Imperial Crown Imperial History

The Crown Imperial was Imperial's top-of-the-range limousine, the most expensive and exclusive car the marque offered. The earliest 1955–1956 cars were factory-built long-wheelbase formal sedans and limousines.

From 1957 the limousine work moved to Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin, Italy: Imperials built on the convertible chassis were shipped over, then lengthened and rebuilt by hand — a process that took more than a month per car. Production was tiny and entirely by special order; only 132 Ghia Crown Imperials were built across the whole 1957–1965 run before Ghia production for Chrysler ceased. A 1964 Crown Imperial Ghia served as a parade limousine used by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson.