Imperial Bibliography
Created by Bob
Schmitt
Contributions by Chris Hawkins,
Mike Trettin, Simo Harkila, Matthew Wappler, Bob Wagner, Hugh Hemphill &
Keith Books Title Author Date Volume Publisher Comment/Description Chrysler &
Imperial, 1946-1975: The Classic Postwar Years Richard M. Langworth 1993 Second Edition Motorbooks
International - Imperial 1955-1963
Photo Archive P.A. Letourneau 1994 - Iconographix Photo
Archive Series - Imperial 1964-1968
Photo Archive P.A. Letourneau 1994 - Iconographix Photo
Archive Series - Auto Interchange
Systems 1950-65 Chrysler Products Interchange Manual - - - Auto Interchange
Systems Compiled and published
by Auto Interchange Systems, 4048 Velarde Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89120 Walter P. Chrysler:
Life of An American Workman Walter P. Chrysler
with Boyden Sparkes 1937, 1950 Second Dodd, Meade &
Company A great autobiography! Chrysler: The Life and
Times of an Automotive Genius Vincent Curcio 2000 Oxford University Press Standard Catalog of
Chrysler: 1924-1979 John Lee 1990 Krause Publications,
Inc. Anthologies/Magazines Source Title Author Date Volume Imperials Referenced Comment/Description Automobile Quarterly "Luxury
Motorcars" Diana Bartley 1962 Vol. I, No. 2 1962 LeBaron Includes the 1962
LeBaron as a centerfold picture Automobile Quarterly "Chrysler: The
Early Years" Cullen Thomas 1967 Vol. VI, No. 1 1926-1933 Imperials A Chrysler Imperial
emblem is embossed on the back cover. Automobile Quarterly "Chrysler: From
the Airflow" Beverly Rae Kimes 1968 Vol. VII, No. 2 1934-1969 Imperials Very good general
history of Chrysler; 7 color photos of various Imperials Automobile Quarterly "LeBaron:
Thoroughbred of Custom Coachbuilders" Richard M. Langworth 1974 Vol. XII, No. 3 Imperials - several Includes a color
portfolio of 1931 and 1934 LeBaron-bodied Chrysler Imperials; the 1941
Newport Dual Cowl Phaeton and Thunderbolt Roadster. Automobile Quarterly "Imperial:
Chrysler's Flagship" Jeffrey I. Godshall 1983 Vol. XXI, No. 2 Imperials - all to
1983 Good Imperial history;
25 pages, 24 color photos. No Airflow or '70's Imperial photos and few
'60's photos. Automobile Quarterly "Microphone
Taillights and Doughnut Decks - Chrysler Cars of the Exner Era" Jeffrey I. Godshall 1991 Vol. XXIX, No. 1 Imperials - 1955-1962 Good history of all
Exner designs for Chrysler, including prototypes. Short bio of Godshall, a
designer at Chrysler. Automobile Quarterly "Walter's Legacy -
A Chairman's Message" Robert J. Eaton 1994 Vol. XXXII, No. 4 Imperials - general Includes ten other
articles on Chrysler Corporation history Road Test Limited
Edition: Imperial 1955-1970 (includes 32 articles
and test reports) R. M. Clarke ISBN 1 85520 3677 Brooklands Books 1955-1970 Imperials 92 pages, includes the
following test reports: " "Imperial" 1955 Car Life 1955 - general " "The
Imperial" 1955 Complete Road Test 1955 4 door sedan " "McCahill Tests:
The Imperial" Tom McCahill Aug, 1955 Mechanix Illustrated 1956 2 door hardtop Road Test " "Custom Styling
for Well-Heeled Customers" 1956 Cars 1956 4 door hardtop " "Restraint has
gone out the curved window of the '57 Imperial" Dec, 1956 Motor Trend 1957 - general " "Car Life 1967
Consumer Analysis: Imperial" Jame Whipple May, 1957 Car Life 1957 - general " "Imperial Road
Test" Oct, 1957 Motor Life 1957 2 door hardtop Road Test " "Luxury
Automobiles on Trial" Sep, 1958 Motor Trend Comparison Test -
Imperial Crown vs. Lincoln Premiere vs Cadillac 60 Fleetwood " "Opulent Imperial
by Chrysler" Alan Gibbons Sep, 1958 Wheels 1957 4 door LeBaron
sedan Road Test " "1959 Road Test:
Cadillac and Imperial" May, 1959 Motor Life 1959 Imperial
convertible Comparison Test:
