Wow! Amazing shape. If you want to see one of these onscreen, watch the 1954 movie "Sabrina.". Humphrey Bogart is chauffeured around in one. Adlai Stevenson had something similar. Love the old Mopar!
My uncle bought a new similar looking '52 DeSoto 8 passenger with the 276 hemi V8. I was 6 years old and it seemed to be such a huge car. It was fun to ride in it
When I was a kid in 1965 I built an AMT model of a 65' Imperial Crown. 64-65 had the most beautiful Imperials made, the 65' being the prettiest with the glass covered headlamps.
I LOVE THOSE. Do you glean through 'The Beverly Hillbillies' to catch a glimpse of the big Chryslers used on that television program? Classic Chryslers of our days gone by; just not forgotten though.
The Safety Clutch is part of the Fluid Drive system, Chrysler's first attempt at an automatic drive. The gearshift is like a standard H pattern 3 speed without the low gear position. In other words it has only 2 forward gears. BUT each gear has 2 speed giving a 4 speed transmission. It works like this. First start the engine and let it warm up until it will idle down to normal speed of 400 RPM. Step on the clutch and shift into HIGH range. Now you can release the clutch completely while stepping on the brake or leaving the hand brake on. Release the brake and drive away like an automatic. When you get going 14MPH or more, lift off the gas and you should hear a soft *click-clack* from under the floor boards. That is the transmission shifting into High gear of High range. Now step on the gas and go someplace. If you come to a stop no need to use the clutch, just step on the brake like any automatic. It will automatically shift down. When you take off, at 14 MPH lift off the gas etc. LOW range works like HIGH range except it shifts up at 6MPH. It is only used for taking off on a hill, or driving in soft sand, mud or snow, or for driving slowly in a parade. You can start off in LOW range and shift into HIGH range but this is not necessary or recommended. The Fluid Drive and self shifting transmission is a very simple, rugged outfit and seldom gives trouble. If it does, it is usually something easy and cheap to fix like a frayed or broken wire, low oil level, or idle speed too high. There are videos on UA-cam explaining all this, or you could go to the AACA forum and ask a question.
Good correct info. You know what you're talking about. I want to add two things. Fluid-Drive cars must have correctly set engine idle speeds for both normal idle and cold high-idle. If these idle speeds are set too high the Fluid-Drive system with not shift to the higher gear in either range. Chrysler early Automatic Choke. I'm not sure if this applies to the later V-8 models. But Chrysler automatic chokes from at least 1946-48 on their 6s and straight 8s, used a different method of setting them. After pumping the gas pedal (if your car needs to be pumped) the choke can only be set by touching the gas pedal a little when the engine is cranking and let go of it. In other words, the engine must be cranking, and touch the gas pedal a little and let go of it. Note that, Chrysler's high-idle speed for these engines is a very low RPM, unlike what we're all used to.
I had a 48 Chrysler New Yorker with this feature years ago. It felt strange at first being able to remove your foot from the clutch once you selected a gear range.
@@monadking2761 The M6 Presto-Matic was a Chrysler Corporation semi-automatic transmission produced from 1946-1953. It was a special manual transmission with a fluid coupling. Although it had just two forward gears, an electric overdrive unit was attached and useful in either gear for a total of four forward speeds. M6. Overview.
Hi there , from Sydney, Australis. The steering wheel is Lucite, you actually could get FULL Air- Conditioning back then, even way earlier in fact, plus/re the transmission, Chrysler/Mopar was the last of the BIG Three Automakers to offer an automatic transmission. What you have here in this Imperial is Chrysler Pre-selecting gearbox (as Mopar had called it here in Australia) Mopar called it Fluid -Drive in USA, first seen back in 1934 !! My family has owned from new a 1934 CW Imperial Custom with a 146 inch long wheelbase, plus a 385ci or 6.3 litre straight 8 engine. Somewhere just over 60 of these premium cars were made, very few were Right Hand Drive from factory, and even fewer came to Australia. Ours has this said same transmission in it. Bought new by my Grandad in 1934 just before my mum was born in the same year. Pa's next new car was 4 door 1956 Packard Patrician, and we would still have that too however a drunk in a bus hit nanna in the early 1980's when turning into a friends driveway, sadly it was too damaged to repair. After that they just made do with their loved Imperial as Nanna did not really like modern cars calling them "ugly little bastards." Pa had a fleet of Plymouth, Dodge , Desoto & Chrysler vehicles of all kinds, MOST were fitted with this transmission I'm now 67, I remember Pa telling me when I was little that ---"this was a fantastic gearbox because it meant that even stupid people could now drive"--- what he meant was that with no conventional clutch you did not need to learn the art of double de-clutching correctly, of if you failed to get the double de-clutching shift correct , simple , -- a quick easy, but expensive learning curve, you smashed your gearbox to bits & needed to buy a new gearbox. Reliability of this gearbox, in 1995 just one year before his passing Pa said-- "little man I will pull bluey's box to bits before I pegout (die) as no bastard will know how to do it" - . Neither he nor I were short people just his name for me since I was a toddler & he took me to work with him every day until I went to school. My grandad was a very tall Norwegian, he came to Australia with his family when 10 years old. An industrial engineer he was like a wizard or magician with anything electric, metal, clockwork , mechanical. His intricate hand and mind skills rubbed off on me too, same with his height, but I chose "human mechanics" instead and studied to be a doctor. SO this 95 year old engineer that looked barely 70 pulled it to bits in 1995, prior, I can remember him doing it when I had never been to school when I was near 5 years old, and the car was just over 20 years old. It's now 2023 and his 1995 overhaul is still working fine. Our lovely old Chrysler Imperial has only been used by Nanna & Pa, my Mum as she was an only child and myself in its' now almost 90 year life , in its original well kept paint, that on its order invoice from the city Mopar dealer