1958 Imperial Convertible - Jay Leno's Garage

[@jimm3205]

"handles like a sports car" - More like handles like a sports stadium.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

5:44 Original Fuel Injected 392" Hemi '58 Chrysler 300D in the background...

[@ThomasJones-sz3sx]

@@BuzzLOLOL Yea, I saw that!!

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@ThomasJones-sz3sx - Have you seen his video about it?

[@98triffid]

My Corolla handles much nicer after I upgraded from 13 to 14 inch rims, but that's mainly due to adding almost an inch of tread in the process. Those factory pizza cutters had no grip. Merely going up a rim size does little unless you need more room for brakes

[@kenegerton7512]

Like driving a patio down a California mudslide but , you look so cool doing it !

[@sean8081a]

You don't put it on a lift, you put it in dry dock.

[@QueerOkie]

Move over Queen Mary!

[@ronschlorff7089]

the land yacht!

[@briantruck2284]

😆🤣

[@E34Benzin]

Finally! Back to the good old Jay showing us a car from his own collection. I love these big American boats.

[@crusherbmx]

I prefer to see his own cars, too. Normally I wouldn't, but Jay can pull this off without looking like a rich dork who is just showing off.

[@nwbackcountry5327]

It's because, to Jay, it's all about the car, not him.

[@Scribles]

awsome

[@the1realanalogman]

+NWBackcountry Agreed. Jay loves automotive history and derives a lot of joy from the nostalgia and really is a guardian of things that simply need to be preserved.

[@harriethicks3425]

B You tube

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

My dad had one of these, it was a hardtop, same colors, I was born in 61 and I have pictures of me behind the wheel when I was 3,4 and 5, transmission blew 1967, and dad bought a 65 Pontiac Catalina, from my older brother, dad gave the Imperial to the guy at the Sunoco station by our house. Soon after, dad passed away suddenly at age 48 of a heart attack, myself being 2 months shy of turning 6, I was devastated and the Imperial was still at the corner gas station, my mom asked the guy to try and put it elsewhere so I wouldn't see it everyday when I went to school, I loved that car, and I loved my dad, still miss him, 49 years later, thanks jay, felt like a kid again going for a ride in your Imperial

[@aeknikh]

What happened to the car?Did you ever saw it again?

[@cliff7292]

Sorry you lost your Dad with you so young. Lost mine at age 30 ,40 years ago and I still miss him. My Dad fared worse than us both.. His Dad was killed before he was born.

[@soapbxprod]

What a STORY! HUZZAH!

[@aramondehasashi3324]

I'm not crying you're crying!!! Someone find this man his dads car!!!

[@robertstv8045]

Pontiac guy... Am sure your dad has internet access in heaven so he saw your tribute.

[@acronus]

Tried to do a burnout....pushed the road backwards.

[@BeenThereOverItNow]

Correction: Pushed the Planet backwards You are welcome!

[@houseofno]

Would that be an un-burnout?

[@mus2kgen]

@@houseofno no, it's called a burn-in. I remember doing my first burn-in after supercharging my unicycle.

[@bryan17293]

It turned the pavement too bubbling tar.

[@johnconley9966]

acronus ha ha that’s funny😂

[@davidwhyte1933]

Jay, What a beauty. Did you know that your Imperial was made by hand? My dad was a Chrysler plant manager and he told me that the Imperials of this era were not made on an assembly line. They had a special build room near the assembly line.

[@ronschlorff7089]

special room to make a special car for special people!!

[@ConsciousRobot]

Of course Jay knows that

[@dougfielding8215]

David - Thanks for sharing that.

[@98triffid]

@Art Vandelay Vipers were indeed hand built, just by Cletus Hogg, powered by diabetus rather than whatever factory workers survived ww2

[@KeithLivingstone]

I HEARD IT WAS A ROOM AND A KITCHENETTE

[@OliverWoodphotography]

From an English perspective this car kind of sums up the comparative exotic glamour and romance of American life and society in the 1950s - very much an American decade.

[@98triffid]

You survived, that was great. Morris also survived, that was probably not so great.

[@cindylawrence1515]

Well,...since you mentioned the American decade ( it was an American decade dude) this car was part of two of the most important, iconic really American cultural landmarks; this car was first, the goal item in the movie Loving you with Elvis! But of even (far) more importance, the 57 imperial was the central vehicle in the all time towering American iconic cinema High School Confidentia and was involved with the film's hot rod race which set the mindset of every kid of that era....the Imperial, even if you just saw it driving by, it changed everyone's refere.nce points and totally changed the national experience.

[@98triffid]

@@cindylawrence1515 Nobody in high school ever owned one of these, it was a rich mans car. The transmission was literally fueled by whale oil.

[@98triffid]

@@cindylawrence1515 ...and yes it was an American decade. The alternative would have been far worse. The US did not do what the British did, pretty much everything we took over we gave back, we had no "empire", merely influence. After WW2 we had both the conventional and strategic weapons to do what Germany failed to do. We did not, we made fish shaped cars and went to the moon instead (using V2)

[@cindylawrence1515]

The reference w as s to a movie "High School Confidential" by American International films. But yes, there WERE kids in High School in my area who'd parents had Cadillacs, Lincolns and Imperials. And allowed their kids to learn to drive on a 58 lincoln Continental no less, what could I tell you? Its America in the 50's folks....Varoooom!

[@zapfanzapfan]

Only slightly smaller than an Imperial Star Destroyer :-)

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yes, the Star Destroyer Escort!! :D

[@earlyculyer4103]

An engine connected to a living room.

[@stephenarling1667]

A cathedral on wheels.

[@Mark-zu6oz]

Complete with 2 sofas.