Cadillac 4 door sedan and Imperial Convertible " "Car Life 1959
Consumer Analysis: Imperial" Jim Whipple May, 1959 Car Life 1959 2 door hardtop Consumer Analysis " "The Imperial
Family" Nov, 1959 Motor Life 1960 - general Consumer Analysis " "Testing the
Luxury Cars" Aug, 1960 Motor Life 1960 4 door LeBaron
hardtop Comparison Test -
Imperial LeBaron vs. Lincoln Continental vs Cadillac 62 " "Imperial" 1961 Car Review 1961 - general " "Car Life Road
Test: Chrysler Imperial" Jul, 1961 Car Life 1960 4 door Crown
hardtop Road Test " "Imperial" 1962 Car Facts 1962 4 door LeBaron
Southampton hardtop Road Test " "Imperial" May, 1962 Motor Trend 1962 - general " "New 1963 Imperial
Retains Styling Continuity; Adds Many Improvements" Oct, 1962 Automobile Topics 1963 - general " "Imperial: MT Road
Test" Bob McVay Aug, 1963 Motor Trend 1963 LeBaron Road Test " "Imperial Crown
Coupe: MT Road Test" Bob McVay Feb, 1964 Motor Trend 1964 Crown Coupe Road Test " "Imperial" 1964 Car Facts 1964 Crown
Convertible Brief description " "Car Life Road
Test: Imperial LeBaron" Jul, 1964 Car Life 1964 LeBaron Road Test " "Chrysler" Sep, 1964 Automobile Topics 1964 Crown Coupe " "Imperial" Oct, 1965 Motor Trend 1966 Crown 4 door
hardtop Brief description " "Imperial Crown
Convertible Coupe" 1966 World Car Catalogue 1966 Crown
Convertible Brief description,
statistics " "Chrysler
Corporation - Imperial" Oct, 1966 Auto Topics 1967 General Brief description " "Car Life Road
Test: Imperial Crown" Jan, 1967 Car Life 1967 Crown 4 door
hardtop Road Test " "1968 Report -
Imperial" Oct, 1967 Motorcade 1968 General Brief description " "Gregor Grant
tries The Chrysler Crown Imperial" Gregor Grant Nov, 1967 Autosport 1967 Crown 2 door
hardtop, Mobile Director Road Report " "Luxury: The Great
American Dream" Bill Sanders May, 1968 Motor Trend 1968 LeBaron Comparison Test -
Chevrolet Caprice, Cadillac Coupe de Ville, Plymouth VIP, Ford LTD,
Lincoln Continental " "Opulence Without
Ostentation - The Imperial" Aug, 1969 Road Test 1969 LeBaron 4 door
hardtop Road Test " "Imperial" 1970 Car Review 1970 LeBaron 4 door
hardtop Brief description AMCAR Magazine (Norway) May, 1987 All Imperials 8 pages (Norway), Story
of Imperial Auto Inc. 1961 Imperial May, 1999 Vol XLVI, No 5 1961 Imperial This features a 1961
black/black LeBaron on the cover, but on the index page it is called a
1961 "Chrysler Imperial"! The car looks to be in exceptional
condition. Car and Driver A Comparison Test of 6
Six Luxury Cars: Imperial LeBaron, Lincoln, Cadillac, Mercedes, Rolls, and
Jaguar Jul, 1965 1965 Imperial LeBaron They compare the 1965
Mercedes 600, Rolls Silver Cloud III, Jaguar Mark 10, Cadillac Fleetwood,
Lincoln Continental, and Imperial LeBaron. Needless to say the Mercedes
600 won the shootout - as well it should given its price and over-the-top
technology. Car and Driver "Chrysler Imperial
- Return With Us Now to Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear" David E. Davis Jr. Jan, 1981 1981 Imperial Another amusing review,
"like driving your conversation pit…" Car Collector "Reminiscences of
Imperial" John Tennyson Mar, 1985 Car Collector & Car
Classics Dan Lyons Aug, 1994 1968 Imperial Crown
Convertible 5 1/2 pages, very sharp
photos of the car in a nice setting. Text includes some history on
Imperials by Engel and description of 1968 year vs others. Car Exchange "Happy Birthday
Surprise" Craig Schafer Jan, 1987 1966 Imperial Crown
Coupe Original Owner Report Car Life "Revolution in the
Luxury Car Field" May, 1957 1957 Imperial Consumer analysis of
Cadillac Imperial and Lincoln. Car Life "What's Your Best
Buy in the Luxury Field?" Jim Whipple May, 1959 1959 Imperial Consumer analysis of