Kinsella & Nicholson is called INK BLUE , its so dark it looks black on an overcast day, but blue in hot sunny days & has milk chocolate brown original leather seats. Driving it , Easier than you would think, you sit very high up like it was a 4x4, with light forward mounted steering, the box is ahead of the front wheels/axle, with excellent compressed air assisted Lockheed quick adjust drum brakes, and that fantastic easy to use pre-selector gear box and has spritely performance from the massively long straight8 6.3 litre engine. I do like the looks on peoples faces when you slip that transmission down a cog or give it the joint on the accelerator pedal and hammer past them in a modern, on a decent hill on the open road in a near 90-year-old immaculate looking 20 foot plus long 3 ton monster. The Enormous long stroke 9 bearing engine is a torque monster in real world conditions like a large diesel vastly superior than people may think. After all this was basically the best car in the world in 1934 the world's first all steel construction car with a fully unitised body made of thick steel tubes with male/female joins, welded together, with the body panel skins welded on, with the whole body then bolted to a massive full steel girder chassis-- a tank or road fortress, with 4 wheels at all far corners and all the weight in the middle, being heavy, this car actually grips the road well like a leech in human flesh , it can be pushed way harder I feel than almost any other classic car. This thing was groundbreaking when new like no other car. I know why Pa bought it, to a brilliant engineer, this a brilliant car, back then and now too. I love listening to it start as with such a long 9 bearing, 8 in a row cylinder engine, it sounds something like a V12 starting and it starts easily. For annoying other road users it comes equipped with a pair of long electric trumpet horns one running full width facing left, the other running full width facing right, a low & a high pitch, they are the original proper factory ones it came with. When horn button is pressed it has the identical tone, sound and loudness as diesel freight train horns. My everyday car for the past 41 years has been my RHD GM-Holdens Aust' built 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman, in "sable" black with "gold" (mustard color) interior, with every option fitted bar 2, outside thermometre in mirror arm, and a sunroof. It's first owner ticked all other items except those 2, and I hate a sunroof as well. Mine's fitted with a few of the most rare options, the Trackmaster abs/traction control system and the early GM SRS Airbag system GM's "air cushion restraint system", offered for just 3 years 1974, '75 & 76. the Introductory 1974 Talisman's like my one came with leather seats as an alternative to the nasty velour interior, the '74's had a rear seat middle table unit, plus 1974 ACRS equipped cars had a nicer way more modern looking and upmarket leather steering wheel with 4 quality alloy little horn press buttons in the 4 steering wheel arms. Whereas the 1975 & 1976 Cadillacs with the ACRS airbags got cheap looking cast plastic soft feel steering wheels with funny little plastic ridges to push on adding to the already bordello or brothel like velvet only interior trims in the 2 later year model '75 & '76 Talismans. It's a shame as this is where it all started to go wrong for the Cadillac brand tacky tasteless color combo's, poor quality interiors & fabrics, and worse, large but gutless engines. At least the export specification CKD kit car packs came with full power 8.2 litre engines with zero anti-pollution power sapping attachments and vacuum plumbing. So the right hand drive GM Pagewood plant< Sydney built ones have 8.2 litre engines with muscle car performance.
Thanks for your review of this Chrysler Imperial Crown limousine I have a great respect for the Chrysler Corporation back in the in the American Golden Age of Cars, Chrysler Corporation was a major influence on the entire automotive industry, by introducing some engineering firsts that are considered standard in the industry today. Your Imperial Limousine has a certain presence that separate it from the competition, as did all the Chryslers built up through the early 70s. This is a car that commands royal respect. It truly is a beautiful car inside and out. I'm sure you will enjoy the minimal amount of restoration this Imperial warrants. Good luck with it.
Nice! You are right, beautiful interior. First year for the hemi V8 and for power steering which Chrysler was first to offer. The transmission is likely 4 speed Prestomatic Fluid Drive ( nearly indestructible) , with low range and high range , each having two gears. It shifts to higher gear by backing off on the accelerator pedal momentarily . Disengage clutch to switch ranges and to reverse. No need to disengage the clutch at stops.
Wow--electric windows plus power steering and brakes in 1951! When I was young we had a 1950 Oldsmobile 98--same body as the small Cadillac. Hydraulic windows-- the tubing connectors frequently leaked. One of my vivid early childhood memories was us driving out of the Oldsmobile dealership when we got the car.
I Am very happy you love Cadillacs!! I love the older Cadillacs and vintage vehicles! I have subscribed to your channel! I hope you continue to bless us all with your nice videos.
That crossover box under the hood is the heater. Yes the heater core is right there. Blower fan, heater, everything easy to get at if it ever needs repair. That duct is made of papier mache for sound deadening so be careful and don't knock it around. If you are not familiar with Chrysler products of that era remember, 6 volt electric with POSITIVE ground, and LEFT hand threads on the left side wheel bolts.
@@floridaroadways Packard and Cadillac offered air in 1941 but it was not successful and was soon dropped. Chryslers system debuted in 1952 and was soon copied by everyone.
Just another example of what American craftsmanship was back when we took pride in our work. I can picture Paul Sorvino in the back smoking a cigar barking out orders.
What a wonderful car. Rarely seen and very underapreciated. 1951 was the first year for what would later become known as the "early Hemi", and used through 1958, The engine was called the Firepower in Chryslers and Imperials (Imperial became a separate brand in 1955), the Firedome in DeSotos, and the Red Ram in Dodges. I don't believe the word hemi ever appeared on these cars or their literature in the 50s, but the Mopar engineers and enthusiasts were using it, and quite wisely, Chrysler copyrighted it.