[@Mike_Collins392]

No problem for a 392 Chrysler.

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

I wish American cars were more AMERICAN, like this one. If you're listening, Detroit, this is how to do it; 1- Every model available as a 2 door, a 4 door, and a convertible. 2- Every model needs a name; not an inscrutable number or letters, like CT6, MKZ....How about "Adventurer". 3- Pillarless Hardtop Coupes. 4- Colors for the interior...Not just black, beige or gray. Look at the silver blue of this Imperial! 5- Make a luxury version, and a sport version. Not every car has to be an Autobahn burner. Any other suggestions, guys?

[@stephencarrigg4371]

List of every option available, and every size.

[@stephencarrigg4371]

And that they be made of thick, American steel!

[@warmwxrules]

bring back manual transmissions...ban timing belts.

[@clarkeshivers7036]

Moses Berkowitz The 2018 Cadillac removed B-pillars, which is great for an '18 car, but the design sucks

[@clarkeshivers7036]

The body design I mean

[@mura0]

One could probably do a coast to coast roadtrip and arrive feeling like a million bucks

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

That's just as well, because it'd cost you a million bucks for the fuel‼️

[@Rebel9668]

I agree! I miss my old Cadillac for that very reason. I could drive anywhere in it and not be fatigued like I am in other vehicles. I really miss that "Boulevard" ride. So what if I can corner well in a new vehicle? You feel almost every bump in the road with the stiff suspensions. Give me a ride that glides any day.

[@ZEZERBING]

+MrKeyboardCommando but in '58 gas was , what, $.30?

[@dbrown4bbl]

That's what it would cost you in gas.

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

ZEZERBING I've got news for you, it's 2016, and gas isn't 30 cents a gallon‼️😟😟😟

[@kevinhealy187]

The car was so big that you changed zip codes in a middle of a turn.

[@jpdemer5]

Hell, you changed zip codes when you got out and opened the trunk.

[@johnhickman4440]

I took my driving exam in a 1958 Imperial 4 door hardtop and parked it, too. On the highway, it got 18 mpg. It was huge.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

18 mpg wow thats actually quite good for a car lke that

[@Mike_Collins392]

I have a 392 engine in my car and it gets at least 18 mpg. Higher compression , cam , 2 4 barrell , it;s at least 18 mpg.

[@edwardormsby4963]

Oh yeh I took my driver's licence exam at 16 in June 1973 in my old man's 1973 imperial lebaron 4dr the 73 was be the longest American car made due to the bumper guards it also had that small formal rear window backing that beomath around a corner was a chore parallel parking same I passed it by enough needless to say I learned early how to handle and drive a real full size car in all weather and situations city freeway suburban IAM now 66 and my health no longer permits me to drive I absolutely love imperials especially the lebarons I have been fortunately lucky enough to own and drive a 62 a 65 and a 68 all were the best long distance hiway stars you could imagine if I only had a garage I could have kept all 3 at once time goes on so fast and eventually the barons found good homes keep your euro and foriegn luxury cars imperials from 1957 to the end in 1975 were in my experience the best hiway cruisers going like the little feat song goes roll right through the night

[@joeyhouser247]

Jay Leno is such a awesome down to earth guy.... the history of cars he shares with us is beautiful

[@jerrylincoln3671]

Well Jay' it was very difficult for me to watch this video. i owned and drove a 1963 Crown Imperial for 16 years. then in 1997 i had such difficulty finding parts, Bushings etc. i could no longer afford to own and drive it. Selling it was the biggest mistake i ever made. Now when i see one which is rare. Tears come to my eyes. i miss it every bit as much today. i fear i will never own one again. i was known for my 1963 Imperial. even my dog could tell the sound of my car. it was much like driving around in my comfortable Living Room. God how i miss it. Mine had a 413

[@gzuzsavz]

Sorry to hear that. There is only one Imperial. Though, I'd look for a New Yorker or well optioned Newport..even a Fury or Monaco, etc. Much more standard parts than some of the rare as heck Imperial stuff. I owned and drove several C bods and dearly loved them all. Currently my bro and i are fixing up a '70 Fury Gran Coupe with a '77 440 out of a New Yorker. Engine has 150 psi per cylinder at 150k on the clock, as was shown on the donor car. #furyvanwinkle on instagram.

[@powersangela1980]

6:34 - "Do not drink contents of battery". I actually laughed out loud.

[@blueribb99]

When did auto makers go from bench to bucket seats ? I'm the same age as Jay and I can remember my girlfriend sitting next to me in the front seat and my arm around her while driving. You can't do that today.

[@ZGryphon]

Well, at the risk of being an unromantic modernist, probably because that's _really, really unsafe._

[@eriet1]

I love bench seats. my 69 torino has a bench seat. its great

[@claytonroot806]

@@ZGryphon Lot's of things were unsafe then. Lot's of things are unsafe today. Like uh, trying to skateboard down a banister and busting your nuts, or MOST Olympic sports. I think far less of us would even exist if it weren't for those "romantic enticements". I mean, look at the birth rate today. Far below what is necessary to maintain a static population. That's why they have to keep everybody alive to maintain the economy. Doctors aren't employed delivering babies so much anymore so they work with pharmaceutical companies trying to keep old worn out chronics alive, or aborting the unborn.

[@ZGryphon]

@@claytonroot806 None of that is even slightly true, but hey, you do you, chief.

[@fatjeezussouthtexasoutdoor5244]

Only bench is a pickup truck, and even then most have buckets

[@spaert]

These are my favorite episodes - the vintage luxury cars. I'd love to see more, especially the older Buicks and Caddys in the garage. I know some have already been featured but those episodes seem to be missing now. Perhaps a re-shoot or re-release? This was really a good one! Thanks!

