Contact SellerSee our other listingsPrint this listing Unusually clean and loaded 1981 Chrysler ImperialPhotosContact Information imperialist1960@yahoo.com 15760 Via Cordoba San Francisco, CA 94580 Call Us Today (415) 699-8760 Ask Us A Question SpecificationsYear: 1981Make: ChryslerModel: ImperialMileage: 123000Transmission: AutomaticEngine: 8 Cylinder, 318cid LExterior Color: BlackInterior Color: RedTitle: Clear Description If you went to a used car lot in 1985 and checked out a 1981 Imperial, this would be the sort of thing you'd be likely to see. There are many ways to buy a vintage car, and many sorts of people to buy them from. Buying the personal treasure of a well-known club member who built it for himself rather than others might be the best value a person can get short of a six figure restoration or some such. This car may be one of the best such choices available, as it was owned by one of the heavyweights in the Imperal Club. My good friend Dick B, who is no longer with us, specialized in 1981-1983 Imperials at the end of a lifetime of car collecting and restoration. This was his prime car (of 4 1981-1983's that he owned). It is sorted and settled, being used as his long-range touring car. It has been on multiple multi-state road trips, and this is important to note because it has not been sitting up on blocks but instead is well loved and the bugs are sorted out. It's dependable, and if the next buyer wants to pay for gas, return airfare, and lodging, I'll personally drive it anyplace north of the Mexican border to deliver it. I'm that confident in it, and I'm normally pessimistic about any vintage car that one isn't personally involved with having redone. I know Dick's work, and I'll stick by it. The car is unusual for several reasons. First and above all, is the factory CB radio that is in the car - one of the more unusual options offered in an age of dwindling options lists. The handset is in its own cubby in the glovebox and it has a Chrysler logo on it (see image). This radio was a special order item, and takes a unique antenna that functioned to both recive and transmit. Second item to note is the factory sunroof, which was one of the other few options available, and it is present and functioning correctly on this car. Sunroof was an exceedingly rare option as far as I know. The paint is original/factory and largely without problems. There is zero rust, rot, contamination, or any other problems. No chips or touch-ups visible. Photos that I've taken of other cars have managed to make them look better. Not on this one. The car looked even better in person when I photographed it, and it looked not unlike a new car most of the time than I was around it today. Please scrutinize the clarity and depth of the reflections in the paint - the paint really is a delight to look at. Leading edge of the hood has an edge that was polished through, but which could be easily hidden with a permanent marker. There are 2 pea-sized door dings on the passenger side. Otherwise the reflections of the springtime sky and surroundings in the paint are honest and the car's glossy black paint is unblemished and unscratched. One angled photo of the roof has white puffy clouds that could look like there is clear-coat that's lifting - that's clouds in the sky on a perfect painted surface. All surfaces on the car are AOK and the black paint is deep and lusterous. It has been stored inside and cared for during its life. The red pinstriping (adhesive sticker) on the trunk on the driver side has a blemish in it. The hood ornament is actual crystal, and as I was test-driving the car to write this summary with greater accuracy, I was struck by the glitter and refraction of light that came from the pentastar crystal as the sun hit it. The light refracted in a brilliant way with a hint of rainbow seperation of the color spectrum that happened only at certain angles of light playing through it. Reminded me of the Pink Floyd prism logo, only more subtle. There is the Cartier crystal in the center of the leather wrapped steering wheel. There are two crystals that should be present in the vertical light bars at the rear edge of the front windows, but they are absent and would be a collectible to hunt down. These are illuminated items on the exterior. Entering the car, I was struck by how clean and original the interior looks. It is red on red on red on red, with deep red pile carpet on the floor and bottom of the doors. There are no blemishes on the door panels front or rear. The seats show some wear on the outside edges where a person gets in and out of them. This is wear to the surface of the leather and is a discoloration on the driver's seat in a 3" wide vertical belt on the upper, outer edge. The leather is darker there, and this may be a result of use and an attempt at correction/re-dying of the leather. The passenger seat has some small spots where the leather has non-dyed portions visible. Application of red dye would make these much less visible, and I consider this to be a detailing item and not a structural defect. Seats are whole, leather is supple and not the victim of exposure to sunlight as so many cars from California tend to be. The rear seats are nearly perfect. Leather wrap on the steering wheel is good but not quite as nice as new after 120k miles of use. Imperfect, but still very red and in