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1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial background image

1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial Phaeton

  • Coachwork by LeBaron
  • Chassis Number: 7803604
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial Navigation
The cylinder wars of the 1920s and 1930s had raised the bar on the luxury car segment. Cadillac had introduced its powerful V12 and V16 engines, followed by Marmon with its Sixteen cylinder engine. Pierce-Arrow re-entered the competition in the early 1930s with a 12-cylinder car. Lincoln, backed by funding from a prosperous Ford Company, continued to improve their fleet. Chrysler attacked with a vengeance in 1931, introducing a luxury car with style and performance accompanied by an attractive sticker price. This was the Imperial series.

The LeBaron-designed bodies were sensational; the long wheelbase and curvy fenders were elegant. The 384 cubic-inc nine, main bearings, eight-cylinder engine was not the largest engine in the market but it was powerful enough to offer impressive performance.

In 1920 the LeBaron Carrossiers Inc was formed by Thomas L. Hibbard and Raymond Dietrich, two very recognized names in the automotive business. They chose a location in New York City and though it was more than they could afford it did boost their image. The name 'LeBaron' had been chosen in a similar fashion; it sounded French, sophisticated, and had appeal. New York City housed its design office while the coachbuilding facilities were located in another location.

Ralph Roberts joined LeBaron shortly after it was opened. Due to his skills and abilities, was given a one-third partnership in the company.

Hibbard had always been fascinated with French design and in 1923 he traveled to France in pursuit of opening an office there. While there, he met Howard 'Dutch' Darrin and within a short amount of time, joined forces and created a company called Hibbard & Darrin. Hibbard sold his portion of LeBaron to Roberts and Dietrich.

Dietrich continued as a chief designer while Roberts managed the business. They hired Werner Gubitz and Roland Stickney to work as designers, illustrators, and draftsmen. Later, Dietrich was recruited by Murray and he went to work at that firm.

Briggs, one of the largest body building firms in Detroit, acquired LeBaron in 1927. Briggs's list of clients included such names as Hudson, Ford, and Chrysler, to name a few. LeBaron soon was designing custom coach bodies for Pierce-Arrow, Cadillac, and Lincoln.

LeBaron bodies graced some of the greatest creations of the era including the Duesenberg Model J, Marmon Sixteen, and the Chrysler CG and CL imperials.

Chrysler ordered fifty sport phaeton bodies from LeBaron in 1932. In 1932, fourteen were shipped and it is believed that a few were returned to the company for updating and trim. 36 were built in 1933, minus those that had been returned to the factory the year prior.

This 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Sport Phaeton with chassis number 7803604 is one of thirty-six examples built. It carries body number 172-26 and has coachwork by LeBaron. It is powered by a 384 cubic-inch nine main bearing eight-cylinder engine that produces 135 horsepower. It has a four-speed synchromesh transmission, vacuum clutch, and four-wheel hydraulically-actuated drum brakes. It sits atop a 146-inch wheelbase and has leaf springs and a beam front axle with leaf springs and a live rear axle.

It was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auctions in Meadow Brook where it was expected to fetch $275,000 - $350,000. It found a buyer at $280,500.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2017

2025 Worldwide Auctioneers : Enthusiast Auction

Sale Price :
USD $266,000

2006 RM Auctions at Meadow Brook

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $275,000-USD $350,000 
Sale Price :
USD $280,500

1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Chrysler CL Custom Imperial

(Data based on Model Year 1933 sales)
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Sport Phaeton
Chassis#: 7803604
Sold for USD$266,000
  2025 Worldwide Auctioneers : Enthusiast Auction
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial LeBaron Dual-Windshield Phaeton
Chassis#: 7803657
Sold for USD$1,039,000
  2025 Broad Arrow Auctions : Academy of Art University Collection
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Close-Coupled Sedan
Chassis#: 7803627
Sold for USD$165,000
  2024 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 CHRYSLER CL IMPERIAL CUSTOM PHAETON
Chassis#: 7803667
Sold for USD$775,000
  2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Convertible Roadster by LeBaron
Sold for USD$698,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron
Sold for USD$192,500
  2019 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall
 
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial Sedan
Sold for USD$64,400
  2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction
 
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803613
Sold for USD$258,500
  2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton 'Ralph Roberts' by LeBaron
Chassis#: CL 1357
Sold for USD$1,300,000
  2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803597
Sold for USD$357,500
  2015 RM Sotheby's : Amelia Island
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803651
Sold for USD$522,500
  2014 RM Auctions - Hershey
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL CONVERTIBLE
Chassis#: 7531781
Sold for USD$130,000
  2014 Mecum - Monterey
 
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Convertible Roadster by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803565
Sold for USD$704,000
  2013 RM Auction - Hershey
 
1933 Chrysler Imperial CL Convertible Roadster by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803578
Sold for USD$572,000
  2013 RM Auctions - Arizona
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Phaeton
Sold for USD$341,000
  2012 Auctions America - Ft Lauderdale, Fl
 
1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial Five-Passenger Phaeton
Chassis#: 7803657
Sold for USD$1,210,000
  2012 RM - Milhous Collection, Fla
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Custom Dual Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803667
Sold for USD$500,500
  2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron
Chassis#: 7803651
Sold for USD$352,000
  2011 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island
1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial image  
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual Windshield Sport Phaeton
Chassis#: 7083603
Sold for USD$341,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
 
1933 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL 4 DOOR SEDAN
Sold for USD$137,500
  2010 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2010
 

Chrysler CL Custom Imperials That Failed To Sell At Auction

1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1933 Chrysler Imperial Model CL Dual Cowl Phaeton78036392023 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction $375,000$450,000
1933 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL MODEL CL DUAL COWL PHAETON78036392021 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction $550,000$675,000
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron78036512019 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island $400,000$475,000
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaronCL 13132018 RM Sothebys : Monterey $250,000$300,000
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton by LeBaron78036132017 RM Sothebys : Hershey $300,000$375,000
1933 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL MODEL CL DUAL COWL PHAETON Coachwork by LeBaron78036392016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction $750,000$950,000
1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial CL Convertible Coupe78035772010 Gooding and Company : The Amelia Island Auction $500,000$600,000
1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial CL Convertible Coupe78035772009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company $550,000$650,000

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1933 Chrysler CL Custom Imperial

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