Cadillac, Imperial and Lincoln (article includes Mirrormatic schematic) Car Life 1931 Chrysler Custom
Imperial LeBaron Sports Roadster May, 1961 1931 Chrysler Custom
Imperial LeBaron Sports Roadster 1931 Chrysler Custom
Imperial LeBaron Sports Roadster 6 pages (0-60mph 20.0 s 1/4 mile 21.5 s) Car Life "Big Prestige Big
Package" Jul, 1961 1961 Imperial Road test Car Life "Comfort
Competitor in the Luxury League" Jan, 1967 1967 Imperial 6 pages. Car Life "A Massive
Monarch" Jan, 1967 Imperial LeBaron
Phaeton 3 pages Car Life "Engineering
Genius Built Cars and Corporation" Jan, 1967 Imperials Men of Chrysler, 7
pages Car Life "Imperial
LeBaron" 1964 Imperial LeBaron Cars & Parts "When is a
Chrysler Not A Chrysler?" 1967 Imperial Crown
Convertible 5 pages, same car as on
the cover sheet of the book "Chrysler & Imperial 1946-1975,
second edition; California license plate 1OF577 Cars & Parts "A Custom Derham
Roadster Built on a 1931 Imperial CG Chassis" West Peterson Nov, 2000 1931 Imperial CG Classic Auto Restorer "Form Follows
Fantasy" John Tennyson Jun, 1991 Vol. xxx, page 38 1961 Imperial Crown
Convertible 8 page comparison with
Cadillac & Continental; 13 b/w pictures exterior &
interior. Collectible Automobile 1934-37 Chrysler,
DeSoto Airflow and Airflow Custom Imperial Jan, 1986 Vol. 2, No. 5 1934-37 Chrysler
Airflow Custom Imperial Collectible Automobile "1955-75 Imperial:
Challenge to the Carriage Trade" Aug, 1987 Vol. 4, No. 2 1955-75 Imperials Very fine photos! And
'81 stretched Limo, text says it was owned by Keynon & Eckhardt,
NY and was frequently seen toting celebrities around the Big Apple,
including none other than Lee Iacocca! 1949-52 Chryslers and
Imperials Aug, 1999 Vol. 15 1949-52
Imperials Collectible Automobile "1957-59 Imperial:
Finest Expressions of the Forward Look" Jeffrey I. Goodshall Aug, 1999 Vol. 16, No. 2 1957-59 Imperials Great 16 page article,
many color photos. Also references to scale model Imperials and
collectible Imperial literature in other articles in this issue. Sep, 1957 1957 Imperial Mechanix Illustrated "Tom McCahill
Tests the 1957 Imperial" Tom McCahill Jul, 1957 1957 Imperial Road Test Mechanix Illustrated Tom McCahill May, 1967 1967 Imperial Road Test Mechanix Illustrated Tom McCahill Apr, 1973 1973 Imperial LeBaron
4 door hardtop Road Test Mobilisti (Finland) Imperial Story May, 1984 All Imperials MOPAR Collector's Guide "Take A Ride On
The Luxurious Side - The Ghia Limo Story" Randy Holden Aug, 1991 1957-65 Imperial Ghia
Crown Limousines Motor Trend Motor Trend World
Automotive Yearbook, 1966 1965 1966 Imperials Comparison statistics,
all 1966 cars. Motor Trend "Imperial's Posh
LeBaron" Bob McVay Jul, 1965 1965 Imperial LeBaron Road Test Motor Trend 1974 comparison tests
of the Cadillac, Lincoln and Imperial Jun, 1974 1974 Imperial Motor Trend "The Imperial:
Experience in the Age of Experience" Ro McGonegal Sep, 1980 1981 Imperial Short 2-page
preliminary review of the '81 with 2 b&w photos and performance spec's
(0-60 in 12.27 sec's, WHEW!! Of course gas was rumored to be at $5/gallon
in a few years, so nobody gave a squat about performance back then!) plus
"The New Chrysler". Motor Trend "The Imperial
Strikes Back!" Jim McCraw Oct, 1980 1981 Imperial Preview of all the
'81's, with 2 nice color photos of the Imperial, includes a great review
with comments like, "The suspension, brakes, steering, transmission,
and floor pans are identical, but the Imperial weighs 500 pounds more than
the Cordoba." Motor Trend "Cars of the Year
- Detroit's Magnificent Seven" Feb, 1981 1981 Imperial Imperial came in SIXTH
of the seven! Also includes a sign-of-the-changin'-times article,
