1969 Imperial I may be pulling the trigger on today

[MarylandHunter]

Hello!

Just getting into the vintage car world and potentially going to be checking out this 69 imperial. Listed with 88k on the engine, an original 440 that turns but hasn't been attempted to run. Minimal rust, solid interior (minus some work), a vinyl top that needs to be replaced, and some trim work. Thought and opinions moving forward? Clean title, listed for 2.9k

 

[Triple Pickle]

For that price I don’t think you could go wrong from what I see in the pictures. Looks pretty original. The only thing I would be concerned about is the brake system. Let’s say that they can be challenging on these Imperials.
Go for it!

 

[57fury440]

Nice looking Imperial. Looks like it hasn't been messed with. Good luck with it.

 

[cuda hunter]

Good looking car! Good price! Can't really lose at that price.

Can you list the trim tag? That will tell us, and you, if there have been changes on the car since birth.

 

[ayilar]

@MarylandHunter -- IMHO, the 1969 Imps are the nicest-looking of all fusie Imperials BUT they have the most issues. @saforwardlook , who knows the beasts really well, has opined that Chrysler tried to introduce too many new items and that some things did not work.

--> the turn signals are fancy and, if memory serves, a pain to fix if they go bad;

--> AFAICT, this specific F8 Green Imperial has ATC. Please confirm if the car has H53 (Auto-Temp) on the fender tag. If so, then I personally would run. Not walk: run. Fixing ATC on a 1969-1970 fusie is not for the faint of heart.

--> I see some rust bubbles behind the rear doors, but that may be OK -- the seller says the car is solid otherwise. Still, be sure to check the underside (especially the front stub and the rear rails). ALSO, I don't see photos of what's under the vinyl top -- check the base of the A pillars (and also the firewall -- there can be some nasty rust there, if leaves or especially needles have accumulated and created a perfect acid bath), the C pillars, and the rear window surround (especially underneath);

This said, if you are just starting on classic cars, I am not sure that an Imperial is what I would consider. A Plymouth or Dodge (or even a Chrysler) will be much less complicated and you will have an easier (not easy, easier) time finding spare parts.

Good luck, and keep us posted (and please do get a better pic of the engine bay and of the fender tag).

PS: I have added some photos from the ad.

 

[Big_John]

Hello!

Just getting into the vintage car world and potentially going to be checking out this 69 imperial. Listed with 88k on the engine, an original 440 that turns but hasn't been attempted to run. Minimal rust, solid interior (minus some work), a vinyl top that needs to be replaced, and some trim work. Thought and opinions moving forward? Clean title, listed for 2.9k

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Since you are just getting into this hobby, I'm going to suggest that you buy something else.

A couple things hit me... The "minimal rust" is bubbles from a previous rust repair. You won't know how bad that is until the paint gets ground off. It could be newspaper and Bondo under there. The vinyl top needing repair is another red flag. The top wasn't painted at the factory and a lot of folks find a lot of hard to repair rust under the vinyl. I can't help but notice the old duct tape on the front, I'll bet it's a mess under there.

As mentioned, the Auto Temp Control can be a nightmare.

This really isn't a good way into the hobby.... It's cheap, the price is right and if you were looking for a "driver" where you get the mechanicals working and drive it "as is", I'd say yes... But if you are looking for a project car, this isn't the one... It's going to be expensive and you're going to spend a ton of time doing the stuff that isn't any fun... and you're going to see that some of the Imperial parts are hard to find.

I don't know what your abilities are... But let's say you can do a bit of work, have a decent place and basic tools... I'm seeing at least $5k in mechanical and at least $15k in bodywork/paint on top of doing some stuff yourself. That's being conservative too. It could be a lot more... A lot more... and a lot of time.

IMHO, it would be best to buy something running and on the road. Then you can do the little jobs that are a lot more fun than spending your nights and weekends for a year or two working on a rusty car. The world is full of half finished projects.... Buy something that isn't a huge project that you can start having fun with right away... Try to limit the amount of work that needs to be done to minor mechanical or cosmetic that might take you a few hours or maybe even a couple days to finish.

This hobby can be a lot of fun... It can also be very frustrating if all you have to show for 6 months of work is credit card bills and a pile of parts in your garage. Yep, gonna cost you a few more bucks up front, but if you find the right car, you'll be money, time and fun ahead.

 

[Big_John]

To give an example of a car (or two) to get you started in the hobby. I'm going to pick on @Ripinator and post the two '66 300 s he has(had?) for sale. For Sale - Two '66 Chrysler 300s for Sale

So... $9K for both... Let's break these down... The coupe I've seen in person. It's a decent hobby car that would look good at the Cars and Coffee at your local Dairy Queen on Saturday morning. I'd drive the crap out of it. So let's say that the coupe could be bought for $6k and the hardtop for $3k. (no idea what he wants if he were to split them up, but let's use these numbers as an example)

So, the coupe looks good, checks off a lot of boxes... Decent price... Running and driving... Doesn't need a lot of work. Buy it for $6K and drive it for a while as it is. Do a little here and there as you drive it. Don't tear into it... Just do those Saturday afternoon projects and then have more fun with the car.