[@peter455sd]

This car makes a 58' Rolls-Royce look like a farm tractor

[@schumaje]

That would be one stylishly pretty farm tractor. 😂

[@alfresco4976]

I've never seen a RR that long!

[@wholeNwon]

The SC2 was the last of the stylish RR's. The dual headlights of the SC3 ruined the lines. Mechanically the SCs were all antiques the day they were made.

[@lukebrennan5780]

It must be an American thing as this is huge and not particularly stylish, to me. I love the look of the '58 Silver Cloud.

[@peter455sd]

@@lukebrennan5780 You must be british

[@LaPabst]

Gas mileage? Jay, look at it this way. If you get 8 mpg but 'times' it by the 14 people it can carry each person is getting 112 mpg!!

[@michaskiba7784]

Fuel was cheap = tax was low. No one gived a damn about mpg

[@ronschlorff7089]

pump your own was about 20 cents, the Texaco man with the star would fill up, wash windows, and check oil for about 25 cents then. If you owned one of these cars you probably did not care what the price of anything was!

[@98triffid]

I'm unclear how 14 people fit into this without forming a human pyramid but yes when gas costs a nickel you can do whatever you like with the engine

[@CorneliusSneedley]

I really miss wing windows.

[@YOUGOTIT210]

ditto

[@Rebel9668]

I also miss vehicles that when you roll the windows down, the air doesn't feel like it's trying to beat you to death. On older cars with the windows down it just created a nice breeze through the car. Roll down the windows on a modern vehicle and you can't even hear yourself scream.

[@CorollaNut68]

That's due to "cavitation". It can mess with your ears because of the pressure changes. The newer cars are sealed better so they are quieter with all the windows up and that's what creates the problem. When you open just one window the air wanting to come in has to "take turns" with the air wanting to go out. You have to open all windows at least a little bit.

[@MrZcotty]

was showing my granddaughter how we could "tune" the cab of my truck, by opening different windows varying amounts.. like blowing across a coke bottle. hurts my ears!! she says :)

[@nickgenerazio196]

What in the hell is a "Wing window"?

[@nuil501]

When I watch this vídeo, I remember Ethel Mermann shouting " We are riding an Imperial and we are running last ! " on 'Its a Mad, Mad, Mad world' , one of the best comedy picture ever; Thanks for sharing, Jay ; oscar, from brazil;

[@charliepeterson4301]

Love and agree on "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"!

[@ralphcraig5816]

@@charliepeterson4301 The scene at the GG bridge toll station remains an all time classic, the Imperial got change for a dollar when the toll was 25 cents, at about 70MPH!!! The first three cars all left a quarter each. George Carlin was the toll taker...

[@digijams]

Jay Leno for Secretary of Transportation! Man that speaks for the common man that just loves cars!

[@harryschaefer5887]

It's as big as a whale and its about to set sail! so come on and bring your juke box money!

[@emjayay]

"I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20". The one in the video is perfect, although from the later giant square shaped period.

[@williamg2552]

Yeah...but it's not a Chrysler. Please pay close attention to what Jay says at 2:17

[@ddd228]

Big Beige whale.

[@johnsiders7819]

Big smile from the 80s .

[@gzuzsavz]

@@williamg2552 hand built. by chrysler ppl at a chrysler owned plant and the majority of hardware..all chrysler. which esp back then, was a very good thing!

[@jaywest4102]

Funny how Jay believes lane markers are merely suggestions.

[@Mr39036ce]

jay west if you drove back then you'd see.Folks in these battle ships gave meaning to the words road hog.

[@Kowalskithegreat]

I believe it's because there's a gopro camera rigged to the side of the car, usually passenger side and he doesn't want to hit anything with it

[@SuperLeica1]

Worse than that, it´s just dried paint!

[@richardeast3328]

@Terry Melvin And you know the alphabet, but that doesn't mean you know how write.

[@stranraerwal]

@Terry Melvin Do you know many guys, who can drive steam cars, ride motor-bikes, drive race-cars, old cars, modern cars...and knows everything about them that is to know...and LOVES them all ? No, you dont...and my guess is, that you don't even have a driver license. So, shut up !

[@captainbart]

Never gets old. Jay is a master collector, and mechanic. His choice for the early Hemi is spot-on. These Imperials roared!

[@mauriceh7558]

so much better when jay shows his own cars

[@411member]

Leno, is that your 300C/D in the background? Love to see a feature show on that one.

[@markanderson350]

Do more like this. Rare vintage cars and keep us educated.

[@TBullCajunbreadmaker]

Jay I bought a 1960 Imperial from an old retired farmer when I got out of the Navy. I couldn't resist. Nobody had ever stopped to ask him how much he was asking for the car even though it had a for sale sign on it for almost a year. When I asked him how much he was asking I almost fainted. I bought the car that had less than 30K on it at the time for $200 bucks. It wouldn't start and it had a powersteering pump leak plus one of his kids broke a motor mount. I paid the man and went to town and put a new DieHard battery on it from Sears and it fired up immediately. Although the power steering wasn't working and it was a slight challenge until it got rolling I managed to get it home without putting the fan into the radiator from the engine hop because of the broken motor mount. I tool off the powersteering pump and replaced the seal on it which was about $6. Then I managed to jack up the 413 engine and changed the broken mount. Everything on the car was now repaired and everything worked just like it was suppose to. All the electric windows etc. It was the exact same color as yours and it had one two inch scratch on the left rear panel. All the brightwork was in excellent shape. After I washed and cleaned the car and polished it up it looked like a new car and ran like one. I can't believe that I ended up selling the car but then I was just 25 years old and a 325hp Corvette started interesting me and that was the end of my Imperial. I learned that it had been resold later and ended up wrapped around a big Oak tree from an idiot that thought he could outrun a State Troopers radio. I also learned however that another farmer pulled the 413 engine and put it as a power source for a water well in a rice field and it is still running today. This all happened in about 1976.