good enough condition not to need attention at this time. Instrument cluster is the first digital dashboard ever installed in a mass produced car, and it has features that are standard on all cars now, but which were revolutionary at the time - buttons allow toggling between gallons in the tank, range to empty, odometer/speedometer, ect. A full brocure on this "Modern Marvel" from Chrysler is available here: http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1981/Literature/ElectronicMarvel/index.htm Styling on this car has a "bustle-back" trunk that works where the Cadillac Seville's perhaps does not? Lines are cleaner and very much in line with modern lines for the early 1980's. The lines originally appeared on the last of the Chrysler Turbine Car projects (Chrysler experimented with turbine powerplants for nearly 20 years before giving up - this was the last of those): imperialclub.com/yr/1981/turbine/index.htm The car is powered by the original 318 V8 engine with first generation electronic fuel injection. The EFI system is simple in comparison to the systems on modern cars, but was widely misunderstood when it did not funtion properly - the entire service network was used to dealing with carburetors, and these cars were frequently retrofitted (even by dealerships!) with a carb when they failed to diagnose problems. As in other areas of obsolete technology, where most people take a shortcut and the easy way out, the man who owned this car championed the engineering on this system to the club, and was the author of thread-ending, decisive, knowlegeable answers to others problems. A graduate of MIT with a focus on electrical engineering, he self-taught himself the ins and outs of the system and was supremely confident in the cars as they were designed and delivered when new. This car's engine starts promptly and functions properly. In comparison to the 440-powered Imperials of the 1960's and 1970s, power is not as deep or immediate, but the driveline functions properly, and the car is supremely comfortable on the highway and around town as long as dramatic acceleration is not demanded. It feels similar to what I guess a more modern standard, non-performance sedan might feel like. There is extensive archival information penned in Dick's own keyboard/hand in the Online Imperial Club's information warehouse. That site has 70,000+ pages of information on all Imperials, and 1981-83 pages are full of plenty of information, including the "Red Book" which is an exhaustive explanation of all things pertinent to the EFI system fitted here. The car does not leak any fluids. Totally clean in that respect. All accessories work as far as I can tell. I did not test the CB Radio - probably nobody there to talk to, anyway. Electro-mechanical doors covering the headlights function properly, and the chrome surrounding the headlights was particularly clean in form and execution - some of the first cars with rectangular headlights did not look as good as these do - the styling seems very tight and clean, mirroring the angles found elsewhere in the car's lines - lights on or off. Engine compartment has two obvious cosmetic flaws - the insulation above the battery is tatty, and the radiator bulkhead has some paint peeling up. The paint issue could be addressed by a competent paint person without drama. The hood insulation may present a challenge to replace with factory material - perhaps stapling it and tying it together somehow could arrest its degradation - that would be for the next owner to deal with. All stickers, emblems, and signage under the hood appears present - I noted that the windshield wiper motor has a prominent penta-star on it, and the entire engine compartment is clean and tidy. Perhaps wipe down the inner fenders and you're ready to go to a show? Trunk is clean. Undercarriage is clean. The normal questions about rust or rot just don't apply to this very clean and original body. There may be some patch of oxidation someplace, but again: the car looks like it is perhaps 5 years old. 20 minutes of cleaning the glass and just looking the car over, and it's pretty much ready to drive or show, and show competitively. This is probably within the top five examples of this car's production run remaining at this point in time. Front suspension and brakes feel tight and purposeful - front suspensions on all older cars tend to degrade as the rubber components do. This car does not have slack or slop in the wheel. There is Chrysler's famous power steering, which is highly boosted, so road feel isn't very present, but everything seems correct. Car tracks straight and does not seem to need an alignment, although I did not drive it fast enough to say this conclusively. No obvious or annoying pull, though. The present owner bought the car from Dick's estate at my urging, and has kept it indoors as well, but has decided to part with the car because he is not using it, and is focused on another Mopar restoration project that is asking to be paid for. There is no negative reason to sell the car, it's just not the right car for him now. There is a large box of spares NOT INCLUDED with the car. These are the EFI components and a few other goodies that Dick kept as backup. Winning bidder will be offered first right of refusal to purchase the spares, which will otherwise be listed (for more) on ebay later. Would