In redesigning its Imperial models in 1955, the Chrysler Corporation split them into a separate line of prestigious automobiles to compete directly with Ford’s luxury-focused Lincoln and General Motors’ Cadillac.

True to its name, the new Imperial was to be an opulent line of cars above and beyond all other Chrysler branded vehicles.

Initially, these luxury offerings wore bodies designed by the engineers who built the chassis.

They were considered spartan and unstylish.

This would change with the ascension of designer Virgil Exner and his “Forward Look” aesthetics.

After seeing the fighter-plane inspired tail fins of late 1940s Cadillacs, Exner adopted tail fins as a central element in his designs.

While other companies simply enjoyed their appearance, Exner truly believed in their aerodynamic effects, going so far as to wind-tunnel test many of his works at the University of Michigan.

The resulting designs sported lowered rooflines with tall fins, making for a sleeker, more agg...