1968 Imperial Crown Coupe Mobile Director - Rarest of rare, executive, dignitary

1968 Imperial Crown Coupe Mobile Director

“If you are one of the few people who can afford a genuine luxury automobile”

Before you read another word. take a look at this Mobile Director TV commercial from 1967: http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=b8nc9swVpoU

“Mad Men” character Don Draper would be required to own this prestigious luxury automobile in order to be undisputed as Madison Avenue's Premier Advertising Executive!  Why?  First. because this extraordinary 1968 Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe illustrates the “High-Style” visual character of the late1960s. which Madison Avenue worked so hard to create. embody. and successfully SELL to all of America!  Imperial was marketed as a separate brand in this period in order to compete with Lincoln and Cadillac head-on. and the innovative elite were going Imperial!  But second. and more importantly. the rare and unique Mobile Director option package. demonstrated in this fine. low-mileage. superb example. is the coolest and most dramatic functional design package ever dreamed up for a production luxury car by Chrysler Corporation. and only Imperial had it!  Offered for just two years. 1967 and 1968. the Mobile Director was only available in a Crown Coupe. not a LeBaron sedan. because it required the larger door opening of the coupe to function comfortably and exclusively as a private “Office on Wheels!”  Elegance. distinction. and pure style are captured in this fine automobile's design composition. presented here in Military Blue with the rare. optional. full vinyl roof covering in Antique White.  Chrysler's own publicity describes this prestigious “Top of the Line” automobile in the following passages:

“Designed for the busy executive who must continue his work while he travels. the Mobile Director also serves as an informal conference lounge in the Crown Coupe.

It features a reclining-back passenger seat that pivots 180 degrees to face the rear; a folding table that pivots to any of four different positions; and a portable reading lamp that conveniently plugs into any of the four cigar lighter sockets.

The table. supported by a sturdy chrome-plated pillar. can be pivoted to the right. to the left. and forward. In the forward position. it converts into a padded armrest between the two front seats. Extended. the table opens out to twice its original size. A lever on the table swivel support permits table height adjustments. A special tool is used for removing the table and storing it in the trunk. ”

“No other automobile in the world offers these extraordinary conveniences!”

Production (1967 & 1968 combined) was 71. 81. 172. or 237. depending on your source – Chrysler production records for 1968 were destroyed before being sent to their archives. so we can only guess.  The best guess I've heard is that they made only 55 of these in 1968!  Regardless. this is a super-rare automobile – you will probably never see another one!  This stunning option package initially added a whopping 10% to the price of a new Imperial.   I've never seen another Mobile Director in person. only in pictures. and even then. they have all been 1967s.   I've never seen even a photograph of another 1968 Mobile Director.   Surprisingly. unlike the 1967 Imperial dealer brochure. the 1968 sales piece only mentions the Mobile Director in passing and with no picture (see a brochure at http://imperialclub. org/Yr/1968/Brochure/index. htm ).   Even at half the price the second year (1968). they realized the audience for this option package was virtually nonexistent. which makes it one of the rarest of the rare.   In fact. take a look at http://nadaguides. com/Classic-Cars/1968/Chrysler/Imperial-Crown/2-Door-Hardtop/Values to see current values for these.

This particular car's owner's manual suggests that it was originally purchased outside Minneapolis. Minnesota. but it is believed to have been part of a dignitary's fleet at some point. due to the custom-made. robust. flag stands at all four corners.   Many Mobile Directors were shipped to Washington. D. C. . but notwithstanding the flag stands. I have no record that this one ever resided there.  

See a slide show of over 100 detailed photos of this striking vehicle at http://www. retrobid. tumblr. com .   You'll fall in love!

This example is equipped with:

- Mobile Director package. which includes swiveling passenger seat; folding. multi-position table/armrest; high-intensity gooseneck lamp that stores under rear seat; and special. passenger-side armrest that incorporates special door handle for rear-facing occupant

- 440 cubic inch V8 (350 horsepower) with 4-bbl carburetor. single exhaust

- Torqueflite automatic transmission (extremely smooth-shifting)

- Torsionaire suspension (torsion bars fore. leaf springs aft)

- Power windows all around. even power vent windows!

- Temperature-controlled Chrysler Airtemp air conditioning

- Rear blower

- Electric locks

- Power steering

- Power brakes (factory front disc)

- Six-way power driver's seat (passenger seat has limited adjustment due to swiveling)

- Rear-seat center armrest

- Hidden AM/FM push-button Stereo Multiplex radio with 5 speakers

- Power antenna

- AutoPilot cruise control

- Automatic headlight dimmer (autronic eye)

- Four cigar lighters

- Tilt-A-Scope steering wheel

- Padded dashboard (not even a crack!)

