1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Roadster

1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Roadster by LeBaron

*One of Two Built without Running Boards

*Concours Quality Restoration

 125 bhp, 385 cu. in. inline side-valve eight-cylinder engine, single Stromberg carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel leaf spring suspension with beam front axle and live rear axle, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 145″

The remarkable styling of the CG-series Chrysler Imperial was the work of LeBaron, one of the greatest automotive design firms of the classic era. Founded by Thomas L. Hibbard and Ray Dietrich, with Ralph Roberts later joining them, LeBaron quickly established itself as being innovative, creative, and responsive to their clientele. Although Hibbard and Dietrich later left the firm they established to pursue other opportunities, the company still flourished under the guidance of Ralph Roberts.

Probably the most striking automotive design in existence at the time was Al Leamy’s Cord L29, so when Leamy was hired to style the Imperial, it is not at all surprising that the cars bore a striking resemblance to one another. Like the L29, the CG was both long and low, featuring gracefully swept fenders and a vee-shaped radiator grille. However, LeBaron improved on the basic design elements with a longer hood, a rakishly swept-back grille, and a more elegant body side treatment.

All Chryslers had a well-established reputation for strong performance, and the CG Imperial did not disappoint. With 125 hp on tap and a four-speed manual transmission, the cars were very quick for the time, belying their somewhat modest horsepower ratings. Thanks to their many engineering advancements, the cars were also an unqualified technical success, with such features as Chrysler’s “Floating Power” engine mounting system, rubber-mounted spring shackles, hydraulic brakes, automatic spark-advance ignition, and freewheeling, among others. With their well-tuned suspension, adjustable seats, and driver-adjustable steering column, in addition to revised instrument panels and thoughtful interior amenities, CG-Series Imperials were also remarkably refined and quite enjoyable to drive.

The Imperial’s powerful new inline eight-cylinder engine – when combined with the lightest coachwork, the 2/4-passenger roadster – created one of the fastest cars money could buy. In fact, during 1931, Billy Arnold, who was a well-known racing driver, used just such a car to capture several speed records at Daytona Beach. While the Imperial’s flathead inline eight-cylinder engine was far less exotic in its specifications than the more complex and powerful offerings from such marques as Duesenberg, it was highly regarded for durability, reliability, and relative ease of maintenance. These attributes were already well-proven at Le Mans in 1928, where a two-car Chrysler entry with similar flathead sixes finished third and fourth overall behind only Bentley and Stutz, marking a truly remarkable achievement for Chrysler!

This 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Roadster is believed to be one of two built without running boards and delivered new to Honolulu, Hawaii – where it remained up until the mid-1970s before being purchased by Phil Schwartz of Seattle, WA. Mr. Schwartz was President of Mercer Island Travel, Inc. and made several trips to Honolulu every year where he first learned of this 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Roadster. After many years of trying to purchase this car from the second owner, the owner finally gave in and the Chrysler was on its way to Seattle. Mr. Schwartz contacted Stan Murray Auto Restoration in New Mexico to complete a restoration that was finished in time for the 1979 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Mr. Schwartz drove this Chrysler on many driving tours and was a strong believer that these cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed.

The next owner was classic car enthusiast Jim Tallman of Gig Harbor, WA who sold the car in 2011, to Chuck Swimmer of San Diego, CA. Mr. Swimmer performed a Concours Quality Restoration where he chose a beautiful color combination of Silver with Maroon. The car would become one of the treasured favorites in the San Diego Collection where it was awarded a “Best of Show” at the 2013 Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance. Only after his passing was it acquired by the current owner who has kept this beautiful car stored in his climate-controlled building and well maintained.

With its commanding 145-inch wheelbase length, the CG Imperial chassis – Chrysler’s longest ever – provided the perfect basis for the ultimate expression of designer Al Leamy’s creative vision with its superb proportions. Many consider the Chrysler CG Imperial Roadster to be among the very finest and most desirable open cars of the era, in addition to being one of the most satisfying cars to drive. Just 100 examples were originally built, but attrition has been high over the intervening decades, and only a handful remain in existence today. Certainly, few are as beautifully restored, well maintained, and desirable as this example here.