What do you guys know about these? I saw one for sale and it looks pretty cool, especially since Sinatra is my favorite singer!

It was an option package on the Imperial. I think the only color was a light blue metallic (ol' blue eyes supposedly picked out the color) and it came with several 'Sinatra' badges and a Sinatra tape.

I don't know if it has any special or collector value; the guys over in the Chrysler forum might know more.

Well, for an early 80s Imperial (built on an Aspen/Volare platform) they are considered desirable, especially if you like Frank (I'm a huge frank-o-phile).
They came with a special center console tape case filled with Frank cassettes. They have not had their big "ah-hah" moment where the market wakes up and realizes that they were a low production, special car and that they might be worth more than they are currently going for, so buy now.


"It's Frank's world, we just live in it" -- Dean Martin, 1960

"you gotta love livin' baby, 'cause dyings' a pain in the a__"-Frank, 1965

How many were made?

There were 148 "Sinatra" package Imperials made in 1981 out of a total production run of 7,225 Imperials.

There were 279 "Sinatra" package ($1,078.00 option) Imperials made in 1982 out of a total production run of 2,329 Imperials.

So, are they worth anything?

My book from 2004 says the 1981 Imperial would be worth about $6,000.00 in number 1 condition. The 1982 would be worth about the same. Both would be worth slightly more now, especially with the complete "Sinatra" option.

Given that prices have come down in the last year or so, why would something like this be worth more today than 4 years ago? I doubt there is much of a market for such a car.

Chrysler Club guys would argue that one. Just because some of the cars are going down in value doesn't mean they all are. The average collector car has gone down in value in the last year, however low production cars will usually remain in the highly collectible category. People are still buying antique cars and gold because stocks and other papers are becoming less valuable. Lets face it...the rule of thumb is that the rarer the item, the more it is worth.

Go to the GVACS Region website. Ron DeGroff the president of GVACS has one that won a Senior at Hershey last year. They're nice cars, but back in the late 70's and early 80's like most american cars, they could be a mechanical nightmare.

An electronic nightmare for the average enthusiast.
Do a Google search . .

http://www.teamchicago.com/imperial/1981-83.htm
Here are nearly 3 years of email on the 1981-83 Imperial, primarily on fuel injection issues. There are nearly 500 pages of messages here, loosely organized into fuel injection, electrical, chassis, A/C and other categories.