INCREDIBLE FIND Days of old, going, going ...GONE but not forgotten. Not when peeps get to put their peepers on some real unmolested piece of the past such as this beauty. THANKS for SHARING
A basicly clean 51 Imperial limo. I really like that, though your a Cadillac man, you can really appreciate a special unique ride like this. I think at heart us real car guys appreciate, even the compitition. This car was directly aimed at the Cadillac Series 75 Limoousine. Not about which is better or whatever. Point is understanding special, unique auto's of the past. Keep up the good work. I'll be keepin an eye out for the final.
I am a GM guy but this one is up to Standard of the World as well! What a sensational vehicle! And the condition it is in is absolutely spectacular! Some people in Europe have no idea where the best cars of the world were made after the war: The USA! Forget Mercedes, Rolls Royce and all the rest. Maybe some Delahayes and other French luxury cars were as great as those American Beauties and maybe some of the big Alfa Romeos. But look at the junk cars produced today. I always ask: Progress? Where is progress in the cars built in the last fifty years? It only went downhill since then.
That is most definitely a HEMI! Likely a 331 or maybe 354. Looks like a two-barrel, but I'm not sure. Beautiful survivor Chrysler! Treat it with lotsa TLC!
I rode in one of these as a Pall bearer for my Grandmothers funeral in the 1980's. The Funeral home was in Mcadoo ,Pennsylvania. The hearse was a 1954 Cadillac with 35,000 odd miles on it the Chrysler limo had only half the mileage as the hearse was also used as the towns ambulance.
I had a '52. The transmission is a "torque Fluid Drive". You only needed the clutch to put the trans in gear. If you stopped at a light, you do not need to depress the clutch. You need to remember that the two forward "ranges" in the trans are just that. You would have a shift to a second speed in each range. Low range, for around town, is in old second gear position on a traditional 3 on tree setup, and highway range is in traditional third gear position. Do not let some clown get in and try to stuff the gearshift into what is traditional first gear, they will break linkage. Engine is 331 c.i. hemi. My '52 also had Imperial, one year only, internal expanding disc brakes. Power steering pump was driven off back of generator. 144 inch wheelbase. It was a beautiful car that rode like a dream....and I'm a Packard guy! Good luck with it.
Pretty neat and I am guessing it has the 331 hemi and fluid drive system. Nice old car! They were more expensive than Cadillacs or Lincolns of that era!
That's awesome. That paint should buff out really nice. That car's a real beauty. The only one of those I ever saw was a `42, at a car show many years ago.
I kind of looked, when I first saw this clip. There is a1952 Chrysler Windsor limousine in Denmark, where it has been from new. I saw it last in the early 1990's, when it was still in the livery business, but I am pretty sure it remains in a private collection somewhere now. Have a picture of it, cruising down the street, when I spotted it in the early 1990's. It has a Royal history.
Probably a better car than Caddillac! Cadillac had problems with the brakes. Also batteries. Chrysler engineering was no slouch! Your vehicle is wonderful! AND power windows! If you can find a can or two of karskin by radiator specialty it could bring back paint with minimal fuss and a damp washcloth. Your car is a treasure! Thanks for showing her. Never seen one! Thanks!
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works Really? A beautiful limousine with Hemi head V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, power windows, padded dash, tinted glass. NO OTHER CAR HAD ALL THESE FEATURES IN 1951! No Cadillac, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Lincoln, NOBODY had them all except Chrysler. As far as movie roles go, there were a lot of these Chrysler built limos in service in the early fifties. They made a total of 20,000 Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial limousines with this same body between 1949 and 1954. The cheaper Dodge and DeSoto models were popular as airport limousines, taxis and resort transportation while the Chryslers and Imperials appealed to the very rich who preferred a low key look and thought the Cadillac too flashy and ostentatious. The most expensive Imperial limos were finished by Derham, an old line coachbuilder in the New York area. They did the complete interior, special paint finish on the body, and a padded top. Of course other accessories and features could be built in according to the customer's desires.
@@mrdanforth3744 Very good info you wrote there. And all correct too. You probably know this, but I'll add it for the people that might read it. Chrysler had produced all the versions of limousines you mentioned earlier than 1949. They produced them from 1946-48 as well. I don't know if they had them prior to the war.
has chryslers Improved FLUID-DRIVE (FLUID TORQUE DRIVE)...high and low range.....2 high gears/2 low gears.....clutch is used to shift between the high/low range.....many would leave it in high range...in town....starting out in first then shifting to second
The transmission is called Fluid Drive. The shifter has the reverse location, and there is not a first, or low location, just what would be second and third. You can use the clutch to take off in the second location and then shift it to the third location.... OR, you can put it in the third location and let off the clutch and drive it like an automatic.
A magnificent car. In my opinion, this car is of such sound existing condition that it is worthy of a frame-off restoration to a factory-fresh state. In the short term, this would probably not make good economic sense, but having the restored car around on a long-term basis might.
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works I agree it shouldn't be restored but I would try to get that section of the front seat replaced with original type fabric and I would repaint the hood and front fenders. The rest looks like a buffer would bring it back. Not a restoration just maintenance.
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works I subscribed. The magic number is 1000 subscribers to get ad revenue from you tube. I haven't reached it yet but they put ads on my older videos.
MY COUSIN'S HUSBAND HAD A 48 TOWN AND COUNTRY, SAT IN THE BACK YARD IN 1980. WOODY, WEATHERED AND NOBODY WANTED IT. 68 CHEVELLE ALSO, NOW YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE CARS.
It is a hemi. Chrysler had been putting hemis in their higher priced cars in the early '50s for sure. My father had a '51 or '52 DeSoto with a flat-head 6 in it. I had a '56 Chrysler New Yorker with a hemi that had a HUGE 4 barrel carb. That thing could lay rubber at 60 mph just by pushing the L button on the panel.
Yes it is a hemi. It would run on regular while the same year Caddy with the same (331) cubic inches displacement and 20 less horse power needed Hi-test gasoline.