prefer to supply the owner with long-term options for the car's EFI system, as parts are essentially otherwise unavailable. Present owner has done a basic tune-up with cap/rotor/plugs/wires/air filter. The front seat was touched up to make the less red parts redder. Car was smogged in 2012 and is due for another now, which it will get before the auction is completed - should not be a problem as it passed strongly last time and has only had 200 miles added to the odometer since. There is a new muffler (car sounds correct), new battery, and it was just detailed. Mike says that the car always starts right up and drives wonderfully - no problems. My test drive agrees with this. As one of the primary people who volunteer and run the Online Imperial Club, this is THE 1981 Imperial that I'd want to have in my collection. These cars are not strongly favored in collectors circles and the pricing reflects this. That said, it's a very unique body style that seems to have aged gracefully, and this car's background gives me confidence that it could be one of the top two on the planet, based on what I've seen by watching ebay daily in this segment since 1997, and by what I've seen at various shows and meets. If an 81 is in your plans, this is the one. Warranty InformationAS IS - NO WARRANTY This vehicle is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed written or implied. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request prior to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.Terms and Conditions Winning bidder must contact me within 24 hours of auction end, and make arrangements for payment at that time. A $500.00 deposit is due within 24 hours of end of auction. The remainder is due within 5 days of auction end. If no contact is made within 24 hours we reserve the right to re-list the vehicle, sell it to the next high bidder, or sell it otherwise. Most banks and credit unions do not finance vehicles older than 1995 or with more than 100K miles. Make sure if financing that your financial institution accepts the year and miles of this vehicle before bidding. Please arrange financing prior to bidding. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping of this vehicle. If you wish to have it shipped using a service, we will gladly cooperate. You can locate shippers by doing a search for `auto shippers`. If you are not sure about something, please ask! Do not assume anything not listed is included. We reserve the right to cancel bids for excessive negative feedback. We reserve the right to end the listing if the vehicle is no longer available for sale. Please do not bid on this auction unless you are serious about owning this vehicle. All non-paying high bidders will be reported to eBay, and negative feedback will be posted. PLEASE ONLY BID WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY. IF THE RESERVE IS NOT MET, WE MAY CONTACT THE HIGH BIDDER TO OFFER THE SECOND CHANCE OPTION. DisclaimerThis auction is a legally binding contract to buy this vehicle. All vehicles are sold as-is unless otherwise specified. I have done my best to accurately describe this vehicle. It is up to the buyer to come see and further inspect the car before the end of the auction. --> See our other listings 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clean and loaded 1981 Chrysler ImperialYear1981MakeChryslerModelImperialMileage123000TransmissionAutomaticEngine8 Cylinder, 318cid LExterior ColorBlackInterior ColorRedTitleClear
If you went to a used car lot in 1985 and checked out a 1981 Imperial, this would be the sort of thing you'd be likely to see.
There are many ways to buy a vintage car, and many sorts of people to buy them from. Buying the personal treasure of a well-known club member who built it for himself rather than others might be the best value a person can get short of a six figure restoration or some such.
This car may be one of the best such choices available, as it was owned by one of the heavyweights in the Imperal Club. My good friend Dick B, who is no longer with us, specialized in 1981-1983 Imperials at the end of a lifetime of car collecting and restoration. This was his prime car (of 4 1981-1983's that he owned). It is sorted and settled, being used as his long-range touring car. It has been on multiple multi-state road trips, and this is important to note because it has not been sitting up on blocks but instead is well loved and the bugs are sorted out. It's dependable, and if the next buyer wants to pay for gas and lodging, I'll personally drive it anyplace north of the Mexican border to deliver it. I'm that confident in it, and I'm normally pessimistic about any vintage car that one isn't personally involved with having redone. I know Dick's work, and I'll stick by it.
The car is unusual for several reasons. First and above all, is the factory CB radio that is in the car - one of the more unusual options offered in an age of dwindling options lists. The handset is in its own cubby in the glovebox and it has a Chrysler logo on it (see image). This radio was a special order item, and takes a unique antenna that functioned to both recive and transmit.
Second item to note is the factory sunroof, which was one of the other few options available, and it is present and functioning correctly on this car. Sunroof was an exceedingly rare option as far as I know.
