Take advantage of the strong US $ (8% increase against the UK£ over the last 3 months) to repatriate this supremely rare American icon! Shipping in 20" container from UK to east coast US port includedin the price.A very rare vintage car for the serious collector.Extremely imposing and elegant Chrysler Imperial L80 Club Coupe with Rumble seat, oachbuilt by Le Baron, ne of the 25 produced by Chrysler during 1928/9 making it one of the rarest of all the vintage models. It is believed only two survive today.Deserving of its claim of being America's first muscle car, he Chrysler Imperial series spearheaded company founder Walter Chrysler's ambition to become a leading producer of high value prestige cars alongside Cadillac, tutz and Packard which began in 1926 with the introduction of the first E-80 Imperial models. By 1928 the company was offering ever bigger and more powerful versions culminating in the L-80 Imperial with a standard wheelbase of 136 inches powered by a mighty 6.1 to 1 compression 5,200cc straight six engine producing a huge (in the context of the time) 112 bhp. It was available with a variety of different body styles but for the ultimate exclusivity, he coachbuilt Club Coupe with Rumble seat by Le Baron was top of the range and could not be bettered. Obviously appealing to a very exclusive and wealthy clientel in view of the enormous price tag of over $3,000, roduction was limited to just 25 cars. It is also the last Chrysler model to wear the fluted radiator design before losing the legal action filed against them by Vauxhall for design copyright infringement.
This particular car was previously owned by California collector, estorer and Pebble Beach concours contender Pat Craig who restored it to show standard in the late 1970's. Exhibited widely at shows and the subject of magazine articles in the late 1970's it is without doubt the definitive surviving example of the model. It is also a testament to the quality of the original USA restoration as well as the limited use it has had that the car remains in such outstanding condition today, ome 35 years later. It featured in an article on the car in Car & Parts Magazine September 1981 copies of which are retained in the history file.
Following its sale by a well known Nevada based classic car specialist in 1995, t was exported to Europe and put on display as a static exhibit at a luxury resort in the Canary Islands before being shipped to the UK and put into storage for many years. British Customs were evidently much impressed with the Chrysler as they valued it at well over £100,000 and charged the owners import duty and VAT on that figure accordingly.
Unused since 1998 and purchased direct from storage, major re-commission of this magnificent automobile has been undertaken including full rebuild of the the braking system, ooling system, uel delivery system, ew tyres, enewal of all lubricants, ew mohair fabric roof covering, ew leather upholstery to front seats, echroming, rench polishing of all interior woodwork. It is UK registered and is both MOT exempt and road tax exempt under the Historic Vehicle classification.
Interesting original features include the wind-down rear window allowing occupants of the rumble seat to communicate with cabin passengers, pening front windscreen, tewart vacuum petrol pump system, rvin heater, ngine-turned dashboard, ull set of Buffalo wire wheels including twin fender mounted spares and of course the trademark golf club compartment. The car retains its original 5200cc 112bhp straight six engine which Chrysler claimed to be America's most powerful production car engine at the time. On the road, his late vintage era machine performs exceptionally well, roducing enormous torque and there is no reason to doubt that it can still offer the claimed original 80 mph cruising capability (hence L-80) although a slightly gentler pace might be kinder in consideration of its age! The Ross patented cam and lever steering box system is direct and not unduly heavy once under way and the brakes are exceptionally effective being hydraulic expanding shoe design all round and a feature which attracted particular praise from the motoring press of the day. It is fitted with new Firestone tyres all round.
Road tested once again in 2012 for a leading UK Classic Car publication, he journalist summed up the experience as follows:-
" It will guarantee exclusivity...Want to be king of the road? Nothing else will do".
At a time when the description 'rare' is becoming increasingly overused, his is a chance to acquire an extraordinary and exceptionally rare car which offers timeless good looks and real usability which belie its 88 years.
It is available for immediate sale, hipping can be arranged in 20ft container. Further details at www.auto-invest.co.uk, nterested buyers are welcome to call on (44) 07970 449114 for any additional information. |
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