This car also-ran has America's first disc brakes on all 4. They were internal expanding lockeed aircraft brake standard on limo and a $375 option on other Chryslers. While crosley clown cars had disc in 49 they cannot be considered along with full size cars.
Beautiful car. As soon as you said "Safety-Clutch" I knew that your '51 Chrysler here has what's called, Fluid-Drive. Fluid-Drive operates differently than anything else. Fluid-Drive is not at all like a three-on-the-tree. Fluid-Drive is very easy to operate once you know what to do. But unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on how to correctly operate Fluid-Drive on UA-cam, the internet in general, and from people explaining it to you that don't know what they're talking about. I was so frustrated by this that I wrote a piece on the proper operation of Fluid-Drive. I want to send that to you (free/no charge) but your channel page doesn't have an email address for me to send it. I'd like you to have this correct operating information, but I don't know how to get that to you. Please advise.
I want to add that after reading the comments, I found the comment from, Mr Danforth 374, is correct regarding the basics of operating Fluid-Drive. You were lucky that someone who knows what their talking about gave correct information. I want to add two things: 1 Fluid-Drive cars must have correctly set engine idle speeds for both normal idle and cold high-idle. If these idle speeds are set too high the Fluid-Drive system with not shift to the higher gear in either range. 2 Chrysler early Automatic Choke. I'm not sure if this applies to the later V-8 models. But Chrysler automatic chokes from at least 1946-48 on their 6s and straight 8s, used a different method of setting them. After pumping the gas pedal (if your car needs to be pumped) the choke can only be set by touching the gas pedal a little when the engine is cranking, and then let go of it. In other words, the engine must be cranking, then touch the gas pedal a little and then let go of it. Note, Chrysler's high-idle speed for these engines is a very low RPM, unlike what we're used to.
Not all Fluid Drive Chrysler products had the semi automatic transmission. Some of them required using the clutch in the usual way and were the typical 3 speed.
@@66skate You're right, but they're rare and I didn't want to confuse people by saying too much. For some reason I think the clutch pedal in those cars was not marked, Safety-Clutch.
I 8th grade teacher in. 1969 was still driving her 52 Chrysler imperial to school every day, she had a 64 Chrysler at home with her husband. Im not a fan of early 50s Chrysler cars
Mr Danforth wrote 3 speed, that is for dodge,DeSoto and Chrysler have a 4 speed fluiddrive limo has fluid torgue option. Push in clutch pull straight down and let clutch you don't need it again. You are in 3 and ,4 the perfect for most. At 15:to 20 mph lift up gas and it t will shift to 4th. If you go normal 2nd postion you get first and second when you lift gas. As we used to say you can pull stumps in first. While everyone else's else's fully automatics were in the shop the fluid drive did not break down. If you were going to drive the Alcan hwy to Alaska and gravel back then you were cautioned if you were going to use an auto only use the fluid drive as only one to hold up even approved for pulling house trailer. 54 saw full 2speed, auto powerflyte, then late 56 the famous 3 speed torqueflyte. Both acceptable for 2000,miles of gravel Alcan hwy. Finally gm and Ford early 60's gave up on their hydramatic and fordamatic and bought patent rights from Chrysler to use torqueflyte, but they kept it a secret.
Brian You Have It Wrong Poly- Sphere Engine Came Upon Sean In 1955 Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto Custom,,Chrysler Windsor Droped 6Cyl. That Year Replacement Engine With Poly V8 . Poly Means Many Sphere In Sphere. I'm 85 Yr. My Father Had NEW 1951,1952, 1956, 1958 New Yorker Hemi.
When I was a kid my father had a 1952 to the wharf sedan Chrysler remember sitting on his lap and he would let me pretend like I was driving it while he was pulling in the park I remember the dashboard real well and one time he had he purpose Lee wanting to my mothers card was sitting in front of it and then went in and told her that I’d hit her car with his car as a joke
Wow! Amazing shape. If you want to see one of these onscreen, watch the 1954 movie "Sabrina.". Humphrey Bogart is chauffeured around in one. Adlai Stevenson had something similar. Love the old Mopar!
My uncle bought a new similar looking '52 DeSoto 8 passenger with the 276 hemi V8. I was 6 years old and it seemed to be such a huge car. It was fun to ride in it
When I was a kid in 1965 I built an AMT model of a 65' Imperial Crown. 64-65 had the most beautiful Imperials made, the 65' being the prettiest with the glass covered headlamps.
I agree!
I LOVE THOSE. Do you glean through 'The Beverly Hillbillies' to catch a glimpse of the big Chryslers used on that television program?
Classic Chryslers of our days gone by; just not forgotten though.
I agree to love those 64-66 imperials but the 65 is my favorite because of the headlights
Looking forward to the post clean up video, that paint looks like it will clean up pretty decent
I'm with ya! Anxious to see results!
The Safety Clutch is part of the Fluid Drive system, Chrysler's first attempt at an automatic drive. The gearshift is like a standard H pattern 3 speed without the low gear position. In other words it has only 2 forward gears. BUT each gear has 2 speed giving a 4 speed transmission.
It works like this. First start the engine and let it warm up until it will idle down to normal speed of 400 RPM. Step on the clutch and shift into HIGH range. Now you can release the clutch completely while stepping on the brake or leaving the hand brake on. Release the brake and drive away like an automatic.
When you get going 14MPH or more, lift off the gas and you should hear a soft *click-clack* from under the floor boards. That is the transmission shifting into High gear of High range. Now step on the gas and go someplace.
If you come to a stop no need to use the clutch, just step on the brake like any automatic. It will automatically shift down. When you take off, at 14 MPH lift off the gas etc.
LOW range works like HIGH range except it shifts up at 6MPH. It is only used for taking off on a hill, or driving in soft sand, mud or snow, or for driving slowly in a parade. You can start off in LOW range and shift into HIGH range but this is not necessary or recommended.
