Imperial

2006-11-26T03:19:53Z

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'''Imperial''' was the [[Chrysler Corporation]]'s prestige [[automobile]] brand between [[1955]] and [[1975]], with a brief reappearance in [[1981]] through [[1983]].

"Chrysler Imperials" were models within the Chrysler brand before 1955 and after 1983. (See [[Chrysler Imperial]] for more information.) The [[Chrysler Imperial]] had been the company's most luxurious model, and when the company decided to spin off a separate luxury brand, ''Imperial'' was the natural choice.

==History==
==1955-56==

[[Image:1955 Imperial rear.jpg|thumb|left|Rear view showing gunsight taillights]]

The '''[[1955]]''' models featured styling by [[Virgil Exner]], inspired by his 1952 [[Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton]] show cars. The bodyshell was shared with that year's big Chryslers, but the Imperial had a wide-spaced split eggcrate grille (later used on the [[Chrysler C-300]] "executive hot rod") and "gunsight" taillights mounted above the rear quarters. Models included a two-door Newport [[hardtop]] [[coupe]] (3,418 built) and a four-door [[sedan]] (7840 built). The engine was Chrysler's first-generation [[Chrysler Hemi engine|Hemi]] [[V8]] with a displacement of 331 in³ (5.4 L) and developing 250 bhp (186 kW).

The '''[[1956]]''' models were similar, but had small tailfins, a slightly longer wheelbase, a larger engine displacement of 354 in³ (5.8 L) and power output of 280 bhp (209 kW), and a four-door Southampton hardtop sedan was added to the range.

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== 1957–1959 ==

'''[[1957]]''' saw a redesigned and larger bodyshell available, based on Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" styling newly introduced for the full-size Chryslers of the period. It featured a complicated front end (very similar to [[Cadillac (automobile)|Cadillacs]] of the period) with a bulleted grille and quad headlights, tall tailfins, and Imperial's trademark gunsight taillights. The Hemi engine was available for the first two years (enlarged to 392ci), but for [[1959]], the third and final year of this bodystyle, a 413 in³ Wedge-head engine replaced it. A convertible was available for the first time on an Imperial. Sales were brisk for the class, helped by Exner's "ahead of the competition" styling, with 1957 becoming the best-selling Imperial year.

Starting from 1957, Imperials were available in three levels of [[Trim package|trim]]: standard Imperial, Imperial Crown, and Imperial LeBaron (the latter named after a coachbuilder, bought out by Chrysler, that did some of the best work on prewar Chrysler Imperial chassis).

== 1960-1963 ==

[[Image:Imperial Crown.jpg|thumb|1963 Imperial Crown]]

These were the last Virgil Exner-styled Imperials. Unlike the rest of the Chrysler range that went to [[unibody]] construction in 1960, the Imperial retained separate frames for rigidity. While most critics of automobile styling rate the 1955 through 1959 Imperials highly, the styling in this period was more questionable, which might have been a reflection of Exner's increasing struggles with the Chrysler president and board.

[[Image:Imperial Crown rear.jpg|thumb|left|1963 Imperial Crown from the rear]]

The '''[[1960]]''' look featured a very "[[1950s]]" front fascia with a swooping front bumper, gaping mesh grille, giant chrome eagle, and hooded quad headlights, and tall rear fins with a fake spare tire bulge on the trunklid. '''[[1961]]''' brought a wholly new front end with 'freestanding' headlights on short stalks in cut-away front fenders, and even taller "wings" at the rear. In '''[[1962]]''', the fins were replaced by straight-top rear fenders, and as in 1955, free-standing taillights atop them - but these were elongated, streamlined affairs. The front grille was once again split, and a large round Eagle hood ornament was fitted for the first time. The engineering team delivered as well, giving the 1962 models a new, slimmer [[TorqueFlite]] automatic transmission, which allowed for a smaller transmission tunnel "hump" in the floor. This provided greater comfort for the passenger in the center seat up front. 1962 also marked the closing of Imperial's dedicated assembly plant; all later Imperials were built in the same facilities as standard Chrysler-brand models. '''[[1963]]''' saw the split grille disappear again, replaced by a cluster of chromed rectangles, and the taillights were back inside the rear fenders in ordinary fashion. In addition, the designers redesigned the rooflines of the two-door hardtops, giving them a similar appearance to the four-door models.

== 1964-1966 ==

[[Image:1966 Imperial.jpg|thumb|200px|1966 Imperial convertible.]]
[[Image:Chryslerimperialeaglecirca60s.jpg|left|100px|1960s Imperial Eagle]]

'''[[1964]]''''s Imperial was the first to be wholly styled by Chrysler's new head stylist, ex-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] man [[Elwood Engel]]. Engel had been the designer of the 1961 [

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