Imperial (automobile)

This article is about the Imperial marque manufactured by U.S. automaker Chrysler between 1955 and 1983. For Imperial cars manufactured under the Chrysler marque before 1955, see Chrysler Imperial. For the early British manufacturer, see Imperial (British automobile). For the Imperial automobile from 1908 to 1916, see Imperial Automobile Company.
Imperial
Company typeDivision
IndustryAutomotive
PredecessorChrysler Imperial
Founded1955
FounderChrysler
Defunct1983; 41 years ago (1983)
FateInitially a car model by Chrysler, then a company division (1955–75, 1981–83)
Headquarters
Detroit
,
United States
ProductsLuxury vehicles
ParentChrysler

Imperial was the Chrysler Corporation's luxury automobile brand from 1955 until 1975 and again from 1981 through 1983.

The Imperial name had been used since 1926 as a Chrysler luxury model, the Chrysler Imperial. In 1955, the automaker repositioned the Imperial as a separate make and division to better compete with its North American rivals, Lincoln and Cadillac.[1][2][3]

The Imperial would feature new or modified body styles introduced every two to three years, all with V8 engines and automatic transmissions, as well as technologies that would later be introduced in Chrysler Corporation's other models.

  1. ^ "Imperial Marque History". imperialclub.com. 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  2. ^ "NBC Color Footage from 1959". 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2014-12-06 – via YouTube.[dead YouTube link]
  3. ^ Wilson, Gerard. "Imperial history and car production by year, US and Canada, 1955-1983". allpar.com. Retrieved 2014-12-06.