Antique Cars

1932 Chrysler Imperial Convertible Sedan

The era of cars this 1932 Chrysler Imperial Convertible Sedan were made in were impressive feats of automotive design, but there’s some extra special about the design of the Imperial. This Imperial is among the rarest of the breed. Fitted with lithe and elegant Convertible Sedan coachwork, it is one of only 49 examples built in 1932. Of those 49 cars, only 12 were further fitted with artillery style wheels. It is believed that only about 16 of the ’32 Imperial Convertible Sedan still survive and this is the sole survivor with artillery style wheels.

For the 1932 model year, Chrysler refined its superb CG Imperial with revised front-end styling and a host of smartly style new bodies. Central to the new CL-series Imperial was its gracefully reshaped front fenders, a bold deep-v radiator shell, and a revised hood that extended to the base of the windscreen, accentuating the car’s already impressive length. As with the CG, Chrysler’s superbly refined 385 cubic-inch inline-eight developed 125 horsepower, ensuring snappy performance. Briggs Corporation produced the standard closed bodies, while a series of semi-custom bodies built under the LeBaron nameplate was also available. LeBaron was a subsidiary of Briggs Corporation at that time, although none of the style and prestige were lost, thanks to Briggs’ chief designer Ralph Roberts’s enormous talent.

The initial restoration appears to have been largely sympathetic with the car finished in what appears to have been its original color scheme of burgundy-hued Everglade Red with cream coachlines and red leather topped with a black convertible roof. The California brown plates fitted to the car date this initial refurbishment to the 1970s. Understood to have collected numerous trophies in this color scheme, the Imperial would later go in for another restoration in the early 1980s.

The era of cars this 1932 Chrysler Imperial Convertible Sedan were made in were impressive feats of automotive design, but there’s some extra special about the design of the Imperial. It’s a car described as having overall greatness, and for good reason. Examples like this well cared for 1932 Chrysler CL Imperial Convertible Sedan stayed with one family since 1947 and this is the first time it’s come up for public sale. There are also only 1932 Chrysler CL Imperial Convertible Sedan like this known survive today, and it’s a Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) full classic.