In 1960, when I first saw the 1960 Imperial, I wanted one. Well, it took until 2003 for me to get the LeBaron. In 2006 I bought the convertible.

The Le Baron's scheduled build date was October 1, 1959. It was delivered through Tom Harrigan, Inc. Chrysler - Plymouth in Oak Park, Ill. During its first year, it covered 20,000 miles. Sometime in 1961, the car went to Texas where it was used hard. I think it had been driven 189,000 miles (speedometer showed 89,000) when the engine and transmission failed. It required a total, frame off restoration before it was again road worthy.

Some quirks we found in the Le Baron: the trim code is 888 - special order. The car came to me with a blue Crown interior. Based on a stamping on the back of a door panel (EOGH August, 1959), I think the Crown interior was original. As part of the restoration, I installed a proper Le Baron interior. When we went to start the engine, there was a terrific grinding noise. Originally, we thought the starter motor was at fault. Then we counted the teeth on the convertible's ring gear, 172; teeth on the Le Baron's gear, 146; someone had installed a ring gear from a '56. I found a correct NOS ring gear, installed it and the problem was solved.

The Le Baron's factory color was Alaskan White, but I already had the triple white convertible so we perused the 1960 color options and settled on Powered Bronze Metallic. This color just makes to whole car "pop" and it is immediately clear why Powered Bronze was used in the 1960 sales brochure.

My Crown convertible was scheduled for build on September 15, 1959 and left the factory on October 14, 1959. Based on a formula from Bill Watson, my convertible was the 45th 1960 Imperial manufactured. The original owner was Paul Manners, a salesman for Roush Motors Chrysler Plymouth in Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1961 Paul moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming and took the convertible with him. The second owner, Larry McCann, bought the car in the 80's. He also lived in Cheyenne. I am the third owner and live near Lansing, Michigan.

This Crown convertible may be a very special car. Every year from 1957 through 1965, the Shriners in Omaha, Nebraska ordered 20 Imperial convertibles for use in parades. They went to the factory when the new models first went on sale and drove them home. These cars were always a light color convertible, heavily optioned and delivered through Briley Motors in Omaha. My car meets all the criteria. I have found two other 60 convertibles with very close VIN's, white and heavily optioned. So, it seems likely, but I have not been able to document that it is one of the Imps of Omaha cars. One might only hope.

While the Crown was in much better condition, it also needed restoration. Both cars are now essentially done. They are a pleasure to drive as well as to just look at and soak in. As the '60 literature states and I heartily agree, the 1960 Imperial is "America's most carefully built car" ... in every detail it looks precise and thoroughly right. It has dignity warmed by a certain youthfulness of spirit. Refinement without ostentation ...

All 1960 Imperials are essentially the same car underneath. They all had the 413 V8 with 4 barrel and dual exhaust, a 129-inch wheelbase, were 18 feet, 9 inches in length and weighed about 4850 pounds. They included many of the amenities, such as power steering, brakes, seats, windows and antenna, expected on a luxury automobile and could be further enhanced with options such as air conditioning, auto pilot, sure-grip differential, automatic beam changer, Mirrormatic mirror, swivel seats, and the Imperial Flight-Sweep rear deck lid. The differences came in the trim levels of the Custom, Crown, and Le Baron. 1960 was the first year the Le Baron was further distinguished by the small rear limousine window.

There were 999 LeBaron Southamptons (the four-door hardtop designation) and 618 Crown Convertibles (convertibles only came as Crowns). Since such limited numbers of these cars were built, only a very few were able to enjoy these exceptional automobiles. While I was too young in 1960, I am very fortunate to own two of these elegant automobiles today.