Vehicle Description
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.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
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