[@mikewiebers8814]

My dad had a ‘55 Ford the government had used for his transportation in his job at the FCC. He bought it at government auction. It was a two door with an in-line six cylinder and three on the tree. I took my date to the prom in it. I was nostalgic about it and googled ‘55 Fords for sale. 😲. $20,000 for one in decent condition. I’m too poor and too old to enjoy another one. It makes me feel 😢. But that’s life!

[@senorkaboom]

OK, Jay, you talk about bad brakes, you needed to drive my folks '68 Pontiac LeMans. 4 wheel drum, no power option. You needed to plan ahead to stop that car. So, I know exactly what you are talking about in brakes. Thing was, the option to put front disc, rear drum with power was under $50.00. My dad regretted not going with it very soon after buying it. Oh well.

[@HunterShows]

6:32 "do not drink contents of battery" lol... "Imperial margarine with a crown" lol...

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yeah, Imperial Japan,.... eat your heart out!!

[@ModernGolfer]

..." I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty..." LOL, sorry, just had to. GREAT car!

[@davidzornes6863]

The stereo is a Rockola Jukebox....

[@matrox]

Cars were so unique, creative and stylish back then. They had attitude, they were a mans car. Today 90% of the cars are feminine looking PODs.

[@mayormccheese761]

I agree to an extent. The old cars had more style.

[@ugaais]

Getting us ready for driverless orbs to sit and and track our destinations

[@townhall05446]

I'm glad Jay owns all these cool cars and not some typical 'celebrity' jerk who can't shut up about politics or whatever. He's a great custodian of these vehicles and deserves to be.

[@robertlighton758]

Jay...you left out the coolest aspect of this car. The dash lights are purple!! I owned the hardtop version of this also from 1958 with the Hemi. What a great engine.

[@williamg2552]

Imperial CROWN Convertible. IMPERIAL (once it became a separate make and division) , was available in 3 models: The CUSTOM, The CROWN, and The top-of-the line Le BARON. The convertible was always in the mid-range CROWN series Once IMPERIAL was spun off from Chrysler into it's own division, that left the NEW YORKER as the top-line Chrysler. CHRYSLER was always comparable to BUICK and MERCURY. IMPERIAL was always comparable to CADILLAC and LINCOLN. Chrysler Corporation felt that the IMPERIAL should NOT share it's name with lower-priced cars...the "CHRYSLER" name held it back , and gave it a medium-class stigma. That is why it was removed from the Chrysler Division into it's OWN division.

[@kaiserbill5711]

I bought ($150.00) a 1959 Imperial Crown Southampton (413) in 1971 when I was in college in Oklahoma . I completely rebuilt the brakes - the trick to keeping them working properly was to drive it in reverse at about 15 mph and slam on the brakes about once a week. Do not ever denigrate the performance or handling of these cars I outran , on two occasions , the Oklahoma City cops with no problem. The strength and build quality was phenomenal - after I dropped my girlfriend off at her house one night @ 2:00 am a guy in a 1954 Ford Custom ran a stop sign and broadsided me in the drivers side door - the door caved in over 18 inches but never allowed an intrusion into the passenger compartment - he knocked me 70 feet I had a slightly bruised rib - his engine was in the front seat.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yup, even "small" cars were tough then. Got hit on right side rear wheel well and quarter in my 56 Chevy. Pulled the sheet metal away from the tire and drove it home. Fixed it, with help of friends, later with quarter panel from junk yard (about 50 bucks) in my driveway!

[@gzuzsavz]

sry to hear about the Imp! but yeah, side impact door beams weren't needed on those cars, lol!

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@gzuzsavz Right, only 15 years earlier some American car companies were building Sherman tanks. I guess that mind set carried on in certain automobiles!! :D

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Yes, I've heard that the 1950s self-adjusting brakes only adjust themselves when the car is braked hard in reverse.

[@215rwg]

@@gregorymalchuk272 Chrysler drums were like that in to the 90s or whenever they quit making them. Uses a cable operated lever to rotate a star nut on the adjuster. Cable is hooked around rear brake shoe web so only gets enough travel to pull up slack when in reverse and the shoes rotate slightly.

[@GriffinWilkins]

YEYEYEYEYE

[@MrSapper21]

The horn sounds like an ocean liner.

[@swaggernaut]

It sounds fantastic! Could it be a three-tone-horn? Would like to have one installed in m car...

[@MrSapper21]

Attila Vass it's just delightful.

[@101Volts]

It does sound relaxing, that's for sure. Funny though, people today might not realize it's a car horn.

[@QueerOkie]

+Austin Lucas one day my grandmother came over and was helping mom in the kitchen. I roll in from work in my 95 Roadmaster and blew the horn (which sounds a lot like this one) and Mema asks Mom 'why am I hearing a train? You're five miles away from the track!'

[@101Volts]

Darn. I'm wondering what people might say to the sound of a 1941 Dodge horn; it's like the sound of the road runner that Wile E. Coyote chased and maybe is the same sound. I'm not sure if they used the sound of a car horn from the time they made it or not.

[@fredgarvin8280]

"We're the ones with the Imperial and we're running last?" -- Ethel Merman

[@claztube]

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World

[@WHEREISTHEREASON]

" The only reason these sort of things happen is because every time these sort of things happen people stand around and say, " "Well, these sort of things happen,"" and that's why these sort of things happen." Ethel Merman- same movie.

[@roadwarr]

And comedy writing has never been the same...

