Cars - Chrysler Imperial

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	Cars - Chrysler Imperial

The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was the company's top of the range vehicle for much of its history. From 1955 to 1975, and from 1981 to 1983, the Imperial was its own marque, sold without the Chrysler name, although it never lost its association with Chrysler in the public mind.

1926-1930

In 1926, Walter P. Chrysler decided to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln in the luxury car field. Chrysler offered a variety of body styles: a four-passenger roadster, a four-seat coupé on a 120 in wheelbase, five-passenger sedan, and a seven-passenger top-of-the-line limousine. The Imperial's new engine was slightly larger than the company's standard straight 6. It was a 3.3 L I6 with seven bearing blocks and pressure lubrication. The car set a transcontinental speed record in the year it was introduced, driving more than 6,500 miles in a week. The car was chosen as the first ever pace car for the Indianapolis 500.

1931-1933

The Chrysler Imperial was redesigned in 1931. The car received a new engine, a 6.3 L I8. Marketing materials for this generation of Imperial referred to the car as the "Imperial 8" in reference to the new engine. The engine would be found in many other Chrysler vehicles. The redesign also saw the introduction of new wire wheels that would became the standard wheel treatment until the 1940s. Stock car driver Harry Hartz set numerous speed records with an Imperial sedan at Daytona Beach, Florida.

1934-1936

The 1934 to 1936 Chrysler Imperial ushered in the 'Airflow' design. The car was marketed with the slogan "The car of tomorrow is here today." It featured eight passenger seating and again an eight-cylinder engine.

1937-1942

Innovations for 1937 included built-in defroster vents, safety type interior hardware and seat back padding, and fully insulated engine mounts. There were three Imperial models in this generation. The C-14 was the standard eight and looked much like the Chrysler Royal with a longer hood and cowl. The C-15 was the Imperial Custom and the Town Sedan Limousine, with blind rear quarter panels. This model was available by special order. The third model, C-17', was the designation for the Airflow model. They had a concealed crank for raising the windshield and the hood was hinged at the cowl and opened from the front; side hood panels were released by catches on the inside. A Custom Imperial convertible sedan was used as an official car at the Indy 500.

1946-1948

1946 saw the simplification of the Imperial line. Two models were produced, an eight passenger four door sedan and an eight passenger four door limousine. The two vehicles had a US$100 price difference and a 10 lb weight difference.

1949-1954

Three Imperial models were produced in 1949. The Imperial C46-2 was a four door, six passenger sedan. The Imperial Crown models, both with the C47 designation, were an eight passenger sedan and limousine. 50, 40, and 45 examples of each, respectively, were built in their first year.

1955-1975

During this period, Chrysler spun off the Imperial as its own brand. For information on the 1955 - 1975 Imperial brand, see that article.

1976-1978

There were no Imperials produced between 1976 and 1978. The cars previously sold as an Imperial were sold as the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham during this time.

1981-1983

In 1981, Chrysler resurrected the Imperial luxury car brand. See the Imperial article for additional information.

1990-1993

The early 1990s saw the last generation of the Chrysler Imperial. Based on the Y platform, the car was an upscale version of the last-generation Chrysler Fifth Avenue. The car featured six passenger seating and was motivated by either a 3.3 L or 3.8 L V6 engine. A four-speed automatic transmission was standard. The Chrysler LHS replaced the Imperial in 1994.

2006

A Chrysler Imperial concept car was presented at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. This concept uses the Chrysler LX platform. It features a 123 in wheelbase, longer than any of its platform-mates, and is six inches taller than its next nearest kin. Riding on 22 in wheels, the car presents "a six-figure image but at a much lower price" according to Tom Tremont, Vice President of advanced vehicle design for Chrysler. The design incorporates a long hood and front end dominated by an upright radiator and strong horizontal grille. Brushed and polished aluminum pods evoke the free-standing headlamps of past models. Circular LED taillights with floating outer rings harken to the "gun sight" taillight look of early 1960s Imperials. The roofline is pulled rearward to enlarge the cabin and to create a strong profile.

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