The paint is original/factory and largely without problems. There is zero rust, rot, contamination, or any other problems. No chips or touchups visible. Photos that I've taken of other cars have managed to make them look better. Not on this one. The car looked even better in person when I photographed it, and it looked not unlike a new car most of the time than I was around it today. Please scrutinize the clarity and depth of the reflections in the paint - the paint really is a delight to look at.
Leading edge of the hood has an edge that was polished through, but which could be easily hidden with a permanent marker. There are 2 pea-sized door dings on the passenger side.
Otherwise the reflections of the springtime sky and surroundings in the paint are honest and the car's glossy black paint is unblemished and unscratched. One angled photo of the roof has white puffy clouds that could look like there is clear-coat that's lifting - that's clouds in the sky on a perfect painted surface. All surfaces on the car are AOK and the black paint is deep and lusterous. It has been stored inside and cared for during its life.
The red pinstriping (adhesive sticker) on the trunk on the driver side has a blemish in it.
The hood ornament is actual crystal, and as I was test-driving the car to write this summary with greater accuracy, I was struck by the glitter and refraction of light that came from the pentastar crystal as the sun hit it. The light refracted in a brilliant way with a hint of rainbow seperation of the color spectrum that happened only at certain angles of light playing through it. Reminded me of the Pink Floyd prism logo, only more subtle.
There is the Cartier crystal in the center of the leather wrapped steering wheel. There are two crystals that should be present in the vertical light bars at the rear edge of the front windows, but they are absent and would be a collectible to hunt down. These are illuminated items on the exterior.
Entering the car, I was struck by how clean and original the interior looks. It is red on red on red on red, with deep red pile carpet on the floor and bottom of the doors. There are no blemishes on the door panels front or rear.
The seats show some wear on the outside edges where a person gets in and out of them. This is wear to the surface of the leather and is a discoloration on the driver's seat in a 3" wide vertical belt on the upper, outer edge. The leather is darker there, and this may be a result of use and an attempt at correction/re-dying of the leather.
The passenger seat has some small spots where the leather has non-dyed portions visible. Application of red dye would make these much less visible, and I consider this to be a detailing item and not a structural defect.
Seats are whole, leather is supple and not the victim of exposure to sunlight as so many cars from California tend to be. The rear seats are nearly perfect. Leather wrap on the steering wheel is good but not quite as nice as new after 120k miles of use. Imperfect, but still very red and in good enough condition not to need attention at this time.
Instrument cluster is the first digital dashboard ever installed in a mass produced car, and it has features that are standard on all cars now, but which were revolutionary at the time - buttons allow toggling between gallons in the tank, range to empty, odometer/speedometer, ect.
A full brocure on this "Modern Marvel" from Chrysler is available here:
www.imperialclub.com/yr/1981/literature/electronicmarvel/index.htm
Styling on this car has a "bustle-back" trunk that works where the Cadillac Seville's perhaps does not? Lines are cleaner and very much in line with modern lines for the early 1980's.
The lines originally appeared on the last of the Chrysler Turbine Car projects (Chrysler experimented with turbine powerplants for nearly 20 years before giving up - this was the last of those):
imperialclub.com/yr/1981/turbine/index.htm
The car is powered by the original 318 V8 engine with first generation electronic fuel injection. The EFI system is simple in comparison to the systems on modern cars, but was widely misunderstood when it did not funtion properly - the entire service network was used to dealing with carburetors, and these cars were frequently retrofitted (even by dealerships!) with a carb when they failed to diagnose problems.
As in other areas of obsolete technology, where most people take a shortcut and the easy way out, the man who owned this car championed the engineering on this system to the club, and was the author of thread-ending, decisive, knowlegeable answers to others problems. A graduate of MIT with a focus on electrical engineering, he self-taught himself the ins and outs of the system and was supremely confident in the cars as they were designed and delivered when new.
This car's engine starts promptly and functions properly. In comparison to the 440-powered Imperials of the 1960's and 1970s, power is not as deep or immediate, but the driveline functions properly, and the car is supremely comfortable on the highway and around town as long as dramatic acceleration is not demanded. It feels similar to what I guess a more modern standard, non-performance sedan might feel like.