[@hankaustin7091]

a Great quote from an even greater movie - thanks Fred!

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@roadwarr Really! There's little "comedy" writing today! I come here to see some great cars and hear some good comedy from the last of the funny TV night show hosts, Jay Leno!

[@joewilder]

I wonder how many mechanics were guillotined by that hood.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

My folks had a '69 Olds 98 that had a giant metal "tooth" centered on the front of the hood. Perfect for decapitation or amputating a hand if the springs failed. That hood was a beast.

[@ClarenceHW]

Jay took a step back and made sure it was going to stay up.

[@Mike_Collins392]

The early Chyslers were pretty solid . I'll bet that nothing serious has ever happened to that engine.

[@vorspulspoiler8620]

My father is a very very prouf owner of a 1957 Chrysler Imperial. He bought it in 1979 (his first car, back then for 1 CHF per Kilogramm). It is an imported cat which was modified for the swiss market (skylight, electrical windows and seats etx.). He worked 6 years and get it on to the road the first time in 1986, we restored it the last time 20 years ago and last month I drove the first time legaly with my driving licence with it.

[@cindytepper8878]

My mom had a hard top one in the 60's in a baby blue. Those rear axles had a tapered end. You really needed a puller to break the taper fit that held the drum/hub on to do any kind of brake work. More or less every garage had the puller back then though. The brake shoes were floating (self energizing) with an adjuster at the bottom if I remember right. I don't remember any problems with them holding adjustment. Not sure how any engine builder could get the cam a tooth off, it had timing marks just like pretty much everything else at the time.

[@AltarenGalil]

18:46 did walken voice over that sentance? :D

[@chrisfi3d]

Lmao

[@tomclarkeofcoventry]

I thought the exact same thing!

[@sirstrongbad]

For my own amusement I looked it up:Jay was born in New Rochelle, New York and Christopher Walken was born in Astoria, New York.. they're less than half an hour apart.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

+sirstrongbad - But Jay was raised in Massachusetts.

[@IndyFlick]

LoL, it does! By the way, NEVER take a watch from Christopher Walken!

[@earli3693]

Advice from my Dad when I first started drag racing: it doesn't matter how fast you get there, if you can't stop you shouldn't have left the house!!!

[@christophermay4998]

Earl I very true......same as taking off with your friends without any gas......

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@christophermay4998 When we cruised, back in the day, the car, who's ever it was, did not move until the gas money was ponied up by all in the car (often 3) other than the driver of course! Usually a buck each was enough, at 20-30 cents a gallon! :D

[@bobkeefer3822]

The steering wheel is a work of art,,,

[@chicagotom2006]

Yes, but why is it green? in an otherwise blue interior?

[@dj33036]

Probably faded from sun exposure over the years

[@SM1937G]

+Cancun Tom 60 years of hands and California sun.

[@boblewis3216]

Our family had a '57 Imperial (Crown Southhampton) 4-door hardtop that was almost identical to Jay's '58 convertible. It was a monumental gas guzzler, but who cared when gas was 18¢/gallon? In high school I could run off and hide from even the Bonneville Tri-Powers - and the ladies loved it. Win-win. Once we ran into a yearling steer on the road. Steer was killed instantly and the right headlight pushed in a bit. Fixed that with a sledgehammer and new lamp. Good as new. Massive front bumper took the worst of the hit, and wasn't even bent. Did I say this thing was a tank? Sadly when things eventually go wrong, it's a house of cards. Everything quits at once. The electro-hydraulic power seat was the last straw, bleeding hydraulic oil all over the carpet. With Dad out of the country on business, he gave me permission to trade it. We ended up with a '59 Olds that was an excellent car, but just never had the panache of the Imperial. I still miss the old girl.

[@emjayay]

18 cents in 1957 is the same as $1.60 today. I bought regular gas for $2.25 in Brooklyn yesterday, so not that different. Of course the Hemi no doubt requires premium!

[@Rare92Mustang]

They did not have hydraulic power seats. They were simply electric. The oil pressure guage is mechanical and runs inside the car, maybe that is what happened?

[@1967davethewave]

The '57/'58 Imperial had the mode door in the HVAC system actuated by engine oil pressure. There was a line that ran from the driver's side rear of the engine into the cabin and to an oil piston solenoid. I own 3 '57 Imperials and it's the only car I've ever seen to use this system.

[@emjayay]

@@1967davethewave In the early fifties power windows on Cadillacs and maybe others were hydraulic! And obviously with a connection that had to turn to open and close the doors. I wonder how often those broke and spurted oil? In 1961 (probably up to 1965) and probably earlier years the windshield wipers on Lincolns were hydraulic. I had a (40 year old) 1962 and once when parallel parking a hydraulic hose to the wiper motor blew. Kind of a mess.

[@cymoncyrado2879]

I loved that the "toilet Seat" found its way to the '60 Valiant.

[@dj33036]

My uncle had a '60 Chrysler Winsor that had a toilet seat. I loved that car.

[@bobjohnson205]

Windsor! :)

[@sean8081a]

Does water pool in that toilet? lol

[@russcattell955i]

My father had the Valiant with the toilet seat, was very rare in 60's England.

[@radioguy1620]

Mosquitos are known to breed in them .

[@jcwindsound]

What an amazing car. My recollection of the Chrysler group starts with the K-car era. I had no idea Chrysler was ever considered the engineer's car company, nor that they produced so many amazing cars through the 1960s. This Imperial and the Ford Galaxie are my two favorite American cars in Jay's collection. Fantastic channel!

[@incog99skd11]

My Dad had a 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible, black with red interior. OMG was it a looker. Everyone stared when we drove by. The space age seats were amazing.

[@SavageSPK]

I love her. Over the last 10 years I've fallen in love with Mopar's from the 30's, 40's and 50's. They really are under represented. i can tell, though that I'm not alone since the prices are just now starting to creep up. They really built nice solid cars. Next time you go looking for the typical Ford or Chevy, give a classic Mopar a look. You may just buy one!

[@honorableeuropeannationali8742]

Even 70's mopars. Picked up a '75 Dodge Royal Monaco 4 door hard top. 48,000 original miles. Cream white with a black interior. Big ole' boat.

[@eghty8fox780]

or you can just like what you like and ket everyone like what they like that's the beauty of democracy

[@Billy97ify]

Actually, no. Democracy means you have to take what the majority wants.

[@alanhardman2447]

+Land O Calrissian Sorry, but that's the beauty of liberty, which is absolutely NOT synonymous with democracy. In a democracy, everyone gets to vote on the issue - oops, I guess we have to forget the Mopars!

[@iraqattacks]

alan, exactly

[@rickey5353]

Now, THAT'S a car.

[@zippome]

Just looking at that car makes me want to drive it to Vegas.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Viva, Las Vegas!!

[@punman5392]

How the hell would you roll this thing over anyway?

[@JoJoJoker]

Glad nobody messed with your good ole girl and didn't beat her to death for $300.

[@man_on_wheelz]

What happened to the big, American, family-sized, convertible cruiser? Has safety destroyed this? Have we lost interest in purchasing them? Are the few of us really the minority in wanting a car like this? Doesn't have to be this massive but at least big enough to seat 4-5 adults comfortably. Am I the only one who wants this option on the market? My 2002 Sebring Convertible is the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Seats 4 adults comfortably, cruises nicely, has plenty of trunk space with the top down. All it's missing is rollover protection and some other computer sensors etc for todays standards. Yeah we have the 200 Convertible and the Cascada but they don't have as much space and you can tell are hanging on by a thread.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Love the car, what a great old boat! (Although in 58 I'd rather have a Golden Hawk). However, Tom McCahill wrote for Mechanics Illustrated, not Popular Mechanics.

[@Disques13Swing]

Uncle Tom wrote fpr Popular Mechanix.

[@trainships1795]

Jay Leno that Imperial Crown Convertible makes you look like a REALLY BIG TIME MOVIE STAR a Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis.

[@PetermusPrime]

When is the next update on the Volvo?

[@hankaustin7091]

Good GOD what a fantastic car and a fantastic video!! For me, this car ranks a VERY close 2nd to the video I just watched prior to this one.. the '66 Lincoln convertible! Both cars are simply the best of American greatness!!

[@rouser301]

Jay, I SMILED the whole time I watched this. You remarked on camera after you test drove your newly-completed Olds Toronado, "If you experience an erection lasting more than 4 hours, consult a physician immediately." ...I believe the same could be said for this car as well. Thanks for posting this... watching this was like an old friend coming over for a visit with his "new" car to go for a ride.I DID NOT REALIZE HOW HUGE THAT SPEEDO WAS until you put your hand next to it... my GOD!!!

[@mikepayne377]

ILMAO. I remember that comment. Its still funny.

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@mikepayne377 Yup, Jay is a "Classic Comic". You know,..... when they were actually funny!!

[@anantrao3514]

American cars from1945 to 1960 very good looking. Great Cars. My grandfather had one of them-Dodge Kingsway-57.

[@scottieray]

The interior is simple and beautiful. I wish modern cars came with colorful interiors.

[@scottieray]

+Random Person MINI, and some of the more expensive cars (Porsche, Jaguar) have been putting more color into their interiors lately. The new MINI Clubman looks really nice with the blue leather seats. (disclaimer, I drive MINIs)

[@scottieray]

+Random Person Wow, you must be close to 7 feet tall.

[@emjayay]

Minis, being sort of retro mobiles, have different colors from the mainstream available inside and out. Fiat 500's also. But no one makes them with the pearl blue leather color that the Imperial has, as did my 1962 Lincoln. But for some reason I was able to easily get leather to redo the seats in exactly that color.

[@34Packardphaeton]

.... the old cars had much better-quality fabrics, too!

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@34Packardphaeton Right, some had genuine "Corinthian Leather". :D

[@calvinfaller8674]

you should see the 1958 Lincoln continental mk 3 19ft in length

[@DannoCrutch]

That's a gorgeous machine! American Road Yachts!

[@EricH928]

The biggest and best of the land yachts.

[@georgeb8701]

Chrysler was ahead of it's time with that body style in '58. Very cool. 😉✌🏻🇺🇸

[@JaneDoe-zr4px]

That trunk is so huge, when Jay tossed the manual back in it, there was a slight echo. Jesus.

[@geoben1810]

It was revolutionary in design and rolling works. of art. A time when a car was actually fun to drive. I grew up during the 60's and saw some beautiful, sexy machines on the road at the time. Those were the days. ✌🏻👍🏻

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

The gun sight tail lights were my favorite.

[@cliff7292]

Jay is so right regarding radial tires.. In 1973 I bought a 65 Sunbeam Tiger. Driving it home I was all over the road. I was heartsick,just blew mine and my new brides income tax return on something that was unsafe. Someone had put bias tires on it. I replaced them with radials and replaced the shocks.. It was like the difference between day and night. I let the previous owner drive it and it was his turn to be heartsick !

[@chiconian49]

I bought my 65 Falcon Futura Convertible with the 289 in 1969. I never experienced any of the drum brake problems described by Jay. Last month the master brake cylinder failed as I was backing into the garage and scared the crap out of me! The pedal went all the way to the floor. I turned off the ignition with my right hand and pulled the emergency brake with my left hand. The car stopped just short of the back wall. I took the car to my mechanic and replaced the old single master brake cylinder with a dual and since it was time for a brake job, I had 4 wheel disc brakes installed. Wow, what a difference in stopping! I refuse to do work on my brakes because of liability. If the car won't start or dies, it's an inconvenience. If it won't stop, it could be a disaster. If a licensed mechanic is the last person to have touched the brakes, some ambulance chaser cannot blame me for brake failure.

