Making Imperials, 1955-1983
Gerard Wilson has posted his history of the Imperial brand, with production numbers for all years in the United States and Canada.
Imperial was never a high-volume brand, but it was not meant to be; the car was Chrysler’s top of the line, deliberately given a brand name of its own to differentiate it from the more mid-market Chrysler cars. Meant to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln when those brands were at the top of American luxury, Imperial kicked off in 1955 with a longer wheelbase and more lavish trim than Chrysler, but similar styling. The hottest year for Imperial was 1957, when 37,557 were made — well over double the next best year in the body-and-frame era.
Four years after other Chrysler Corporation vehicles had done so, Imperial went to unit-body construction in 1964. Sales improved but would never come close to 1957’s high point, with a 1964-1970 production peak of 23,285 cars in 1964. 1970 saw the final American Imperial cars; in 1971 Imperial again became a Chrysler model, and was then dropped entirely. Imperial was brought back for 1981-83 (pictured), based now on the Chrysler Cordoba, but production totalled 12,385 for all three years. There was another Chrysler Imperial afterwards, but this was the last rear-drive Imperial, the last V8 powered one, and the last to be sold as an Imperial rather than a Chrysler Imperial. Continue (more photos, text, and numbers)…
