennis around the car and pointed out some of the interesting features (such as the rear “fins” that gave the Chrysler a bold and distinctive look), Dennis commented just how heavily optioned this car actually was. Steve then told Dennis that this car was equipped with every factory option except air conditioning, and that after-market air was added just a short time after the car was purchased. Some of the more unusual options on the car included a futuristic seven push-button radio complete with foot control, a Mirror-Matic light sensitive rear-view mirror, and swivel seats! Dennis and Steve then began to talk about just what powered this mega-cruiser and Steve told Dennis it was the “Leaping Lion 413,” the largest engine that Chrysler made at the time. The engine was rated at 350 horsepower and it took that kind of power to get this 4,065 pound car down the boulevard. As far as other numbers are concerned, there were 2,541 of these cars were produced and buyers could have purchased one for the affordable price of $4,175. Finally, with the gorgeous California sunshine and a great road for cruising, Steve and Dennis took to the streets and the Leaping Lion sprang to life! Steve told Dennis that he restored the car at 125,000 miles and that the one good thing about Chrysler products is that they are forgiving after they haven't been running for a while. On the down side, he said that parts are difficult to find and that he has been thankful for eBay! All we can say is, “Keep searching, Steve! You definitely put them back together the right way!”