1960 Crown coupe.

[crv]

On ebay: 1960 Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe Flite Sweep | eBay
(I'm having trouble uploading images).

 

[saforwardlook]

I had tried to buy this car a couple years ago, but when I asked the seller to check to see if the engine would spin, that was the last I heard from him. He was very difficult to deal with, and I eventually gave up. Looks like another couple guys have tried to buy it as well from him based on this latest listing and also weren't successful.

I thought the price was too high for one with a stuck engine most likely and fake leather seat covers and in this general condition. And no a/c either. It seems few are up to restoring this model in this condition anymore, but I like them a lot.

 

[crv]

I had tried to buy this car a couple years ago, but when I asked the seller to check to see if the engine would spin, that was the last I heard from him. He was very difficult to deal with, and I eventually gave up. Looks like another couple guys have tried to buy it as well from him based on this latest listing and also weren't successful.

I thought the price was too high for one with a stuck engine most likely and fake leather seat covers and in this general condition. And no a/c either. It seems few are up to restoring this model in this condition anymore, but I like them a lot.

I was thinking the same thing with regards to the engine, so I sent the owner a question. The following was his reply, for anyone interested in this car:
Hello,
I haven't tried to put a socket on the flywheel, but the previous owner from California told me he had it running in 1994 or 95? I've never attempted to start it or turn the flywheel. When it got here I washed it and put it in storage and that was that. Sorry to say but I've had this car for all these years and have never started it.
Surface rust inside the trunk from what I'm guesing was a rear window leak years ago. It's been stored dry and heated since coming to Pa and hasn't had a chance to leak because it being stored. It's been up on jack stands for 20 years and if there was a problem with the frame it would have shown itself years ago. The frame is clean and solid, there are a few pin size holes in the drivers quarter panel. Body is solid and straight with only minor bubbles on the 1/4 panel from what must be an earlier repair before I had it. It may have some bubbles on the drivers side rocker. Interior floor is solid. I have'nt pulled the rugs but from underneath it looks solid. I can check tomorrow if interested. It was originally the rare mauve and the paint code states that.
Best regards and thanks, mike

 

[crv]

I thought the price was too high for one with a stuck engine most likely and fake leather seat covers and in this general condition

What would you say is a fair price then (if the engine is indeed stuck)?

 

[saforwardlook]

With a car like this that no one will attempt to restore anymore, more than likely, given its condition and certainly not a driver quality car, I would say around $3500. I tried to sell one of mine a little more than a year ago, not as nice as this one, and couldn't even get $2500 for it. I would say that its worth isn't what he would accept. I found it unusual that he admitted he paid $2500 for it years ago and now wants to get at least $6000 for it, I guess for storage costs. To restore this would cost over $50K it seems to me, if not doing most of the work yourself. So it is a car you have to love to take it on. And just getting all the weather stripping and small rubber parts it will need will require Gary Goers help, and he isn't taking orders at this time due to health issues. Otherwise, you will have a very hard time getting it to a really nice show condition, which would have been my goal.

 

[sixpkrt]

I saw this car on CL 6/7 months ago with just one pic, and tried contacting the seller too. Never heard back, and then the ad vanished. The pics on eBay show a lot more.
A 2 door 60 model with the big fins is my favorite of this era.

 

[saforwardlook]

I should say, in the seller's defense, I recall he had lost one of his arms, so trying to turn over the engine with a breaker bar/socket would have been out of the question, but it seems he could have had someone help him or maybe just put a battery in it and try to crank it to possibly reveal some information that would definitely help in getting a buyer to pay his price. But to not do anything, it seems like he could be cheating himself if it really would spin.

 

[cantflip]

On ebay: 1960 Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe Flite Sweep | eBay
(I'm having trouble uploading images).

Thanks for the "heads up"

I had tried to buy this car a couple years ago, but when I asked the seller to check to see if the engine would spin, that was the last I heard from him. He was very difficult to deal with, and I eventually gave up. Looks like another couple guys have tried to buy it as well from him based on this latest listing and also weren't successful.

I thought the price was too high for one with a stuck engine most likely and fake leather seat covers and in this general condition. And no a/c either. It seems few are up to restoring this model in this condition anymore, but I like them a lot.

And thanks for the pics... This one is just nice enough to inspire all kinds of silly ideas for me... I love them when in good condition and were it not for the investment in parts to make her right, I'm sure there are plenty of others who would want her.

IDK which is worse... Forward Look cars you can't afford, or Forward Look cars you can't afford to save.

 

[1978 NYB]

Nice Forward Look project.

I would like to have a Forward Look in the future but would lean towards a DeSoto. A nice Imperial would be my second choice. Either for me would have to be a driver quality car.

 

[crv]

I should say, in the seller's defense, I recall he had lost one of his arms, so trying to turn over the engine with a breaker bar/socket would have been out of the question, but it seems he could have had someone help him or maybe just put a battery in it and try to crank it to possibly reveal some information that would definitely help in getting a buyer to pay his price. But to not do anything, it seems like he could be cheating himself if it really would spin.

He's adamant on the price and won't budge. I don't know if true, but he seems to think it could be worth that much in parts alone, hence the line about parting it out.

 

[saforwardlook]

He's adamant on the price and won't budge. I don't know if true, but he seems to think it could be worth that much in parts alone, hence the line about parting it out.

He will have a hard time getting any money for the parts on that car because there are no significant options that people would want, and hardly anyone is left that would restore one any more. He will find out the hard way. Will he really destroy it given how many times he has relisted it and the frustration he will find when trying to part it? With him, I can't guess - maybe. He just seemed unusual the little I was able to talk with him in the past.

 

[sixpkrt]

With zero bids on eBay since posting it, may be time for a reality check.
Nice car, but a minimum of $25G's will be needed to get it to a decent driver level.
Besides the number of fewer people willing to take on a project like this, the expected cash needed to restore will leave even fewer buyers in the mix.