- Electric clock (it works!)

- Electric trunk release in glove compartment

- Storage compartment in every armrest

- Remote-control driver's side rearview mirror

- Passenger-side rearview mirror

- Day/Night rearview mirror

- Fender-mounted turn signals

- Safeguard Sentinel lighting system

- More hidden cigarette lighters and ashtrays than a National Smoke-Out meeting

- Pearlescent blue Silhouette-grain leather interior

- Antique White. full vinyl roof (rare option)

- Gorgeous. deep. Military Blue metallic paint with white pinstripe

- Three-band whitewall. bias-ply tires. virtually new

- Rebuilt radiator and reworked cooling system

- Complete. original. trunk cardboard set is in place and in good condition

- Trunk courtesy light

- Low 98. 00 miles on the odometer (believed to be original and accurate)

This car was treated to a repaint and new carpeting at some point in its life before the current owner's possession.   The chrome and brightwork are in amazingly good shape for their age with only minor pitting on some of the pot metal pieces.   Most of the car's smaller trim is high-quality stainless steel.   From all appearances. this car has never been in an accident. so all the body panels and doors all line up as they should.   The perfectly counterbalanced deck lid closes effortlessly over the cavernous trunk with a feather touch and clicks almost musically into place.   It must be experienced to be believed!  Fender skirts come on and off easily and are in good shape.   While this car is 18 feet 8 ½ inches long and weighs almost 4500 pounds. it is surprisingly nimble and agile. thanks to the mating of the powerful power plant. sure-footed suspension. and legendary transmission.  Chrysler had it right!

What else I would want the next custodian of this exceptional automobile to know:

- The air conditioning system is temperature-controlled. but there is something in the temperature sensors that needs to be sorted out. as it will not always perform properly.

- The genuine leather of the driver's seat shows cracking from normal use. but it is still conditioned and pliable and has years of life left.

- The left seat shield on the driver's seat is not correct. but it is functional and presentable.   One might not even notice it. but I wanted to be up front about it.

- The protective. body side moldings have done their job. as evidenced by a door ding in the molding on each side of the car (see photos). and there is a small gouge in the paint on the top of the passenger door (see photo).   These are both minor and can be easily repaired.

- A trim piece above the end of the front bumper on either side of the car got snapped off recently at the car wash (see photos).   If desired. I will help the new owner locate replacements.   They are not Mobile-Director-specific.

- There is one tiny rust bubble under the paint on the left front fender. just above the bumper end (see photo)

- The steering wheel has several cracks/gaps in it from age (see photos). but fortunately. their placement makes them not terribly noticeable.

- The tripometer appears not to be working. but odometer functions perfectly.

- The car does not have headrests on the two front seats. but I think it was supposed to.   It did not have them when I bought the car. and I never pursued trying to find any.

- The vanity with mirror that resided in the glove compartment is no longer there. but its bracket is still in place.

- There is a small gash in one side of the center moulding of the back seat. above the center armrest (see photo).

See a slide show of over 100 detailed photos of this striking vehicle at http://www. retrobid. tumblr. com .   You'll fall in love!

In summary. this car is extra-special and fun and has a great story.   This stately yet high-style 1968 Imperial Crown Coupe runs and drives beautifully.   I would not hesitate to drive it across the country tomorrow.   It gets “thumbs up” everywhere it goes.   It is a resounding hit at every car show. especially once people realize they're not looking at simply a normal. rare. beautiful. full-size. luxury. two-door hardtop Imperial.   Admirers will often return. leading their friends by the hand to come see this amazing “informal conference lounge” in a car.   Or perhaps it's better suited as a unique setting for a romantic dinner!

I had one gentleman at a car show tell me. after circling the car for probably 15 minutes. taking in every detail. “I've been a car guy my whole life.   On top of that. I'm a Chrysler guy.   I've never seen one of these.   In fact. I've never even HEARD of one of these!”  That's how rare. unusual. and desirable this car is.   It would be a fitting addition to any discerning collector's stable of unique and interesting automobiles. one of the finest. rarest. and most interesting luxury cars of its time. unbelievably in beautiful and correct condition.  

Don Draper would be a Mad Man for it!

