A model fit for royalty

In 1955, Imperial became a brand within the Chrysler group. 302 units were produced with the limousine body and 96 sedans. One of them belonged to the Principality of Monaco and, in 1956, was used to pick up the American actress Grace Kelly on her arrival at the port from New York.

Although Chrysler Corporation founded the Imperial division in 1955, the name had been in use since the 1920s to refer to high-end vehicles. This division was created to take on Lincoln and Cadillac. Imperial renewed its creations more or less every two years, which allowed it to give exclusivity to each model.

In terms of body styles, the Imperial was offered not only as a sedan, but also as a coupé, specifically in the shape and form of the ‘personal luxury car’, perfectly defined by models from the 1950s, such as the Ford Thunderbird, which is also in the Automobile and Fashion Museum. As for the interior, this model includes fully folding seats, perfect for accommodating more passengers or, on the other hand, leaving a spacious passenger compartment.