1939 Chrysler Custom Imperial Convertible

Based on a 125-inch wheelbase Imperial chassis fitted with the 130 horsepower, 323.5 cubic-inch, L-head straight eight, the Pourtout-bodied Chrysler maintained its grille and dashboard, and little else. Pourtout removed the headlamps from the front fenders and replaced them with standalone headlamps, then fitted a swooping 2+1 convertible body with two bucket seats up front and a jump seat behind. The car never left Paris its entire life until purchased by the current owner. The car was restored in 1990 in Paris and remains in its present condition.

Marcel Pourtout established the Carrosserie Pourtout in Bougival in 1925 after gaining experience as saddler with various car designers. He quickly earned a reputation among wealthy and regular clients for his craftsmanship and quality. In 1927, he met the car dealer Darl'mat who entrusted him with the bodywork of many Peugeot and Panhard chassis. By the close of 1928, Pourtout had designed 459 cars.

Pourtout designed his first Chrysler body in 1930. It was a false convertible for the family of Georges Clemenceau. Over the lifespan of the company, the Pourtout Company would receive orders to body 13 Chrysler convertibles, with just 10 being delivered and 3 unfinished due to the 1940 requisition of the Germans. Pourtout would also create bodies for a few Graham Paige convertibles, such as the one used by General De Lattre de Tassigny for the procession organized when Marseille was freed.

Pourtout formed a partnership with Georges Paulin in 1933. Mr. Paulin was a gifted designer who had created the 'Eclipse', a coupe with a fully retractable roof. By 1937, Pourtout had manufactured 115 examples of the 302/402 Darl'mat in coupe, convertible, and roadster configuration, with designs by Paulin. Three of these roadsters captured second, third, and fifth at the 1937 24 Hours of LeMans. Charles de Cortanze finished first in his category at the 1938 edition of the LeMans driving a 402 roadster. A coupe won the first prize in the Deauville Concours d'Elegance in 1937.

This particular example is a Chrysler Imperial 8 wearing a 2-place roadster body by Pourtout. It was bodied in 1939 and is powered by a 4880cc inline 8-cylinder side valve engine mated to a three-speed double overdrive 'Dual Power' transmission. Pourtout retained the Chrysler grille, the bumper, the backlights, the top of the bonnet, and the dashboard.

In 1990, the car was purchased at auction and then treated to a restoration. Until being bought by its current caretaker, the car had never left Paris.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2019