 “Imperial '68: If you want more than luxury in your luxury car. ”

HISTORY and DISCUSSION about the Mobile Director option

(courtesy of the Imperial Club Web site):      

 From David Duthie:

The Mobile Director was an option package for the 1967 and 68 Imperials - specifically for the Crown Coupe only. The special order package cost $597. 40 and converted the Crown Coupe into a rolling office. The package featured a passenger bucket seat that swiveled around to face the rear seat. The center armrest was replaced by a folding table - folded up. it acts like an armrest. with a padded section. Unfolded. it turns into a table for the rear seat passenger. The package is completed by a high intensity lamp. which plugs into the cigar lighter and is stored in the glove compartment. The idea was that the boss could sit in the back and do paperwork. or take a secretary along. who would sit in the front seat facing rearward. to take dictation. or even do typing. We presume that Jeeves. the trusty chauffeur. was at the wheel.

My father was with the 8th largest Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in the country (Roy Burnett Motors. Portland) at the time. and I never saw a Mobile Director package. and. believe me. I was there a lot. They were very rare. They were almost all special order cars - Burnett would never have ordered one for their inventory. They usually only stocked 3 or 4 Crown 4-door hardtops. one LeBaron and maybe 1 or 2 Crown Coupes. 1 of which was the demo for the General Manager. Roy Burnett also drove an Imperial. but his car was never listed on the sales inventory sheets! But that's a story for another time.

From Brett C. Snyder:

The Mobile Director was an option available on the '67 and '68 coupes. Basically. the front passenger seat turns to face rearward and a small table & high intensity light fold out over the back seat. The idea was that an "executive" could turn around and do work while being driven to the office. or he could sit behind the driver and a secretary could take dictation in the rear-facing front seat.

The idea was originated with the 1966 Mobile Executive Show Car that was an Imperial Coupe fitted with a telephone. Dictaphone. writing table. typewriter. television. reading lamp and stereo. Chrysler also used the reversed front seat idea in the 300X show car.

I've been digging through my archives. trying to find the specific photocopy that has mystified me for years. I was at the Detroit Public Library. also known as the National Automotive History Collection. doing research for a few weeks in the back-stacks for my February 1988 Collectible Automobile La Femme article. I made hundreds of photocopies. including one of an 8 by 10 photo of the interior of 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe. I knew it was a '64 because the dash had the full-length chromed ribs. rather than the '65's half-ribs/half veneer and the '66's full wood veneer. The passenger seat is turned around to face the rear. there's a male executive (wearing a fedora) using a Dictaphone (built-in. but I forget where). and there's a female secretary using a built-in telephone.  

The most common illustration of this option is in the '67 sales brochure. It is also mentioned in the '68 catalog although there's no picture. I don't believe there are any production numbers for this option. but I'm sure all would agree that it is incredibly rare. I can't imagine anyone actually ordering this $597. 40 ($317. 60 in '68) option. The examples that were actually produced were probably ordered by dealerships as novelties to put in their showrooms. And it's quite likely the turn-around seat and table were more often used by kids with coloring books on vacation instead of state-of-the-art executives commuting into the big city.

Mobile Director was an option that included the following features:

-A front passenger seat (bucket) that could rotate (swivel) 180 degrees around to face the rear seat (it did not adjust fore-aft).

-A folding wood-grained table that mounted on a large giant post (sort of looked like a chrome traffic light stanchion) on the driveshaft hump in the rear-seat foot-well area. The table was split so it folded in half lengthwise. and one half was fitted underneath with an upholstered pad that. when folded over. became a padded center armrest for the front seat. Or both front and rear seats could have slim. wood-grain tabletops running down the center of the car

Or. most important of all. the two right-hand passengers (front and rear) could have a little square-ish tabletop between them (when the front seat was facing the rear seat. that is).

- Finally. a high-intensity gooseneck desk-type lamp plugged into the right rear cigarette lighter socket. and you had a rolling conference table. so the executive could give dictation to his stenographer.

The flaw? Of course! What executive rode in the back of a TWO-door Imperial?! The feature was never offered on LeBaron or Crown 4-doors because the B-pillar stub would have been in the way of the swiveling seat.

Needless to say. few were sold.

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Inspections prior to auction's end are not a problem and are encouraged. The car is for sale locally. and if sold. the auction will be canceled.   Please remember. this is a 45-year-old car.   I am representing it as accurately as I can. based on my knowledge. and have tried to give as much information as possible.   It is being sold without warranty and as is. where is.

A non-refundable $1000 deposit via cash. PayPal. electronic transfer of funds. or certified cashier's check in U. S. funds is required within 48 hours of auction's end.   Full payment via cash. electronic transfer of funds (not PayPal). or certified cashier's check (once cleared) is due within 7 days of auction's end.   Please. if you are not intending on paying. please do not bid.   All bidders with less than 5 feedbacks need to call me. or their bids
 might be canceled.   Car must be picked up within 7 days of auction's end.

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