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This 1932 Imperial features a custom body built by Chrysler. It has a lengthened hood fitted with door type side hood ventilators. The car also has early bowl type headlights, and a special fabric covered arched hardtop roofline. Skirted fenders with storage compartments, wire-spoke wheels and 4-wheel hydraulic brakes were also fitted. The interior is abundantly endowed with exotic wood trim and has full instrumentation for both the driver and rear seat passengers.
The Chrysler Corporation has manufactured automobiles continuously from 1924 to the present date, excluding the WWI war years.
The vehicle is on loan to the Canton Classic Automobile Museum courtesy of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Dearborn, MichiganSource - Canton Classic Museum
 | | View more photos LeBaron CL Imperial Convertible Sedan Coachwork: LeBaron Chassis Num: 7803426 |
Mounted on the long and flowing bonnet was a 384 cubic-inch, nine-main bearing eight-cylinder engine that produced 135 horsepower. The engine was mounted to a four-speed synchromesh gearbox and vacuum clutch. There were four-wheel hydraulic brakes.
The car was introduced in a devastating point in history, 1932, during the Great Depression. The luxury car market disappeared and production of the CL lasted until 1933, with many left unsold even as production ceased.
This 1932 Chrysler CL Imperial Convertible Sedan with coachwork by LeBaron was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. It was offered without reserve and estimated to sell between $300,000 - $400,000. When the car was new, back in 1932, it set the buyer back $3,595. The Convertible Sedan was the most expensive CL Imperial body-style offered.
The history of LeBaron Carrossiers Inc. dates back to 1920. It was founded by two prominent and well known coachbuilders, Thomas L. Hibbard and Raymond Dietrich. The duo established their business at 2 Columbus Circle in New York City. The location was expensive but it did provide the image and prestige they were hoping to ascertain. The name, LeBaron, was chosen because it sounded French and sophisticated.
The New York City office was just that, an office where the design work was done. There were no coachbuilding facilities at this location. This allowed them to segregate their talents from the manufacturer of the chassis and the actual coachbuilding firms.
Soon after the Design Studio opened their doors for business, they were approached by Ralph Roberts from Brewster who was looking for work. Dietrich and Hibbard appreciated his talents and offered him a one-third partnership in the business. In the years to come, both Dietrich and Hibbard left the company they formed to for other opportunities. This left Roberts in charge of the company.
A Detroit based firm named Briggs acquired the LeBaron Company in 1927. Briggs had a well established list of clientele that included marques such as Ford, Chrysler, Hudson and Overland. These connections allowed LeBaron's business to flourish and prosper. Soon, they had attracted work from Cadillac, Pierce Arrow, and Lincoln.
Many of the designs for the CL and CG Imperials were done by the LeBaron Design firm. This example is one of the surviving examples of their work. The car has been treated to a comprehensive restoration that was completed in the early 2000s. After the completion of the two year restoration job, the car was shown at the AACA Hershey Fall Meet where it was awarded its First Junior, followed by a First Senior Award. In 2006 it was awarded a Grand National Award.
At auction, the excellent restoration and rarity of the car helped drive the selling price near the top of the estimated value. The vehicle was sold for $396,000.
| | View more photos |
The work of LeBaron is considered to be the most remarkable styling of the CG Series Imperials. LeBaron was one of the greatest design firms of the classic era, and was established as innovative, creative and completely responsive. LeBaron was founded by Wand Ray Dietrich and was later joined by Ralph Roberts, and though Dietrich eventually left the firm to pursue other interests, the company continued to flourish at the hands of Roberts.
Hired to style the CG Imperial, Al Leamy was held in great regard for the L29 Cord, which was considered to be the most striking design in existence. The CG was long and low, much like the L29, and featured gracefully swept fenders along with a v-shaped radiator. The CG's design was improved by LeBaron with a swept-back grille, a much more elegant body-side treatment and a longer hood.
A variety of L29 Cord styling designs were incorporated into the design of the CG Imperial, and since the CG had a larger platform on which to display the styling, it was considered even more aesthetically successful than the Cord. Chryslers have held a reputation for performance the CG Imperial was no exception with 125 horsepower, along with a four-speed transmission. Along with a well-tuned suspension and Chrysler's 'floating power', the Imperial was a refined vehicle to drive. The Imperial was the first vehicle in the country that employed fluid coupling. This was also offered as optional equipment on the 1939 model.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful Imperial ever, the CG series was biggest change in 1931. The CG came with the new corporate work-horse, the Flathead Eight as Chrysler was in the process of narrowing engine production. Much advertising for the Imperial references the '8' in regards to the new engine. Becoming the standard wheel treatment until the 1940's, new tire wheels for the Chrysler Imperial were introduced with the Imperial CG.