[@CorollaNut68]

Scaredy cat. I do ALL my own work. I'm not looking for someone else to blame. I'm more confident KNOWING how the work was done and what EXACTLY was done. I don't want to be cussing at anybody but myself.

[@disruptr4409]

Except unless you have proof the mechanic, say, left a part out and that caused an accident, how can you prove they did anything wrong? Mechanical parts wear and fail over time no matter who does the work. Like CorollaNut, I'd rather do my own work so I know it was done right and no one but myself to blame if something goes wrong especially when modifying stuff like you did with the new master and 4 wheel discs.

[@disruptr4409]

+LionFreedom Gaming no there isn't.

[@davidnuckols8151]

I'm really digging the Mother of Duct Tape silver interior.

[@tobiramasenju1314]

Imperials and other big Chryslers of fifties and sixties(Yes I did hear Jay say that Imperials aren't Cryslers) are quite affordable today a good one can go for as low as 8000$ wich is very affordable whereas a good Charger rt goes well over 60000$ and an immaculate one goes for 200000$ easily

[@schumaje]

A $200,000 Charger? 😳 I must not be too well versed on auto auctions, because I've never heard of a Dodge Charger RT selling for $200,000 on the auction block.

[@commodore665]

Love it , Chrysler were the engineering leaders in the 50&60's and it shows right there .

[@jasonmushersee]

From a time when gas was cheap and crude oil came from texas

[@xtusvincit5230]

Crude oil comes from Texas again in abundance. Bring back the great cars!

[@mikecubes1642]

@@xtusvincit5230 the hippies would never allow us to have nice cars again

[@mikecubes1642]

and jobs paid good. not like now when you need 4 years of college to make $20 an hour

[@styldsteel1]

Screw them. They can save the planet and drive a Prius, and like Jay said..do you know how many cars you can run over with this thing? A Prius is just a speedbump.

[@caroncoache3951]

we use to have gas wars.

[@mitchdewitt3280]

“Hasn’t been messed with” except 100% new brake system that shares nothing with the original system

[@robertphillips6296]

Gas Mileage is measured in F.P.G. = Feet Per Gallon.

[@johnccargill4665]

My 56 Desoto and 58 Fury had that bellows power brake booster. The one on the 56 which was my first car $20.00 full price in 64. failed. Few local mechanics wanted to mess with it. there was a man I knew of who had 5 or 6 of these in the mid 60s all sedans. he only bought them for the hemis for his racing.

[@archangele1]

I don't understand their issue with drum brakes. I drove cars with drum brakes most of my life and never had an issue.I agree that they do not stop as fast and will fade much faster. I had a 54 Olds 88, a 64 Thunderbird, a 62 Thunderbird and a 71 Plymouth Fury II and all had drums all the way around. All stopped fine and all had no issues with one wheel pulling or the car wanting to drift when I hit the brakes. The issue I see with most people who call an Emergency brake an "E Brake" is that the do not know how to properly maintain and repair drum brakes.

[@dj33036]

My Uncle bought a '59 Crown Imperial Hardtop when I was a kid. I thought it was the most beautiful car I'd ever seen. It was the first car I ever drove.

[@toddanthony631]

Beautiful car, that dash is awesome! I kept wondering "is he gonna show us the car with the top up??" ..but he never did :( Would have been nice to see its full shape.

[@waynejohnson1304]

Jay, one thing that may surprise you about this car is that were it not for this car, there would have been no 1959 Cadillac in its present form. The designers back then, as they do now, challenged each other and tried to perfect each other's designs. The 1959 Cadillac was done as a way of perfecting what Chrysler did to what they thought was a better design. You can it it in the domed headlights and the tail fins. Pontiac did the same thing when making its vertical grill in the early 1960s after the vertical grill failed on the Ford Edsel.

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

" 28 feet from bumper to bumper The last of the sweet old time gas guzzlers ". Fred Eaglesmith - " Mighty Big Car ".

[@quinnisquinn9502]

28 feet!!??

[@jody024]

it's not 28 feet long...obviously...the 58 measures 225.9 in (5,738 m) in length 18.8 feet

[@chuckdavis572]

closer to 19'

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

Just listen to the song, guys, it's great‼️😜😜😜

[@quinnisquinn9502]

+jody024 how wide? In inches.

[@voicetube]

RIP Harambe! D O F Harambe! ... Oh… On a RELATED note, I remember while doing extra (background actor) work in the 1990s, I had the opportunity to work on a cool scene for the film, "That Thing you Do" which was a period film (taking place in the 1950s) directed by Tom Hanks (and hell yes, it was cool that he was directing the day I was working). My job in one of the scenes was to actually drive up to the iconic Ambassador Hotel (Before it was torn down in 2005, it was still being used as a movie set) in a 1950s car (I think it was a Chrysler - I wasn't paying attention then like I certainly would now!) and the AD (assistant director) had me drive this car around and around - stopping and starting - probably 5 to 7 times In multiple takes (in major feature films, it's rare they do any less than 3 takes for a scene). One thing that really concerned me (in more ways than one) was that the brakes on the classic old car I was using were HORRIBLE! no matter how hard I pressed on the pedal, it took a bit of time to stop. After seeing this video, I'm realizing that maybe it wasn't that this particular car had faulty brakes, but that it might have been relatively NORMAL (for that era). After seeing this video, it became clear that one should certainly consider retrofitting all 4 wheels with disc brakes on these old cars (to anyone out there who owns 1).