The Fluid Drive and self shifting transmission is a very simple, rugged outfit and seldom gives trouble. If it does, it is usually something easy and cheap to fix like a frayed or broken wire, low oil level, or idle speed too high.
There are videos on UA-cam explaining all this, or you could go to the AACA forum and ask a question.
Thank you for this info! I couldn't find much under google
Good correct info. You know what you're talking about. I want to add two things.
Fluid-Drive cars must have correctly set engine idle speeds for both normal idle and cold high-idle. If these idle speeds are set too high the Fluid-Drive system with not shift to the higher gear in either range.
Chrysler early Automatic Choke. I'm not sure if this applies to the later V-8 models. But Chrysler automatic chokes from at least 1946-48 on their 6s and straight 8s, used a different method of setting them. After pumping the gas pedal (if your car needs to be pumped) the choke can only be set by touching the gas pedal a little when the engine is cranking and let go of it. In other words, the engine must be cranking, and touch the gas pedal a little and let go of it. Note that, Chrysler's high-idle speed for these engines is a very low RPM, unlike what we're all used to.
I had a 48 Chrysler New Yorker with this feature years ago. It felt strange at first being able to remove your foot from the clutch once you selected a gear range.
Was that called the Chrysler Clutch Flight Transmission back then?
@@monadking2761 The M6 Presto-Matic was a Chrysler Corporation semi-automatic transmission produced from 1946-1953. It was a special manual transmission with a fluid coupling. Although it had just two forward gears, an electric overdrive unit was attached and useful in either gear for a total of four forward speeds. M6. Overview.
Hi there , from Sydney, Australis. The steering wheel is Lucite, you actually could get FULL Air- Conditioning back then, even way earlier in fact, plus/re the transmission, Chrysler/Mopar was the last of the BIG Three Automakers to offer an automatic transmission. What you have here in this Imperial is Chrysler Pre-selecting gearbox (as Mopar had called it here in Australia) Mopar called it Fluid -Drive in USA, first seen back in 1934 !! My family has owned from new a 1934 CW Imperial Custom with a 146 inch long wheelbase, plus a 385ci or 6.3 litre straight 8 engine. Somewhere just over 60 of these premium cars were made, very few were Right Hand Drive from factory, and even fewer came to Australia. Ours has this said same transmission in it. Bought new by my Grandad in 1934 just before my mum was born in the same year. Pa's next new car was 4 door 1956 Packard Patrician, and we would still have that too however a drunk in a bus hit nanna in the early 1980's when turning into a friends driveway, sadly it was too damaged to repair. After that they just made do with their loved Imperial as Nanna did not really like modern cars calling them "ugly little bastards."
Pa had a fleet of Plymouth, Dodge , Desoto & Chrysler vehicles of all kinds, MOST were fitted with this transmission I'm now 67, I remember Pa telling me when I was little that ---"this was a fantastic gearbox because it meant that even stupid people could now drive"--- what he meant was that with no conventional clutch you did not need to learn the art of double de-clutching correctly, of if you failed to get the double de-clutching shift correct , simple , -- a quick easy, but expensive learning curve, you smashed your gearbox to bits & needed to buy a new gearbox.
Reliability of this gearbox, in 1995 just one year before his passing Pa said-- "little man I will pull bluey's box to bits before I pegout (die) as no bastard will know how to do it" - . Neither he nor I were short people just his name for me since I was a toddler & he took me to work with him every day until I went to school. My grandad was a very tall Norwegian, he came to Australia with his family when 10 years old. An industrial engineer he was like a wizard or magician with anything electric, metal, clockwork , mechanical. His intricate hand and mind skills rubbed off on me too, same with his height, but I chose "human mechanics" instead and studied to be a doctor. SO this 95 year old engineer that looked barely 70 pulled it to bits in 1995, prior, I can remember him doing it when I had never been to school when I was near 5 years old, and the car was just over 20 years old. It's now 2023 and his 1995 overhaul is still working fine. Our lovely old Chrysler Imperial has only been used by Nanna & Pa, my Mum as she was an only child and myself in its' now almost 90 year life , in its original well kept paint, that on its order invoice from the city Mopar dealer Kinsella & Nicholson is called INK BLUE , its so dark it looks black on an overcast day, but blue in hot sunny days & has milk chocolate brown original leather seats.
Driving it , Easier than you would think, you sit very high up like it was a 4x4, with light forward mounted steering, the box is ahead of the front wheels/axle, with excellent compressed air assisted Lockheed quick adjust drum brakes, and that fantastic easy to use pre-selector gear box and has spritely performance from the massively long straight8 6.3 litre engine. I do like the looks on peoples faces when you slip that transmission down a cog or give it the joint on the accelerator pedal and hammer past them in a modern, on a decent hill on the open road in a near 90-year-old immaculate looking 20 foot plus long 3 ton monster. The Enormous long stroke 9 bearing engine is a torque monster in real world conditions like a large diesel vastly superior than people may think. After all this was basically the best car in the world in 1934 the world's first all steel construction car with a fully unitised body made of thick steel tubes with male/female joins, welded together, with the body panel skins welded on, with the whole body then bolted to a massive full steel girder chassis-- a tank or road fortress, with 4 wheels at all far corners and all the weight in the middle, being heavy, this car actually grips the road well like a leech in human flesh , it can be pushed way harder I feel than almost any other classic car. This thing was groundbreaking when new like no other car.
I know why Pa bought it, to a brilliant engineer, this a brilliant car, back then and now too. I love listening to it start as with such a long 9 bearing, 8 in a row cylinder engine, it sounds something like a V12 starting and it starts easily. For annoying other road users it comes equipped with a pair of long electric trumpet horns one running full width facing left, the other running full width facing right, a low & a high pitch, they are the original proper factory ones it came with. When horn button is pressed it has the identical tone, sound and loudness as diesel freight train horns.
