1932 Chrysler CL Imperial
THE CHRYSLER CL IMPERIAL
The Classic Era in America brought about many beautiful automobiles, but the Chrysler CL Imperial of 1932 to ’33 was hard to beat for overall greatness. It featured a potent inline eight-cylinder, a sweet-shifting transmission, and handsome LeBaron-built open bodywork, with a hoodline extended back to the windshield, emphasizing the car’s length and the size of the engine lurking beneath the sheet metal. Each body was meticulously constructed to the highest standards. The result was an automobile that was smoothly powerful, easy to drive for its era, and built with quality as the foremost consideration. It was a superb car—and it looked terrific.
Among the most sensual bodies fitted to the CL Imperial was the two-passenger Convertible Roadster, which, as its name suggested, ably combined the light, fleet look of an open roadster with the all-weather folding top and windows of a convertible. It was few in number even when new, with historians agreeing that 29 examples were delivered in 1932; fewer than a dozen remain. Like many of these cars, it was originally delivered with a four-speed transmission, but soon retrofitted with a three-speed by factory order. (why that I do not know)
Sotheby's
Personally, I couldn't say I ever was a fan of Chrysler Imperial's. They were always big, and a little over the top for my tastes. And being that they competed for market share with the "big boys" from Cadillac, Lincoln, and Packard I suppose the designers at Chrysler felt that they needed to be that way. And in my opinion when Exner put his signature all over them in the fifties they got even worse. But, the one above, this gorgeous classic from 1932, well, that's a different story, and nothing short of beautiful, even in it's 2 tone "pea soup" green! They probably should have quit while they were ahead! :)
1932 Chrysler CL Imperial
THE CHRYSLER CL IMPERIAL
The Classic Era in America brought about many beautiful automobiles, but the Chrysler CL Imperial of 1932 to ’33 was hard to beat for overall greatness. It featured a potent inline eight-cylinder, a sweet-shifting transmission, and handsome LeBaron-built open bodywork, with a hoodline extended back to the windshield, emphasizing the car’s length and the size of the engine lurking beneath the sheet metal. Each body was meticulously constructed to the highest standards. The result was an automobile that was smoothly powerful, easy to drive for its era, and built with quality as the foremost consideration. It was a superb car—and it looked terrific.
Among the most sensual bodies fitted to the CL Imperial was the two-passenger Convertible Roadster, which, as its name suggested, ably combined the light, fleet look of an open roadster with the all-weather folding top and windows of a convertible. It was few in number even when new, with historians agreeing that 29 examples were delivered in 1932; fewer than a dozen remain. Like many of these cars, it was originally delivered with a four-speed transmission, but soon retrofitted with a three-speed by factory order. (why that I do not know)
Sotheby's
Personally, I couldn't say I ever was a fan of Chrysler Imperial's. They were always big, and a little over the top for my tastes. And being that they competed for market share with the "big boys" from Cadillac, Lincoln, and Packard I suppose the designers at Chrysler felt that they needed to be that way. And in my opinion when Exner put his signature all over them in the fifties they got even worse. But, the one above, this gorgeous classic from 1932, well, that's a different story, and nothing short of beautiful, even in it's 2 tone "pea soup" green! They probably should have quit while they were ahead! :)