"Flying on the Ground", about some newfangled thing called
"aerodynamics". National Geographic 1981 Imperial Nov, 1980 1981 Imperial Same as above, but much
better quality printing - of course, it's the Geographic! Power Magazine 1955 Imperial 2d Apr, 1988 1955 Imperial 2d Swedish magazine Power Magazine 1966 Imperial
convertible Jun, 1989 1966 Imperial
convertible Swedish magazine Road and Track "Imperial - Old
Name, New Car" Oct, 1980 Chrysler 1981 Preview 1981 Imperial "...interior
appointments are as deluxe as anything built in America that I can recall…" Special Interest Autos "The Ghia Crown
Imperials - Part I Jeffrey I. Godshall Dec/Jan 72 Vol. 14, page 26 1957 Imperial Ghia
Crown Limousine, others 4 pages (part 1), 19
b/w pictures, interior & exterior. Special Interest Autos "The Ghia Crown
Imperials - Part II Jeffrey I. Godshall Feb/Mar 73 Vol. 15, page 36 1963 Imperial Ghia
Crown Limousine, others Article; 2 ˝ pages
(part 2); 5 b/w pictures, exterior & interior Special Interest Autos "Created by the
Measured Mile - 1940 Chrysler Newport and Thunderbolt" Alex Tremulis May-June 1975 Vol. 28, page 36 1940 Chrysler Newport
and Thunderbolt Article on LeBaron
specials by the Thunderbolt designer, 10 pages, 37 photos Special Interest Autos "Imperial Parade
Phaeton" Jeffrey I. Godshall Jan/Feb 77 Vol. 38, page 34 1956 Imperial Parade
Phaeton Convertible 4d, 6 ˝
page article, 22 b/w pictures of interior & exterior Special Interest Autos "Postwar Chrysler
Imperials: Rarest of the Luxury Ragtops" John Tennyson Vol. 85, page xx Imperial convertibles 8 pages. Special Interest Autos 1951-1970s Imperial
Post-war Convertible 2d Jan/Feb 85 Vol. xx, page 24 Imperial convertibles 8 page article, 25
pictures of all years, claret & b/w; including Parade Phaeton Special Interest Autos "Classic Chrysler
- 1932 Custom Imperial" Arch Brown May/June 1988 Vol. 105, page 46 1932 Custom Imperial 8 page article, 16 b/w
photos, several specification tables. Special Interest Autos "SIA Comparison
Report - 1961 Cadillac, Imperial and Lincoln" May/Jun 88 Vol. 105, page 38 1961 Imperial Custom
hardtop 4d Special Interest Autos 1948 Imperial vs
Packard Super 8 Vol. 112, page 20 1948 Imperial Special Interest Autos "Chrysler Imperial
by Waterhouse - Vivacious Victoria" Josiah Work April, 1990 Vol. 116, page 28. 1931 Imperial CG 5 page article, 1 color
& 14 b&w photos. The Imperial is bright red and has a rarely seen
Waterhouse body, Convertible Victoria style. When the article was written,
the car was in the Blackhawk Collection. Special Interest Autos 1956 Cadillac,
Imperial, Lincoln comparison Vol. 118, page 30 1956 Imperial Special Interest Autos "1957 Imperial,
Cadillac, Lincoln" Tim Howley Aug, 1990 Vol. 118, page 30 1957 Imperial Crown
convertible SIA Comparison Report,
9 page comparison, 27 b/w photos, specification table. Special Interest Autos "1962 Imperial
Crown Convertible - Like No Other Luxury Car" John Tennyson Dec, 1990 Vol. 120, page 36 1962 Imperial Crown
convertible 2d Article; 7 pages, 17
b/w pictures, exterior & interior. Special Interest Autos "1955 Imperial -
The Flagship of the Forward Look" May/Jun 92 Vol. 129, page 50 1955 Imperial Newport
hardtop 2d 8 pages, 19 b/w Tim Howley Mar/Apr, 1992 Vol. 128, page 48 1949 Crown Imperial 8 page article, 1 color
& 16 b&w photos, several specification tables. Special Interest Autos 1938 Imperial Vol. 132, page 48 1938 Imperial Special Interest Autos 1957 Imperial
Southampton hardtop 2d Jan/Feb 93 Vol. 133, page 68 1957 Imperial 1 page, Blueprints
article; 3 b/w line drawings. Special Interest Autos 1957 Imperial Crown
Southampton 2 door Nov/Dec 93 Vol. 138, page 36 1957 Imperial Crown
Southampton 2d Article; 8 pages, 27