My everyday car for the past 41 years has been my RHD GM-Holdens Aust' built 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman, in "sable" black with "gold" (mustard color) interior, with every option fitted bar 2, outside thermometre in mirror arm, and a sunroof. It's first owner ticked all other items except those 2, and I hate a sunroof as well. Mine's fitted with a few of the most rare options, the Trackmaster abs/traction control system and the early GM SRS Airbag system GM's "air cushion restraint system", offered for just 3 years 1974, '75 & 76. the Introductory 1974 Talisman's like my one came with leather seats as an alternative to the nasty velour interior, the '74's had a rear seat middle table unit, plus 1974 ACRS equipped cars had a nicer way more modern looking and upmarket leather steering wheel with 4 quality alloy little horn press buttons in the 4 steering wheel arms. Whereas the 1975 & 1976 Cadillacs with the ACRS airbags got cheap looking cast plastic soft feel steering wheels with funny little plastic ridges to push on adding to the already bordello or brothel like velvet only interior trims in the 2 later year model '75 & '76 Talismans. It's a shame as this is where it all started to go wrong for the Cadillac brand tacky tasteless color combo's, poor quality interiors & fabrics, and worse, large but gutless engines. At least the export specification CKD kit car packs came with full power 8.2 litre engines with zero anti-pollution power sapping attachments and vacuum plumbing. So the right hand drive GM Pagewood plant< Sydney built ones have 8.2 litre engines with muscle car performance.
Nanna was right, modern vehicles are ugly little bastards. Lol
Smart woman your Nanna.
I saw a 41 many years ago a t a Chrysler event in Langhorne PA with factory A/C.
Isn't that steering wheel glow-in-the-dark?
Blissful history, from New Zealand I type. Fabulous family.
Thanks for your review of this Chrysler Imperial Crown limousine I have a great respect for the Chrysler Corporation back in the in the American Golden Age of Cars, Chrysler Corporation was a major influence on the entire automotive industry, by introducing some engineering firsts that are considered standard in the industry today. Your Imperial Limousine has a certain presence that separate it from the competition, as did all the Chryslers built up through the early 70s. This is a car that commands royal respect. It truly is a beautiful car inside and out. I'm sure you will enjoy the minimal amount of restoration this Imperial warrants. Good luck with it.
Nice! You are right, beautiful interior. First year for the hemi V8 and for power steering which Chrysler was first to offer. The transmission is likely 4 speed Prestomatic Fluid Drive ( nearly indestructible) , with low range and high range , each having two gears. It shifts to higher gear by backing off on the accelerator pedal momentarily . Disengage clutch to switch ranges and to reverse. No need to disengage the clutch at stops.
Nice colour. Beautiful. Car. Thanks
First of the hemis, I think? What a truly fantastic find in that condition, just beautiful.
Yup was the pre hemi
Beautiful Imperial Limo from the year in which I was born. Garaging the car really kept it’s beauty.
Wow--electric windows plus power steering and brakes in 1951! When I was young we had a 1950 Oldsmobile 98--same body as the small Cadillac. Hydraulic windows-- the tubing connectors frequently leaked. One of my vivid early childhood memories was us driving out of the Oldsmobile dealership when we got the car.
Ignore the strikeouts-- the Internet gods do that to me every once in a while.
I Am very happy you love Cadillacs!! I love the older Cadillacs and vintage vehicles! I have subscribed to your channel! I hope you continue to bless us all with your nice videos.
Very nice, I'm a Cadillac Guy, I own a Packard as well, but I've always loved the Imperials...
That crossover box under the hood is the heater. Yes the heater core is right there. Blower fan, heater, everything easy to get at if it ever needs repair. That duct is made of papier mache for sound deadening so be careful and don't knock it around.
If you are not familiar with Chrysler products of that era remember, 6 volt electric with POSITIVE ground, and LEFT hand threads on the left side wheel bolts.
Yes, you are absolutely correct about what you said here. I have a 1948 Chrysler Windsor.
Why it don’t have ac?
@@floridaroadways It wasn't invented yet. Next year, 1952, Chrysler offered AC, the first car to do so. After that everyone else copied them.
@@mrdanforth3744 Cadillac offered ac before Chrysler.
@@floridaroadways Packard and Cadillac offered air in 1941 but it was not successful and was soon dropped. Chryslers system debuted in 1952 and was soon copied by everyone.
Just another example of what American craftsmanship was back when we took pride in our work. I can picture Paul Sorvino in the back smoking a cigar barking out orders.
What a wonderful car. Rarely seen and very underapreciated.
1951 was the first year for what would later become known as the "early Hemi", and used through 1958, The engine was called the Firepower in Chryslers and Imperials (Imperial became a separate brand in 1955), the Firedome in DeSotos, and the Red Ram in Dodges. I don't believe the word hemi ever appeared on these cars or their literature in the 50s, but the Mopar engineers and enthusiasts were using it, and quite wisely, Chrysler copyrighted it.
254 Hemi perhaps... rings my Hemi bells. Magnificent speed history.
DeSoto and Dodge Hemi engines were completely different from the Chrysler Hemi.
INCREDIBLE FIND
Days of old, going, going ...GONE but not forgotten. Not when peeps get to put their peepers on some real unmolested piece of the past such as this beauty.
THANKS for SHARING
Amazing old car!😁🛠️
A basicly clean 51 Imperial limo. I really like that, though your a Cadillac man, you can really appreciate a special unique ride like this. I think at heart us real car guys appreciate, even the compitition. This car was directly aimed at the Cadillac Series 75 Limoousine. Not about which is better or whatever. Point is understanding special, unique auto's of the past. Keep up the good work. I'll be keepin an eye out for the final.
The color inside the door jams is stunning, what a car!
Have you pulled the wheels and does it have the self-energizing disc brakes?
