1938 Chrysler Imperial in St. Louis, Missouri

Vehicle Description

Beautifully restored Imperial Convertible Sedan! Once part of the Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas! Represents one of only 113 examples ever produced, and one of very few known to exist today! Excellent touring candidate! Act quickly! With a full new design, Chrysler Corporation Engineers claimed more than 84 improvements to the 1938 model year. Naked to the eye would be a larger clutch, larger brakes & wheel bearings, stronger chassis offering both more rigidity and a 4" longer wheelbase (125") providing a longer front hood, recessed headlights, new grill design, a reintroduction of an earlier used 298.7ci straight 8 engine with host of modern improvements & extra horsepower, just to mention a few! A uniquely rare example would be the one year only production Murray-bodied Convertible Sedan. This unit is body number 8 of only 113 produced! Just gorgeous! We are proud to showcase this beautifully restored example finished in Pale Yellow over Red Leather interior with Black stayfast cloth top. Fitted with its original, numbers matching 298.7ci Gold Seal L-Head straight 8 engine (#C19-5164) with correct Stromberg Aerotype carburetion, 3-speed floor-shifted manual transmission, and 3.91 rear axle ratio. Features and options include rear fender shields, AM radio with running board antennas, locking glove box, Deluxe banjo steering wheel, clock, Super Airstream heater, cigarette lighter/ ash receiver tray, cowl vent, wheel hub covers with trim rings, dual outside rearview mirrors, Firestone Deluxe Champion 6.50-16 wide whitewall tires, free standing wind wings, bumper guards, and more! Our example has been in the caring hands of known collectors such as Tiny Gould and Richie Clyne of the Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas in the past. More recently in approximately March 2000, this Chrysler received a complete body-off restoration to fully renew the drivetrain mechanicals, all wiring, brakes, suspension, chrome, interior, window glass, convertible top, and more! The results are certainly breathtaking! Finding one of these Chryslers on the open market is decidedly rare, and one in this condition, nearly impossible! One push of the starter button, you will hear the original, factory issue engine purr to life without any hesitation. One trip around the block and you will be sold on the exclusivity these cars provided their original owners! What a sincere pleasure! Our car shows only minimal wear to the driver's seat bottom, likely due to mild use and access to the battery hidden underneath. Other than that, any patina is hard to find throughout the beautiful paint, perfect convertible top, excellent bright work, clear window glass, etc. All gauges appear to be fully functional as are all safety items. Also included with this special Imperial will be a copy of its original build card (Service Car Record) showing original dealer in Chicago, Illinois when ordered new in November 1937, an original owner's manual, photos of the restoration, a very impressive article in Special Interest Autos magazine written by Jeffrey Godshall in the November/December issue 1992 regarding the importance of the 1938 Chrysler models features this very model series, and all tire changing tools including spare tire located in the trunk. Please feel completely welcome to call with additional questions or schedule your chance to review it in person. A terrific piece to any pre-war collection, particularly for Chrysler Imperial enthusiasts. Act quickly at this price!