Chrysler Imperial (1st gen) 1926-1930

The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was the company's top of the range vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced with the Chrysler name until 1954, and again from 1990 to 1993. The company positioned the cars as a prestige marque to rival Cadillac. According to a feature article in AACA's magazine The adjective ‘imperial’ according to Webster’s Dictionary means sovereign, supreme, superior or of unusual size or excellence. The word imperial thus justly befits Chrysler’s highest priced quality model.

[B][SIZE="3"]The Chrysler years (1926-1954 & 1990-1993)[/SIZE][/B]

[B]First generation (1926-1930)[/B]

In 1926, Walter P. Chrysler decided to attempt to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln in the luxury car field. Chrysler offered a variety of body styles: a two/four-passenger roadster(four passenger if car had the rumble seat), a four-seat coupé, five-passenger sedan and phaeton, and a seven-passenger top-of-the-line limousine. The limo had a glass partition.

The Imperial's new engine was slightly larger than the company's standard straight 6. It was a 288.6 cu in (4.7 L) six-cylinder with seven bearing blocks and pressure lubrication of 92 brake horsepower (69 kW). Springs were semi-elliptic in the front. The car set a transcontinental speed record in the year it was introduced, driving more than 6,500 miles (10,460 km) in the week. The car was chosen as the pace car for the 1926 Indianapolis 500. The model was designated E-80, the 80 being after the "guaranteed" 80 miles per hour (129 km/h) all-day cruising speed. Acceleration was also brisk breaking 20 seconds to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Four-speed transmission was added in 1930.


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[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47826"]Chrysler Imperial (1ste gen) 1926-1930[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47814"]Chrysler Imperial (2nd gen) 1931-1933[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47815"]Chrysler Imperial (3rd gen) 1934-1936[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47816"]Chrysler Imperial (4th gen) 1937-1939[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47817"]Chrysler Imperial (5th gen) 1940-1948[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47818"]Chrysler Imperial (6th gen) 1949-1954[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47820"]Imperial (1ste gen) 1955-1956[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47821"]Imperial (2nd gen) 1957-1966[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47822"]Imperial (3rd gen) 1967-1968[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47823"]Imperial (4th gen) 1969-1973[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47824"]Imperial (5th gen) 1974-1975[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47825"]Imperial (6th gen) 1981-1983[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47819"]Chrysler Imperial (7th gen) 1990-1993[/URL]
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