Design work on Chrysler Corporation’s 1962 models began in 1958-59. Even then, it was obvious that the fascination with tailfins was waning. Virgil Exner and his team desperately wanted to retain this styling initiative that they had wrested from General Motors, and they collectively knew that they could not accomplish this with higher fins. The 1959 Cadillac raised eyebrows throughout the industry and the manufacturers had backed off in the subsequent years over fin size.

Exner prepared an entire fleet of finless, downsized Chrysler Corporation cars for 1962, everything from the Valiant to the Imperial. All of these proposals were derived from a single “theme car” created secretly in an off-limits studio and known only to Exner, exterior chief stylist Cliff Voss, and a small group of modelers. Exner was an unabashed classic car enthusiast and had never backed away from including these types of styling elements. Now he wanted to incorporate classic styling themes throughout the line, with long hoods, short decks, and close-coupled passenger compartments.

Exner assigned his best people to sculpt the different bodies, with Fred Reynolds being the man for Chrysler and Imperial. All of these projects were supervised by Voss. The redesigned cars featured styling cues that included shaving the fins off of the 1961 shells and replacing them with “gun site” taillights, retaining the freestanding headlights and clamshell front fenders, with body sections that were continuous with graceful curves and window glass set nearly flush for an uninterrupted sweep. The 1962 line was considered to be gorgeous, and some have advanced the thought that the 1962 Imperials and Chryslers in general were some of the most beautiful (at that time) of the postwar period. Exner cars have always been recognized for their styling originality and vivid imagination.

With only 554 Imperial Crown Convertibles being built, this is indeed a very rare luxury automobile. A specialty book on American convertibles that was printed in 1979 speculated then that fewer than 40 similar cars were believed to still exist. Beautifully finished in Code W Oyster White, this Imperial is richly appointed with a burgundy interior and white soft-top. The Imperial line ran with the 413-cid, 340-hp V-8 engine and was connected to the pushbutton actuated TorqueFlite automatic transmission.

Loaded with standard luxury features, the Imperial is equipped with factory air conditioning, AM radio, many lighting conveniences, electric clock, “Electroluminescent” instrument lighting, dual fender-mounted mirrors, variable-speed windshield wipers with washer; power six-way seat, windows, top, steering and brakes. The wide whitewall tires were also standard and the factory wheelcovers continue the overall design theme looking similar to the taillight styling. To cap it off, this exquisite machine has its service manual, spare, roadside jack and a car cover.