1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton

This Chrysler CG Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron was purchased sometime in the mid-to-late-1930s, at auction, from the city of New York, having been seized for unpaid taxes or its possible association with organized crime. Though not confirmed, it is believed that the car was originally owned by Arthur Flegenheimer, also known in the underworld as Dutch Schultz. Mr. Flegenheimer was killed in the late summer of 1935 and had amassed substantial debt fighting tax evasion charges, and that the mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, had a standing order for his arrest, should he return to the city from a self-imposed exile upstate. The mayor may have had the car seized, legally or illegally, before or after the gangster's death.

The presumed second owner retained the Imperial until the late-1950s. At that time, it was sold to Joe Fischer, of Media, Pennsylvania, and restored by him in 1965. It won a First in AACA judging and was retained by him until his death in 1982. It was then purchased by Terry Redy, who commissioned a second restoration from Bud Hicks in 1995, and it was subsequently awarded a CCCA National First Prize. It was owned by a gentleman from Minnesota for a brief period before being acquired by Joe Morgan and subsequently sold to the current owner in 1999.

The car is finished in medium yellow with a green leather interior and a tan top with green piping. It is equipped with yellow wire wheels with stainless steel spokes shod in whitewall tires, dual side-mounted spare tires with rare full metal covers, a radiator stone guard, a right-hand taillight, and dual exterior horns.

There were approximately 85 CG LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaetons originally built, and it is believed that less than 10 authentic examples survive. It is one of the few remaining examples with its original drivetrain, including the optional high-compression 'Red Head' cylinder head, which adds approximately 10 horsepower to the stock 125.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale by RM Auctions at their Monterey, CA sale. The car was estimated to sell for $350,000 - $425,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $363,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012