We have seen several stunning resto-mods over the years, but this might be one of our favorites. Listed on the popular automotive auction site BringATrailer.com, this 1956 Imperial Southampton two-door completed in a gorgeous two-tone Silver and Grey exterior scheme highlighted with Red trim, this Imperial will get attention wherever it goes.
The car received Street Rodder Top-100 honors in the September 2011 issue of the Street Rodder magazine.
But if you think this is your typical resto-mod build, putting the latest components on an older car, you would be wrong. Instead, this Imperial body sits on a 2007 Dodge Magnum SRT8 chassis. Matter of fact, almost everything under the surface was supplied by the Magnum.
According to the listing, the Imperial was previously finished in Red, and the work was carried out in 2011 by the current owner’s shop, Back Bay Customs of Portland, Maine. Back Bay Customs grafted together the two vehicles. The Imperial body was removed from its frame, the front wheel openings were enlarged, and the rocker channels were reinforced before its marriage with the Dodge Magnum SRT8 chassis and floor pans, which had to be lengthened by approximately 14-inches ahead of the rear seat to match the Imperial’s massive 133-inch wheelbase.
The exterior is highlighted with chrome bumpers, bright trim work, a drive side mirror, front ventilated windows, SRT8 fender and trunk badges, a roof-mounted GPS antenna, a passenger side power radio antenna, a Jaguar-sourced chrome fuel-filler cap, tail-fin-mounted gun-sight taillights, and dual polished exhaust outlets. Paul’s Chrome Plating of Evans City, Pennsylvania, completed all the replating or polishing of the chrome features back in 2010, making this car a chrome lover’s delight.
The Imperial sits on a set of the Magnum’s forged aluminum 20-inch SRT wheels, wrapped in brand-new 245/45 Goodyear Eagle RS-A rubber. The Magnum SRT8 chassis also means the car comes with power-assisted Brembo® slotted anti-lock disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, and rack-and-pinion power steering. Pedders front struts, rear shocks, and rear coil springs are said to have been installed in 2022, and the brake pads and lug nuts were replaced in March 2023.
The exterior color theme carries on into the interior. While the door panels continue to be Imperial parts, the Magnum SRT8’s door control has been integrated into the door armrest. The Magnum’s dash and seating were adapted to meet up with the Imperial’s body. This means this car has all of the amenities a 2007 Dodge Magnum would have (minus the airbags, which have been removed). Power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, power windows, an overhead console, rear reading lamps, black carpets, lap belts, Navigation, and an AM/FM stereo with an in-dash CD changer are just among those features.
Under the hood, is, of course, the 6.1-liter (370 cubic-inch) HEMI® SRT V8 delivering 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, directed to the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick shifting function.
According to the car’s digital odometer, there are about 49,000 miles on it (approximately 33,000 miles have been added since its completion). But true mileage is unknown.
The Carfax report for the Magnum chronicles an accident with another vehicle in July 2009 as well as the declaration as a “Total Loss Vehicle” and the subsequent issuance of a salvage title/certificate in October 2009. Three recalls are also noted on the report along with history in New York and Maine.
The car is being offered without a title, as it is registered in a state that does not issue titles for vehicles of its age. It is being sold on its Maine registration, which lists the vehicle as a 1956 Chrysler Imperial.
Bidding for the car will end on Thursday, April 6th at 1:30 p.m. EST. You can see the full listing on BringATrailer.com.
1956 Imperial Southampton–Bodied Dodge Magnum SRT8 Image Gallery:
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