1958 Imperial Convertible - Jay Leno's Garage

With it's "Forward Look" design and massive 392 Hemi, Jay takes us on a ride in his Imperial Convertible that was the biggest and widest luxury car you could buy in America in 1958.

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A new video every Sunday! Visit Jay Leno's Garage, the Emmy-winning series where Jay Leno gives car reviews, motorcycle reviews, compares cars, and shares his passion and expertise on anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. Classic cars, restomods, super cars like the McLaren P1, sports cars like Porsche 918 Spyder and Camaro Z28, cafe racers, vintage cars, and much, much more.

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1958 Imperial Convertible - Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno's Garage

[pontiacgrandprix]

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

[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.

[EBenzin]

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

[jimm]

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

[digijams]

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

[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.

[nuil]

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;

[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!

[kaiserbill]

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.

[davidarmstrong]

dear jay - thanks for making everyone feel like your friend - a friend of mine lived and was driving around n hollywood with his old mother when you both stopped at a stop light - you looked over and waved - a simple gesture for you - but you made the ol ladies day and ours who retell the story - love your garage - thanks for being you

[jerrylincoln]

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

[seana]

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

[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!

[karlhungus]

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

[mosesberkowitz]

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?

[bluerider]

I loved Tom McCahills' reviews in Popular Mechanics. His face on the cover and what he was reviewing that month is what sold thousands of those magazines. He once described the '58 Pontiacs' handling as feeling like "An old matron settling into a warm bath" Hysterical ! And the "Model Garage" feature column each month taught me a lot about how to troubleshoot a mechanical issue with a mindset open to any possible cause that might be the culprit. Every single one was a teaching moment.

[bobkeefer]

The steering wheel is a work of art, , ,

[zapfanzapfan]

Only slightly smaller than an Imperial Star Destroyer :-)

[cymoncyrado]

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

[cindytepper]

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.