[@emjayay]

I had a daily driver 1962 Lincoln with all drum brakes in the 1990's. Actually drum brakes when working properly are fine in everyday use. In a panic stop they get uneven and cars tend to not stay in a straight line as one or the other front wheel locks up. The also fade all the way to about nothing when they get hot, and that was not unusual. Something was wrong with the brakes on the car you were driving.

[@voicetube]

@@emjayay Hey dude, first of all I am sorry that I did not see your reply to my comment until now! Second of all, I hear what you're saying and do agree; if the brakes were operating correctly it shouldn't have been so harrowing just driving around at 5 miles an hour, most certainly! :-)

[@Thunderstixx77]

The best part of all these Jay Leno's Garage is the love he has for all the cars that he owns and restores. He's a product of the early American automobile love affair after WWII. He baby's all his cars and treats them with the respect that most people don't give anyone. Thank you Jay, you, sir, are a great American.

[@paularnold2108]

Jay is smart because he actually DRIVES his antique cars, thus never losing his feel for them. Most people driving these plastic toys of today around don't even remember what it feels like to drive a REAL car.

[@dginia]

Dad had a used 1959 4 door hardtop (I think it was a hard top). Stainless steel top, 412 C.I., weighed 5250 with a quarter full gas tank. 19 mpg all the time. Nice memories.

[@clarkgriswold5903]

My mother had a used '68 Imperial that I got up to 110 mph, man I never did that again!

[@karlhungus5554]

Now, that's the way to cruise down the highway. What a beauty.

[@reelreeler8778]

The behemoths of the 1950's were something to behold, but I'm always struck by how even an entry level car from today will have more features than the luxury liner automobiles of that era. Great idea with the brakes and tires, I remember my '63 Impala would for sure go like a bat out of hell, but when it came to stopping OMG it was bad. Great episode Jay.....thanks!

[@rondyechannel1399]

I would like to propose car show judging eliminate Brake system upgrades (safety), transmission upgrades (modern drivability), tires (drivability) and gel batteries. Get out and drive these old beauties, and keep that old flat head in it but put some gears behind it. No deducts for these classes!

[@bredlo]

I'd imagine that most of us driving old cars that have benefitted from those improvements - myself included - don't care that we're excluded from winning trophies; I'm out driving the thing... not waiting around to hear what some snooty judge thinks.

[@v8berenguer372]

Art on wheels.

[@byronsigrano6849]

The tire hump is THE design feature that makes Chrysler group cars of this period so desirable (for me anyway).

[@splittheseam00]

... Exner's Forward Look comprised innovative themes that were very new looking coming out of 1957 Detroit. Virgil Exner's styling touches were readily seen on the rooftops and on the rear decks of many ChryCorp. car makes from 1957 thru 1961. Exner was introducing and doing signature styling touches on these ordinarily left plain/unstyled flat surfaces along with the fins.The rear deck of this 1958 Imperial looks smoothly integrated and is distinctively styled/detailed. It is easy to repeat the " looks like a toilet seat " jests / jokes but would be better to describe with historical/factual accuracy what Exner was styling and doing. I like these Imperials with the rear deck styled like this 1958 has and would not encourage the often repeated " toilet seat " jokes as they detract from the Exner styling history these late 1950's Imperials were/are pure and enduring examples of...;-)

[@radioguy1620]

wonder if they used steel for the front brake hubs, seems like you might need it.

[@cargo4441]

mid century what a time America number one not like today.

[@theenhancer]

Ahhh yes, several recessions, drafts for war, segregation, bigotry, sexism, McCarthyism, lynchings, smog, lead, asbestos, heroin, polio. A magical time.

[@SavageSPK]

+Texassnubbiefan Yup.. by voting in our first female President! Hillary2016! Maybe she can wave to us, from the back of this car, while driving to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave!!!

[@googIesux]

cept if you're paying attention, those things haven't changed...the elites and media have just become more hypocritical than ever.

[@googIesux]

i'm gonna regret commenting on that aren't i? i'll just mute this thread ahead of time. enjoy your marijuana

[@Mikeywil0003]

America needs to take a lesson from its own past.

[@edwardharley9]

Sid Caesar , Edie Adams and Ethel Merman were driving the Imperial in Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad Mad Mad World, or was it? Thanks Jay I love old cars too...

[@kmath50]

Beautiful! Some of Virgil Exner's best work. I agree completely with the brake upgrade. These beasts were hard to stop with just four drums. I don't think that self-adjusting brakes were available until 1962, so this solved that problem too.

[@34Packardphaeton]

It was the '63 model year for which all Mopars went to Bendix-type brakes.

[@1967davethewave]

1957 was the first year of the new Imperial body style featuring the new "torsion air" front suspension. The 1958 was almost unchanged except for the grill and some other trim pieces.

[@billythekidperez7343]

I got me a Chrysler it sits about twenty so c'mon and bring your juke box money

[@jpdemer5]

345 HP in 1958 was mind-boggling power. And that was the stock engine...

[@johnhiram1207]

Oh wow! Love this car. A family friend had a hardtop this year. MASSIVE even then.

[@emelen123jamesula2]

I googled width and length: 1958 Imperial..81.30 inches wide, length 225.90 inches 18365.65 square inches ( 127.539 square feet ) 1958 Continental...80.10 inches wide, length 229.0 inches. 18,342.9 square inches ( 127.381 square feet ) 1958 Cadillac...80.0 inches wide, length 225.30 inches 18,024 square inches ( 125.167 square feet ) And the winner is, Imperial Second place is, Continental Third place is, Cadillac