A 1965 Imperial GHIA Limousine in California

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Photos of this Limousine came into the website without any owner information. The submission did include descriptions of each photo, which I included.

This is what the owner(?)/ writer chose to include with the pictures:

Here is a luxurious, rare, and beautifully restored 1965 Imperial Limousine by Ghia of Italy. They only made 10 cars in that final year of production - it's possible that the original price of $19,800 may have had something to do with that exclusivity!

Chrysler and the custom design firm of Ghia had a long relationship, going back to the Ghia/ Chrysler concept cars of the early 1950's, which were featured this year at Pebble Beach. Chrysler wanted a completely luxurious, custom, and elegant offering to be able to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln, but they didn't want to engage in low production volumes. The perfect solution was to use the services of Ghia, which could do the restyling AND the production of the cars in Italy. Chysler sent Ghia Imperial coupes with convertible frames, and Ghia sent back the custom and luxurious transportation you see before you!

The result is a car that is beautifully proportioned and pleasing to the eye, unlike so many other stretch limousines. It is also a car that has excellent structural strength by using an Imperial convertible frame with extra bracing.

Click on photos to see original versions

The restoration work on the car is of very high quality indeed - take a sighting down that extra long fuselage, and it is arrow straight! All of the chrome and plating is like new!

Here it is in front of the famous Greystone mansion in Los Angeles, a suitable location for such a fine car!

Since I am an enthusiast of Pre-War custom coachwork, I am struck by how much the interior of this car pays homage to the prewar chauffeur driven vehicles. Rich Mahogany wood inserts, lavish use of chrome, leather, and wool. The black front Driver's compartment, contrasted with the lighter tan of the interior. The unbelievably strong folding jump seats. Rear Radio, and rear Air Conditioning. Power divider window. This is a custom body in every sense of the word, done by a firm that not only knew what features were required for a chauffeur driven car, but could execute that knowledge perfectly.

It's beautiful inside - a combination of excellent original, and restoration.

The lap of luxury, updated with seat belts! The leather was done a while back, and it's very, very nice but not perfect on the lower seat bolster.

The wood accents have just been redone, and they are spectacular.

The unit above the window switch is the 8-track player, a real period item!

Wow!

That's the original headliner, still in very nice but not new condition.

Perfect, luscious steering wheel, and equally beautiful dash and gauges. Also note the Air Conditioning vent on top of the dash. We drove this car up the Grapevine ( a 4,000 foot climb on Interstate 5 ) on a hot day with the windows up and the A/C blasting ! and, never went above halfway on the temperature gauge! The driving experience is superb - the 413 V-8 moves it down the road with power to spare, and it is very quiet and comfortable.