Fabulous Heritage piece.
I am a GM guy but this one is up to Standard of the World as well! What a sensational vehicle! And the condition it is in is absolutely spectacular!
Some people in Europe have no idea where the best cars of the world were made after the war: The USA! Forget Mercedes, Rolls Royce and all the rest. Maybe some Delahayes and other French luxury cars were as great as those American Beauties and maybe some of the big Alfa Romeos.
But look at the junk cars produced today. I always ask: Progress? Where is progress in the cars built in the last fifty years? It only went downhill since then.
Incredible Chrysler. Looks like it was made to be competition with a Cadillac series 75 😏
That is most definitely a HEMI! Likely a 331 or maybe 354. Looks like a two-barrel, but I'm not sure. Beautiful survivor Chrysler! Treat it with lotsa TLC!
👍👍very original, very rare! Great find, great shape for a 72 year old car!!!!!
I rode in one of these as a Pall bearer for my Grandmothers funeral in the 1980's. The Funeral home was in Mcadoo ,Pennsylvania. The hearse was a 1954 Cadillac with 35,000 odd miles on it the Chrysler limo had only half the mileage as the hearse was also used as the towns ambulance.
A beautiful car. and just my same age! Aging better than I, in fact.
I had a '52. The transmission is a "torque Fluid Drive". You only needed the clutch to put the trans in gear. If you stopped at a light, you do not need to depress the clutch. You need to remember that the two forward "ranges" in the trans are just that. You would have a shift to a second speed in each range. Low range, for around town, is in old second gear position on a traditional 3 on tree setup, and highway range is in traditional third gear position. Do not let some clown get in and try to stuff the gearshift into what is traditional first gear, they will break linkage. Engine is 331 c.i. hemi. My '52 also had Imperial, one year only, internal expanding disc brakes. Power steering pump was driven off back of generator. 144 inch wheelbase. It was a beautiful car that rode like a dream....and I'm a Packard guy! Good luck with it.
Nice ride.🗽👍
Omy you have a doll on your hands.
What a beautiful old Chrysler!
Pretty neat and I am guessing it has the 331 hemi and fluid drive system. Nice old car! They were more expensive than Cadillacs or Lincolns of that era!
For the age and being original it is in great shape. How many miles?
What a REAL AMERICAN CAR! I WISH I could own it! This is REAL QUALITY! I grew up with vehicles like this! I AM SURE THIS SOLD!
Great ride. Heavy comfy. Enough power?
It's actually not that bad!
That's awesome. That paint should buff out really nice. That car's a real beauty. The only one of those I ever saw was a `42, at a car show many years ago.
Check out the follow up video
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works Great. I will.
Were those amber turn signals at the back? Or were they very discoloured reverse lights?
awsome car.they built cars back then.wish they still did.
NOT a limousine, an eight passenger sedan. The limousine had a division window and a leather upholstered chauffeur's compartment.
I kind of looked, when I first saw this clip. There is a1952 Chrysler Windsor limousine in Denmark, where it has been from new.
I saw it last in the early 1990's, when it was still in the livery business, but I am pretty sure it remains in a private collection somewhere now.
Have a picture of it, cruising down the street, when I spotted it in the early 1990's. It has a Royal history.
Please show us another video when it's done. A bonus would be an in car video on a drive.
Yes sir! It will be coming!
What an interesting car I was getting ready to click right past this video glad I didn't.
just a beautiful car and one that is probably quite rare
It was so nice that Chrysler used electric windows from the start, avoided the leakage and complications that plagued GM cars through 1953!
Thank you, thank you and thank you! Born under Eisenhower sir. Hmmm? ALL THE WAY SIR!!!
How bout some of those Ghia? Imperials?
Look at all the space!
I can't see from the clip but the extra switch in the back possibly is for a division window between the front and rear compartments
There's two switches on each side for the windows. There is a switch missing up front which I'd think was for a Partition
I saw a car built like this for Roosevelt. It was designed so it wasn't obvious that the rider was in a wheelchair.
Several years ago I had a 1952 Chrysler Saratoga sedanbulance.
Probably a better car than Caddillac! Cadillac had problems with the brakes. Also batteries. Chrysler engineering was no slouch! Your vehicle is wonderful! AND power windows! If you can find a can or two of karskin by radiator specialty it could bring back paint with minimal fuss and a damp washcloth. Your car is a treasure! Thanks for showing her. Never seen one! Thanks!
Actually this has had more issues then any of the 50s cadilacs I've earned on. The transmission and carb are very problematic
The weird duct work in the engine bay going to the cabin? Ram air cooler probably, not AC but it should cool the air by maybe 20 degrees.
Something better than a Cadillac
I'll have to argue on that!! Lol
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works Really? A beautiful limousine with Hemi head V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, power windows, padded dash, tinted glass. NO OTHER CAR HAD ALL THESE FEATURES IN 1951! No Cadillac, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Lincoln, NOBODY had them all except Chrysler.
As far as movie roles go, there were a lot of these Chrysler built limos in service in the early fifties. They made a total of 20,000 Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial limousines with this same body between 1949 and 1954. The cheaper Dodge and DeSoto models were popular as airport limousines, taxis and resort transportation while the Chryslers and Imperials appealed to the very rich who preferred a low key look and thought the Cadillac too flashy and ostentatious.
The most expensive Imperial limos were finished by Derham, an old line coachbuilder in the New York area. They did the complete interior, special paint finish on the body, and a padded top. Of course other accessories and features could be built in according to the customer's desires.
@@mrdanforth3744 Very good info you wrote there. And all correct too. You probably know this, but I'll add it for the people that might read it. Chrysler had produced all the versions of limousines you mentioned earlier than 1949. They produced them from 1946-48 as well. I don't know if they had them prior to the war.
@@discerningmind yes, back into the 30's.
