1966 Chrysler Imperial Crown
By the mid 60s the accountants at Chrysler were getting tired of funding a completely separate assembly process for their flagship luxury brand. Since 1960 almost every other vehicle in the corporate lineup utilized unibody construction. But Imperial stubbornly refused to conform.
The 1966 Imperial Crown stands as a beautiful monument to that stubborn independence. It was the absolute final year the brand rode on its own exclusive traditional body on frame chassis. This heavy foundation was essential for delivering the whisper quiet ride quality that wealthy buyers demanded.
Inside the massive cabin passengers were treated to authentic Claro walnut wood trim and thick premium leather. Under the hood engineers introduced the brand new 440 cubic inch V8 engine to effortlessly pull all that bespoke steel down the highway.
The following year corporate executives finally won the battle. They forced Imperial onto a shared unibody platform which quietly turned a unique luxury cruiser into just another highly decorated Chrysler.