In 1927, the first Imperials began appearing on the market utilizing a 92-horsepower flathead-six. Imperials would continue to be powered by the same engine until 1931 when the CG series was introduced in 1931. A Imperial was driven on a double cross-country run from San Francisco to New York, to Los Angeles, a total of 6,726-mile trek, at which the Imperial average 40.2 miles per hour to introduce the new line of luxury Chryslers.
Unfortunately, since the Great Depression was in full swing at the time of introduction, sales of the 1931 and 1932 Imperial were not as high as hoped. At an original list price of $3,575, only a total of 339 custom and semi-custom CG's were sold, making these vehicles even rarer than the Model J and SJ Duesenbergs.
Continuing to be produced until 1933, the Imperial CG's were updated with styling and even smaller semi-custom and custom sales, before eventually being replaced by the radical Airflow Imperials in 1934. These new radical airflow vehicles sold an amazing 2,000-plus models in that year.
Many enthusiasts consider the CG Imperial dual cowl phaeton to be among the best driving vehicle of the era along with one of the finest looking cars. Today this vehicle is extremely rare as only a handful of these vehicles are known to exist. At RM Classic Cars' Novi sale held on November 15, 2002, the CG Imperial dual cowl phaeton was sold at $214,500 that included buyer's premium.Elizabeth Johnson
Hired to style the CG Imperial, Al Leamy was held in great regard for the L29 Cord, which was considered to be the most striking design in existence. The CG was long and low, much like the L29, and featured gracefully swept fenders along with a v-shaped radiator. The CG's design was improved by LeBaron with a swept-back grille, a much more elegant body-side treatment and a longer hood.
A variety of L29 Cord styling designs were incorporated into the design of the CG Imperial, and since the CG had a larger platform on which to display the styling, it was considered even more aesthetically successful than the Cord. Chryslers have held a reputation for performance the CG Imperial was no exception with 125 horsepower, along with a four-speed transmission. Along with a well-tuned suspension and Chrysler's 'floating power', the Imperial was a refined vehicle to drive. The Imperial was the first vehicle in the country that employed fluid coupling. This was also offered as optional equipment on the 1939 model.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful Imperial ever, the CG series was biggest change in 1931. The CG came with the new corporate work-horse, the Flathead Eight as Chrysler was in the process of narrowing engine production. Much advertising for the Imperial references the '8' in regards to the new engine. Becoming the standard wheel treatment until the 1940's, new tire wheels for the Chrysler Imperial were introduced with the Imperial CG.
In 1927, the first Imperials began appearing on the market utilizing a 92-horsepower flathead-six. Imperials would continue to be powered by the same engine until 1931 when the CG series was introduced in 1931. A Imperial was driven on a double cross-country run from San Francisco to New York, to Los Angeles, a total of 6,726-mile trek, at which the Imperial average 40.2 miles per hour to introduce the new line of luxury Chryslers.
Unfortunately, since the Great Depression was in full swing at the time of introduction, sales of the 1931 and 1932 Imperial were not as high as hoped. At an original list price of $3,575, only a total of 339 custom and semi-custom CG's were sold, making these vehicles even rarer than the Model J and SJ Duesenbergs.
Continuing to be produced until 1933, the Imperial CG's were updated with styling and even smaller semi-custom and custom sales, before eventually being replaced by the radical Airflow Imperials in 1934. These new radical airflow vehicles sold an amazing 2,000-plus models in that year.
Many enthusiasts consider the CG Imperial dual cowl phaeton to be among the best driving vehicle of the era along with one of the finest looking cars. Today this vehicle is extremely rare as only a handful of these vehicles are known to exist. At RM Classic Cars' Novi sale held on November 15, 2002, the CG Imperial dual cowl phaeton was sold at $214,500 that included buyer's premium.Elizabeth Johnson
1932 Chrysler Series CL Imperial |
|
| Year | 1932 |
| Make | Chrysler |
| Model | Series CL Imperial |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1932 - 1933 |
| Coach Work | LeBaron |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | 7803426 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| L-Head | |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Solid valve lifters | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 384.84 CU IN. | 6307.5 cc. | 6.3 L. |
| Horsepower | 125.00 HP (92 KW) @ 3200.00 RPM |
| HP / Liter | 19.8 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 5.2:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| Stromberg model DD-3 carburetor | |
| Block | Cast-iron |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Clutch | Vacuum clutch |
| Shaft drive. Synchromesh | |
| Final Drive | 4.1:1 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com