1957 Imperial Crown owned by Lauren Bacall


Imperial Home Page -> Imperials by Year -> 1957 -> Imperial Crown owned by Lauren Bacall


 

 

This unique 1957 Crown was offered for sale on Bring-A-Trailer.com in January 2021. Here's what the seller had to say about this very nice Imperial ....

Ex-Lauren Bacall 1957 Imperial Crown Southampton 4-Door

This 1957 Imperial Crown Southampton is a pillarless four-door hardtop that was sold new at Harger-Haldeman Chrysler of Los Angeles, California to Hollywood film star Lauren Bacall on February 7, 1957, less than three weeks after the death of her husband, actor Humphrey Bogart. The car is equipped with a 392ci FirePower V8 paired with a push-button TorqueFlite automatic transmission and was refinished in blue over a gray leather interior under previous ownership. Features include power-assisted steering, an Electro Touch-Tuner radio, as well as powered functions for the windows, radio antenna, and front bench seat. The selling dealer acquired the car out of Indiana in September 2020 and had an electronic ignition system installed. This Imperial is now offered in California with 1957 sales literature, period registration cards, factory manuals, partial service records, and a clean Michigan title.

Incorporated into the Imperial line for the 1957 model year, Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" design elements included a biplane-style front bumper, an overlapping roof treatment, and gunsight detailing integrated into the rear fins. Features on this example include a Southampton-specific pillarless roofline, quad headlights, and a FliteSweep deck lid equipped with a faux spare-tire bulge. This example was delivered new in Horizon Blue (B) and is believed to have been repainted under prior ownership

Steel wheels wear stock hubcaps and whitewall tires featuring pie-crust sidewalls. A full-size spare fitted with a Firestone tire is retained in the trunk.

The interior features Light Gray Metallic leather upholstery (47) over front and rear bench seats as well as bright trim and color-coordinated carpeting. Additional amenities include an Electro Touch-Tuner radio, a powered front seat, power windows, and pull-down center armrests for the front and rear occupants.

The padded dash is clad in matching leather and metal paneling, and a push-button shifter is positioned to the left of the steering wheel. Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer, a clock, and gauges measuring coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows approximately 47k miles.

The 392ci FirePower V8 produced a factory-rated 325 horsepower when new and sends power rearward through a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Maintenance completed in October 2020 included installation of an electronic ignition, replacement of the spark plugs, and repair of a hood hinge. An invoice for the work performed by Liebsack & Son Auto Service of Gardena, California is provided in the photo gallery.

Items accompanying the car include a dealer-issued owner's service certificate, a copy of the 1957 registration card to Lauren Bacall Bogart, receipts and service records, plus factory literature and period photographs.

 

Click on photos to see larger versions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are the new owner of this unique Imperial, please write in and tell us about yourself and your Imperial story.

 


This page was last updated December 2023. Send us your feedback, and come join the Imperial Mailing List - Online Car Club