The 1946-1948 Chrysler Crown Imperial is the largest and most impressive of the "harmonica-grille" postwar Chryslers. Built to the high fit-and-finish standard expected at the price, which was close to $5,000 new, quite a bit of dough in those days. Every bit the luxury cars the big Packard Customs and Cadillac Series Seventy-Fives were. All Crowns in this period offered eight-passenger seating, two extra persons were accommodated on fold-down jump seats. Plentiful room for all thanks to the long wheelbase.
Pluses of the 1946-1948 Chrysler Crown Imperial:
-
Chrysler's highest luxury in this period
- Beautifully built, formal cars
- Smooth L-head straight eight
Minuses of the 1946-1948 Chrysler Crown Imperial:
- Ponderous road manners, so no picnic to drive
- Fuel thirst
- Too long for many garages (and some parking spaces)
Production
of the 1946-1948 Chrysler Crown Imperial:
- Sedans: 750
- Limos: 650
Specifications
of the 1946-1948 Chrysler Crown Imperial:
Length, inches: 234.8
Wheelbase, inches: 145.5
Weight, pounds: 4,814-4,875
Price, new: $3,875-4,767
Engines for the 1946-1948 Chrysler Crown Imperial:
Type Size Horsepower Years sv I-8
323.5 135 1946-48
Want more information about classic cars? See:
