1937 Chrysler Imperial C14
1937 Chrysler Imperial C14
This Imperial features a beautiful Art Deco design with chrome trim that extends from the tip of the nose and wraps around the sides of the hood. This sleek design displays the aerodynamic direction that the Chrysler Company aimed for following the “most aerodynamic car of its time”, the Chrysler Airflow. With only 351 of these models ever built, this rare Chrysler is one of the very few that are believed to still exist.
- YEAR & MAKE - 1937 Chrysler
- MODEL NAME - Imperial Eight
- MODEL/BODY/STYLE NUMBER - C-14
- BODY TYPE - 2 Door, 2/4 Passenger, Rumble Seat Convertible Coupe
- BODY BY - Chrysler
- # CYLS. - Strt. 8
- TRANSMISSION TYPE & NUMBER - 3 Speed, Conventional Clutch, RWD
- WEIGHT - 3,609 lbs
- ESTIMATED PRODUCTION - 351
- HP - 100
- C.I.D. - 273.8
- WHEELBASE - 121″
- PRICE NEW - $1,170
The 1937 Imperial featured styling similar to the six-cylinder Royal as Chrysler abandoned the controversial styling of its aerodynamic Airflow eight-cylinder models. Fitted with a longer hood and cowl, the Imperial name appeared on the nose between the grille and the wraparound hood louvers. Imperials were the only Chryslers other than the Airflow models to use an eight-cylinder engine for 1937. The Imperials strode a longer 121-inch wheelbase formerly used by the Chrysler Deluxe 8. Included were larger tires, an extended cowl and hood, as well as more luxurious interiors befitting the Imperial name. Built-in defroster vents at the base of the windshield, insulated body mountings, and safety seat padding were also included. Of the C-14 series production, just 351 were two-door convertible coupes all of which included a rumble seat. The interior featured new “safety styling” where all controls and gauges were set flush with the outer surface of the instrument panel so that there were no protruding knobs to bump in the event of an accident.
Imperials came standard with a 110-h.p. 273.8-c.i.d. straight eight engine or with 115 h.p. in the optional version. Buoyed by the new styling, Chrysler sales topped 100,000 for the first time since 1928 returning Chrysler to the top-ten in sales.