There is extensive archival information penned in Dick's own keyboard/hand in the Online Imperial Club's information warehouse. That site has 70,000+ pages of information on all Imperials, and 1981-83 pages are full of plenty of information, including the "Red Book" which is an exhaustive explanation of all things pertinent to the EFI system fitted here.
The car does not leak any fluids. Totally clean in that respect.
All accessories work as far as I can tell. I did not test the CB Radio - probably nobody there to talk to, anyway.
Electro-mechanical doors covering the headlights function properly, and the chrome surrounding the headlights was particularly clean in form and execution - some of the first cars with rectangular headlights did not look as good as these do - the styling seems very tight and clean, mirroring the angles found elsewhere in the car's lines - lights on or off.
Engine compartment has two obvious cosmetic flaws - the insulation above the battery is tatty, and the radiator bulkhead has some paint peeling up. The paint issue could be addressed by a competent paint person without drama. The hood insulation may present a challenge to replace with factory material - perhaps stapling it and tying it together somehow could arrest its degradation - that would be for the next owner to deal with. All stickers, emblems, and signage under the hood appears present - I noted that the windshield wiper motor has a prominent penta-star on it, and the entire engine compartment is clean and tidy. Perhaps wipe down the inner fenders and you're ready to go to a show?
Trunk is clean.
Undercarriage is clean.
The normal questions about rust or rot just don't apply to this very clean and original body. There may be some patch of oxidation someplace, but again: the car looks like it is perhaps 5 years old. 20 minutes of cleaning the glass and just looking the car over, and it's pretty much ready to drive or show, and show competitively. There's a guy in the California Imperial club with a 1982 Frank Sinatra version of this car who is obviously comprehensively obsessive about his car, and this one would probably compare nicely, although it is unrestored. The implication in the above statement is that this is probably within the top five examples of this car's production run remaining at this point in time.
Front suspension and brakes feel tight and purposeful - front suspensions on all older cars tend to degrade as the rubber components do. This car does not have slack or slop in the wheel. There is Chrysler's famous power steering, which is highly boosted, so road feel isn't very present, but everything seems correct. Car tracks straight and does not seem to need an alignment, although I did not drive it fast enough to say this conclusively. No obvious or annoying pull, though.
The present owner bought the car from Dick's estate at my urging, and has kept it indoors as well, but has decided to part with the car because he is not using it, and is focused on another Mopar restoration project that is asking to be paid for. There is no negative reason to sell the car, it's just not the right car for him now.
Present owner has done a basic tune-up with cap/rotor/plugs/wires/air filter. The front seat was touched up to make the less red parts redder. Car was smogged in 2012 and is due for another now, which it will get before the auction is completed - should not be a problem as it passed strongly last time and has only had 200 miles added to the odometer since.
There is a new muffler (car sounds correct), new battery, and it was just detailed. Mike says that the car always starts right up and drives wonderfully - no problems. My test drive agrees with this.
As one of the primary people who volunteer and run the Online Imperial Club, this is THE 1981 Imperial that I'd want to have in my collection.
These cars are not strongly favored in collectors circles and the pricing reflects this. That said, it's a very unique body style that seems to have aged gracefully, and this car's background gives me confidence that it could be one of the top two on the planet, based on what I've seen by watching ebay daily in this segment since 1997, and by what I've seen at various shows and meets.
If an 81 is in your plans, this is the one.
AS IS - NO WARRANTYThis vehicle is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed written or implied. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request prior to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle. Winning bidder must contact me within 24 hours of auction end, and make arrangements for payment at that time. A $500.00 deposit is due within 24 hours of end of auction. The remainder is due within 5 days of auction end. If no contact is made within 24 hours we reserve the right to re-list the vehicle, sell it to the next high bidder, or sell it otherwise. Most banks and credit unions do not finance vehicles older than 1995 or with more than 100K miles. Make sure if financing that your financial institution accepts the year and miles of this vehicle before bidding. Please arrange financing prior to bidding.
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This auction is a legally binding contract to buy this vehicle. All vehicles are sold as-is unless otherwise specified. I have done my best to accurately describe this vehicle. It is up to the buyer to come see and further inspect the car before the end of the auction.-->On May-12-14 at 19:32:21 PDT, seller added the following information: Had car smogged today, and it passed no problem.