pictures red & b/w, exterior & interior. Special Interest Autos "1951 Chrysler
Imperial - Low-Key High Performance" John F. Katz Jun, 1993 Vol. 135, page 26 1951 Imperial
convertible 8 page article, 1
color, 16 b&w photos, includes table comparing 15 1951 cars. Special Interest Autos 1977 Chrysler New
Yorker Vol. 142, page 65 1977 Chrysler New
Yorker Special Interest Autos "1967 Imperial
Crown Coupe - Office on Wheels" Josiah Work March/April 1995 Vol. 146, page 52 1967 Imperial Crown
coupe, Mobile Director option 10 pages, 26 b&w
photos, includes short history of Imperial with "Facts &
Figures" table of data on 1955-75 Imperials. Special Interest Autos 1928 Imperial Vol. 149, page 40 1928 Imperial Special Interest Autos "How the '55
Imperial Got Its Tail Lamps" Sept/Oct 97 Vol. 161, page 58 1955 Imperial 1955-56 Imperial tail
lights article; 2 pages, 4 b/w pictures, exterior; (tongue in cheek), Special Interest Autos "1982 Imperial -
Lee’s Legacy of Luxury" Arch Brown Feb, 1999 Vol. 169, page 42 1982 Imperial Steer & Race
(Finland) 1962 Imperial
convertible Jul, 1988 1962 Imperial
convertible Time 1981 Imperial October 20, 1980 1981 Imperial Unimaginative 3 page ad
for the Imperial with Lee Iacocca and Frank Sinatra. Nice photos of silver
w/red interior Imperial, but a boring, Q & A style dialogue between
Lee and Mr. Sinatra V8 Magazine (Finland) 1962 Imperial LeBaron
Ht Mar, 1981 1962 Imperial LeBaron
Ht V8 Magazine (Finland) 1961 Imperial LeBaron Aug, 1982 1961 Imperial LeBaron V8 Magazine (Finland) 1960 Imperial Custom Jan, 1988 1960 Imperial Custom V8 Magazine (Finland) 1981 Imperial Coupe Feb, 1989 1981 Imperial Coupe V8 Magazine (Finland) 1960 Imperial Custom
Coupe Aug, 1989 1960 Imperial Custom
Coupe V8 Magazine (Finland) Imperial Parade Car Feb, 1990 Imperial Parade Car V8 Magazine (Finland) 1962 Imperial Crown
Convertible Jun, 1991 1962 Imperial Crown
Convertible V8 Magazine (Finland) 1959 Imperial 4d Sedan Aug, 1991 1959 Imperial 4d
Sedan V8 Magazine (Finland) 1959 Imperial Crown
Southampton 2d Jun, 1993 1959 Imperial Crown
Southampton 2d V8 Magazine (Finland) 1959 Imperial Crown
Convertible Jan, 1994 1959 Imperial Crown
Convertible Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1959 Imperial Crown
Coupe Nov, 1985 1959 Imperial Crown
Coupe Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1959 Imperial Crown
Coupe Silvercrest Mar, 1987 1959 Imperial Crown
Coupe Silvercrest Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1964 Imperial
convertible Mar, 1990 1964 Imperial
convertible Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1961 Imperial
convertible Jun, 1990 1961 Imperial
convertible Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1957 Imperial
convertible Aug, 1990 1957 Imperial
convertible Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1960 Imperial
convertible Aug, 1995 1960 Imperial
convertible Wheels Magazine
(Sweden) 1959 Imperial Custom 4
d Ht Mar, 1988 1959 Imperial Custom
4 d Ht WPC News "1966 Imperial
Point in Time: Out On the Highway!" Dr. David George
Briant Aug, 1999 Vol. 30, Number 12 1966 Imperial Crown
coupe Owner's trip report, 8
pages
June 28, 2001
Collectible
Automobile
Consumer
Reports
1957
Imperial Report
"the
best ride of any car ever tested." They were favourably impressed by
the fine handling and precise steering. That (sic) car went from 0 to 60
in 11.1 seconds and the constant speed mileage figures were good. At 30
mph, mileage was 19.1; at 40, 19.0; at 50, 17.5; and at 60, 15.6. (Hugh
Hemphill)
John
Tennyson
SIA
Comparison Report, 8 page comparison, 36 b/w photos, several specification
tables.
John
Katz
Special
Interest Autos
"1949
Crown Imperial Limo - Rare Then: Rarer Now"