Got some mechanic skills? ... You buy the hardtop and do the same thing... It's going to need a little more work and in the long run, it's probably going to be at least the same cash outlay, but you can still go out and drive it... Duct tape on the seats and all... Drive it and do the seats when you feel like it.

 

[ayilar]

To give an example of a car (or two) to get you started in the hobby. I'm going to pick on @Ripinator and post the two '66 300 s he has(had?) for sale. For Sale - Two '66 Chrysler 300s for Sale

@MarylandHunter -- @Ripinator is in Germantown, i.e., your own state. So the cars are local. I have driven several times with him and his car, and vouch for all that @Big_John said.

 

[cuda hunter]

However, I have to throw this in.

I started with Cuda's. The most expensive car on the market to purchase. I would not settle for less. Being young back then, 2004, I could not afford a proper cuda. So I purchased a sad and rusty 74 cuda.
It needed everything, including patching up holes in the car all over. That car was awesome. I did so much work to it and enjoyed it.
Had I not started with the true car of my dreams I would not be into C bodies today.
Sometimes, its worth it to learn the hard way. I did. It's not for everyone, but some can get away with it. That takes time, and more time, and long days of work that mean nothing aside from another part for the cuda.
If your passion is the Imperial, get it.

 

[Big_John]

@MarylandHunter -- @Ripinator is in Germantown, i.e., your own state. So the cars are local. I have driven several times with him and his car, and vouch for all that @Big_John said.

Geez... Didn't even think of that...

I wasn't trying to push those cars, just using an example of what's out there for a little more $$ upfront and less $$ and time overall.

 

[ayilar]

I wasn't trying to push those cars, just using an example of what's out there for a little more $$ upfront and less $$ and time overall.

I know you were not. But either of Rip's 300s would make sense in this case (assuming of course @MarylandHunter likes the 1966 Three Hundred) -- all the more so that @Ripinator has worked on them for years and, in my experience, being able to contact a prior owner who knows his stuff can save a lot of time (e.g., understand what was done and why).

 

[Big_John]

However, I have to throw this in.

I started with Cuda's. The most expensive car on the market to purchase. I would not settle for less. Being young back then, 2004, I could not afford a proper cuda. So I purchased a sad and rusty 74 cuda.
It needed everything, including patching up holes in the car all over. That car was awesome. I did so much work to it and enjoyed it.
Had I not started with the true car of my dreams I would not be into C bodies today.
Sometimes, its worth it to learn the hard way. I did. It's not for everyone, but some can get away with it. That takes time, and more time, and long days of work that mean nothing aside from another part for the cuda.
If your passion is the Imperial, get it.

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I think if it was a passion for the Imperial, he wouldn't be asking about it.

BTW, I had a '73 Barracuda that I bought in 1974. Basin Street Blue! I had it for quite a while and after it traded hands amongst a couple friends, it was sold to someone else. I ran into him a few years later and he told me that some old woman ran a stop sign and destroyed the car...

 

[57fury440]

Barracudas are nice cars. I still have the one I ordered new in 1972. Reading all the comments above, I agree that if that car is not his "dream car" then maybe it is not the right one.

 

[3C's & a D?]

The interior of this Imperial has me scratching my head. How are the seats seemingly in perfect shape? While I've taken better (perfect), dash pads off of junkyard cars. The rear window insert is obviously leaking. There is alot of time, money, and elbow grease/smashed knuckles to get this one road worthy, as mentioned by others. That dash would have me running, but if you're up for the challenge, I've got a good one, Pretty sure it's the same colour too.

 

[Triple Pickle]

I just saw the pic of the back glass area. That looks scary. I still say for the money you couldn’t get hurt. But, as far as a project for a first timer? No.
A project for a seasoned veteran of the hobby? It would have to be their dream car or they would know better than to even consider it.

 

[1970FuryConv]

The first c-body car I bought was a 1969 Dodge Monaco with vinyl top in 1994. It had substantial rust under the rear window, but the trunk wasn't bad. I'm not sure how, because the trunk was filled with potting soil. It also had rust in the cowl drain area that was a bear if it rained. I bought the car for $1 after the owner tried to talk me out of it, because he was ready to junk the car. I worked on it for 4 years and dropped $17000 to make the car I wanted. I drove it for 8 years before it went to a new owner.

If this car is the car you really want, then it's time to buy. Hindsight being 20/20, take someone with you to look at the body and advise you on what you're getting into. Might as well go in with eyes wide open, rather than sleep walking into a car that is not what you dream of.

 

[cuda hunter]

I was wondering about that dash. It appears to be black in color.
Is it a dark green pad that has been sun baked and just looks black now?
It does appear to be drooping pretty bad.

 

[saforwardlook]

If he has a passion for Imperials, then the 1969 models did have what many consider the best styling of all the fuselage Imperials, but the 1971 - 1973 models are the better cars than either 1969 or 1970 and still look almost the same anyway. My advice to him if he really wants this kind of Imperial, focus on a 1971 - 1973 model and they can be found for good prices, especially 4 doors that are ready to drive and enjoy as is with only some minor maintenance. Starting with the earlier ones will just wear you down and empty your pockets very fast.

 

[1966newport]

1500 max

 

[detmatt]

1500 max

Those seats are worth that. Someone better buy this before the derby crowd sees it.