1933 Chrysler Imperial 8 Series CQ Coupe
The Imperial line was introduced in 1928 by Chrysler to compete with high end luxury cars of the time from Cadillac, Duesenberg, Pierce Arrow and others. In 1931, body changes included a V-shaped radiator, a long torpedo shaped hood, and a slightly slanted windshield along with a long list of luxury items including dual sun visors, wire spoked wheels, and hydraulic brakes. In 1933, just 3,838 model CQ's were produced and were equipped with an inline 8 cylinder engine.
For consignment, a rare '33 Chrysler Imperial CQ with an amazing paint job and a small block Chevrolet V8 under the hood. This car has all the elegance of the period's finest cars, but it would have maxed out at about 125 horsepower in 1933, so the more modern drivetrain adds power, air conditioning and some other features not even considered in the 30's.
Exterior
Two stage Dark Cherry Metallic covers this car with breathtaking quality. Miles deep would be apropos here as the rich coat of metallic paint suits the car well. The tall, stately grille is finished in fine chrome, flanked by impressive headlights and symmetrical horns. Atop it all, the amazing Viking ornament wearing a winged helmet seemingly blown back from the wind. The brightwork has been polished to a deep shine and the 17-inch wire wheels, in this case, are painted not chrome, and wrapped in whitewall tires. Textured step ups are found on the back for access to the rumble seat. We note one hairline scratch on the rumble seat cover as the only exterior imperfection.
Interior
Black leather door cards with red stitched inserts present themselves as we open the reverse hinged doors where robust controls and door pulls in polished metal are found. A pair of bucket seats are pressed together and wear the same black leather and red insert configuration. A banjo style wheel in a more modern and smaller interpretation fronts the driver while the vintage gauge cluster with ivory faces sits in the center of the dash. Below that, a series of more modern Bosch gauges and switches to monitor the updated engine systems including air conditioning and the 12-volt upgrade. A push button billet shifter is floor mounted, surrounded by low pile black carpeting that looks new. The headliner picks up on the leather upholstery with a red stitched panel framed in black leather. Finally, the rumble seat is finished in red and black leather which all looks to be in great condition.
Drivetrain
A 350ci V8 is behind the engine covers and is topped with an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and exhausted by headers. It all fits very nicely in front of the cowl and the A/C and heater fill some space with a number of rubber hoses and the big brake booster can't hide. Not full of bling, the engine presents more as driver quality. A 700R4 4-speed automatic transfers power to the 10-bolt rear and power disc brakes help slow the increased power at all four wheels.
Undercarriage
Our consignor states the undercarriage has been undercoated, and it is relatively clean and dry underneath in uniform black. The dual exhaust flows back from the headers into a pair of turbo mufflers then exits discreetly just below the rear bumper. Leaf spring suspension, as it was in 1933 is found front and rear. We note a bit of residual oil on the rear differential.
Drive-Ability
We enter the cozy cab of this long, elegant car to crank up the familiar 350 cuber. There's no way the car sounded this good in 1933. In fact, a quiet vibration free ride was the goal of prestigious cars of the era. This one has some guts and likely twice the horsepower of the original. It floats nicely over our asphalt terrain and despite the V8 rumble, there remains an air of elegance. But that elegance will need to be reserved for daytime drives for now as we note the headlights and turn signals are not functioning.
A rare and slightly resto-modded Imperial will eagerly take you to car shows near and far. Air conditioning and power brakes are at your beck and call but you'll have to pack light as the footwell of the rumble seat provides just a bit of storage. The paint and style provide for a grand entrance and watch the jaws drop even further as you lift the engine cover. A beautiful car that neoclassic recreations strive to emulate but can't match Chrysler's incredible 1933 design.
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