Beschreibung:

When Walter P Chrysler’s up-market Imperial model debuted in 1926, the marque he founded was just two years old, yet by the year’s end would be the seventh-ranked US auto-maker. That first six-cylinder Imperial was superseded in 1931 when Chrysler joined the multi-cylinder club, introducing two new ‘straight-eight’ models: the CD Eight and the Imperial CG Eight. Somewhat confusingly, the company introduced three versions of the former in quick succession, the first, 80hp type being built from July 1930 to around January 1931, the second, 88hp model from then until May 1931 and the Deluxe CD Eight from May ’31 onwards. The more upmarket Chryslers, CD Eight included, adopted a distinctive wide profile ‘V’-shaped radiator for 1931, a styling device inspired by that of the Cord L-29, a model widely recognised by today’s connoisseurs as among the finest of the period. The Cord’s front-wheel-drive configuration allowed it to be set very low to the ground and Chrysler cleverly repeated this trick with its conventional, rear-drive Eights. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes were standard on all Chryslers, while the CD and Imperial Eights also enjoyed the advantage of a four-speed gearbox. This car’s chassis/engine numbers would seem to indicate that it is a Deluxe CD Eight fitted with the 4,625cc, 100bhp engine (not 5,300cc as recorded on the Swansea V5). However, the car is a right-hand drive export model sold new in South Africa, so its specification may not exactly match that of the USA version. The vehicle was imported into the UK circa 2000 and totally restored the following year. Finished in blue with brown interior, it is presented in ‘perfect’ condition and offered with MoT to April 2006 and Swansea V5 registration document.