1931 Chrysler CG Imperial

The Chrysler Corporation was founded by Walter Chrysler in 1925 from the remains of the Maxwell Motor Company. Walter had been hired by the Maxwell-Chalmers company in the early 1920s, to help rescue the ailing company as he had done for the Willys-Overland car company. The new lower-priced four-cylinder Chryslers were introduced in 1926 as badge-engineered Maxwells. These medium-priced six were soon joined by a lower-priced four. The production E-80 Imperials were priced between $2,645 to $3,695, which made them competitors with the Packard Six and the lower-priced Cadillacs. Chrysler fashioned the Imperial with unique and distinct features that included bullet headlights and a scalloped radiator. Six production body styles were available, along with two long-wheelbase catalog customs, a landaulet, and a town car. Sales were respectable for the Series 80 in 1926, with 9,114 examples sold.

Additional body styles were made available on the Imperial line for 1927, and in 1928, custom styles from LeBaron, Dietrich, and Locke were cataloged on four different wheelbases. The engine bore received an additional eighth of an inch, resulting in a displacement of 309.3 cubic inches. Horsepower was rated at 100 hp or 112 when fitted with the optional high-compression head.

The Chrysler cars of 1929 received a 'corporate look' that coincided with the introduction of the new DeSoto and Plymouth marques. In the front, the grille shells were given a thin band of chrome around the perimeter. The Imperials now rested on a longer, 136-inch wheelbase platform. For 1930, the Imperials received a new four-speed transmission, automatic radiator shutters, and vertical hood louvers.

In July of 1930, Chrysler introduced a vastly different automobile called the Series CG Imperial. It was larger than its predecessor, riding on a 145-inch wheelbase, and with a completely new appearance. The radiator shell was now a grille that was tilted at a rakish angle. In front of it was a wire mesh screen. Behind the grille was a long hood and fenders with flowing curves. The interior had adjustable front seats and steering columns, and sun visors. Mechanical features included hydraulic shocks, rubber spring shackles, hydraulic brakes, and a four-speed transmission. The engine was a 384.8 cubic-inch, nine-main bearing engine with a Stromberg carburetor and 125 horsepower. Four 'production' bodies by Briggs, four cataloged custom styles, and various individual customs for construction were available on the Imperial chassis. The semi-custom bodies, roadster, coupe, convertible coupe, and dual-cowl phaeton, were all furnished by LeBaron. Derham, Locke, Murphy, and Waterhouse produced individual custom bodies on the Imperial chassis.

Total Series CG production for 1931 reached 3,228 examples. 99 chassis were sent to custom coachbuilders.

Chrysler's 1931 model lineup was made of both six- and eight-cylinder models with wheelbases that ranged from 109- to 145-inches. Prices for the six-cylinder, Series CJ model ranged from $785 to $875 while the range-topping Semi-Custom CG line ( supplied by the LeBaron imprint of Briggs and styled by Ralph Roberts) was listed for $3,150 to $3,575. With standard factory coachwork, the CG sedan list for $2,745, the Close-Coupled Sedan at $2,845, the seven-passenger Sedan at $2,945, and the Limousine Sedan at $3,145. The Series CG / Imperial rested on the long 145-inch wheelbase platform and its engine was an L-head inline 8-cylinder unit with a 384.84 cubic-inch displacement, nine main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Stromberg carburetor, and delivered 125 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. It was paired with a four-speed manual 'multi-range' transmission with a conventional clutch, shaft drive, and floor shift controls. Hydraulic brakes and wire wheels were standard equipment.

Comparison
In the luxury car segment, the Chrysler CG Imperial represented a bargain, selling for less than most other vehicles that rested on this long of a wheelbase platform. It was priced closer to the Cadillac Series 355A Eight (134-inch wheelbase) and the LaSalle Model 345A (134-inch wheelbase) than the Twelve or Sixteen Cylinder Model. The Cadillac produced 95 horsepower from its eight-cylinder engine while the LaSalle had 90 horsepower. The Franklin Series 15 had a 125- and 132-inch wheelbase, its engine developed 100 horsepower, and it was priced in the $2,295 to $3,345 neighborhood. The Pierce-Arrow Model 42 had a 142-inch wheelbase and a 132-horsepower eight-cylinder engine, and price ranges of $3,325 to $4,000. Other vehicles that rivaled the Chrysler for the price, but not size or power, were the Ruxton Model C, the Packard Model 833 Standard Eight, and the Packard Model 840 Deluxe Eight. The Model 840 was perhaps its closest equal, with a 140.5-inch wheelbase and its 384.8 cubic-inch engine delivering 120 horsepower.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019