What planet are you from?
very cool
This Automobile Deserves The Best. I Am Sure You Can Make It Happen.💎💎💎💎💎
has chryslers Improved FLUID-DRIVE (FLUID TORQUE DRIVE)...high and low range.....2 high gears/2 low gears.....clutch is used to shift between the high/low range.....many would leave it in high range...in town....starting out in first then shifting to second
The transmission is called Fluid Drive.
The shifter has the reverse location, and there is not a first, or low location, just what would be second and third.
You can use the clutch to take off in the second location and then shift it to the third location....
OR, you can put it in the third location and let off the clutch and drive it like an automatic.
that is BEAUTIFUL
Outstanding!
Awesome car!…❤️❤️❤️
Sweet ride 😎
A magnificent car. In my opinion, this car is of such sound existing condition that it is worthy of a frame-off restoration to a factory-fresh state. In the short term, this would probably not make good economic sense, but having the restored car around on a long-term basis might.
I wouldnt restore her. Just clean her back up and enjoy. She's only original once
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works I agree it shouldn't be restored but I would try to get that section of the front seat replaced with original type fabric and I would repaint the hood and front fenders. The rest looks like a buffer would bring it back. Not a restoration just maintenance.
@@alshotrodsandratrods8780 check out the progress and newly uploaded video
@@Cadillac_Coach_Works I subscribed. The magic number is 1000 subscribers to get ad revenue from you tube. I haven't reached it yet but they put ads on my older videos.
@@alshotrodsandratrods8780 I'm sure we'll both get there! I've only been doing this.for a few months
The 1951 Imperial debuted with the 331 Hemi (purposely the same displacement as the Cadillac V8), electric window lifts, and power steering.
Best driveshafts too.
Former Funeral car?
Wow! How cool!
MY COUSIN'S HUSBAND HAD A 48 TOWN AND COUNTRY, SAT IN THE BACK YARD IN 1980. WOODY,
WEATHERED AND NOBODY WANTED IT. 68 CHEVELLE ALSO,
NOW YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE
CARS.
It is a hemi. Chrysler had been putting hemis in their higher priced cars in the early '50s for sure. My father had a '51 or '52 DeSoto with a flat-head 6 in it. I had a '56 Chrysler New Yorker with a hemi that had a HUGE 4 barrel carb. That thing could lay rubber at 60 mph just by pushing the L button on the panel.
Funny you should mention movies: when you opened the back door I could picture Marilyn Monroe sitting there, en route to marry herself a millionaire!
yes a hemi, given the year a 392 is likely. sweet ride, color me green with envy.
1951 first year hemi was 331
@@davidcarlstrom3863 thank you for clarification, i know nash rambler also produced hemi engines.
You are such an educated car guy...oh yea...let's use that word "GUYS" as much as possible!
The meteral used to manufacture the steering wheel is lucite.
Chrysler's top of the line that steering I am sure it was a transparent soft plastic when it was new 🤔
Power windows in 1951~?
Yes it is a hemi. It would run on regular while the same year Caddy with the same (331) cubic inches displacement and 20 less horse power needed Hi-test gasoline.
Wow I must be getting old, missed the fact this not limo but town sedan and may not have disc brakes.
check the numbers as a 51 could have been Gen MacArthur's!!
This car also-ran has America's first disc brakes on all 4. They were internal expanding lockeed aircraft brake standard on limo and a $375 option on other Chryslers. While crosley clown cars had disc in 49 they cannot be considered along with full size cars.
Sweet!
Nicer than a Caddy.
Not to me! Lol
Beautiful car. As soon as you said "Safety-Clutch" I knew that your '51 Chrysler here has what's called, Fluid-Drive. Fluid-Drive operates differently than anything else. Fluid-Drive is not at all like a three-on-the-tree. Fluid-Drive is very easy to operate once you know what to do. But unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on how to correctly operate Fluid-Drive on UA-cam, the internet in general, and from people explaining it to you that don't know what they're talking about. I was so frustrated by this that I wrote a piece on the proper operation of Fluid-Drive. I want to send that to you (free/no charge) but your channel page doesn't have an email address for me to send it. I'd like you to have this correct operating information, but I don't know how to get that to you. Please advise.
I want to add that after reading the comments, I found the comment from, Mr Danforth 374, is correct regarding the basics of operating Fluid-Drive. You were lucky that someone who knows what their talking about gave correct information.
I want to add two things:
1
Fluid-Drive cars must have correctly set engine idle speeds for both normal idle and cold high-idle. If these idle speeds are set too high the Fluid-Drive system with not shift to the higher gear in either range.
2
Chrysler early Automatic Choke. I'm not sure if this applies to the later V-8 models. But Chrysler automatic chokes from at least 1946-48 on their 6s and straight 8s, used a different method of setting them. After pumping the gas pedal (if your car needs to be pumped) the choke can only be set by touching the gas pedal a little when the engine is cranking, and then let go of it. In other words, the engine must be cranking, then touch the gas pedal a little and then let go of it. Note, Chrysler's high-idle speed for these engines is a very low RPM, unlike what we're used to.
Not all Fluid Drive Chrysler products had the semi automatic transmission. Some of them required using the clutch in the usual way and were the typical 3 speed.
@@66skate You're right, but they're rare and I didn't want to confuse people by saying too much. For some reason I think the clutch pedal in those cars was not marked, Safety-Clutch.
Awesome vehicle, over 70 yo and still going. Be surprised if we see an early Tesla in 60 odd years.
Yes, that was the only V-8 that they had,.
Interior is very Packardesque
You live near an airport; At 3:32 we can hear an Airbus A320 with V2500 engines passing overhead....
Yes I'm in path of travel for LAX
Aww man this girl is so sick!!
why are you out of breath from walking around a car?
Strictly, a seven passenger sedan -- no divider window.
When this car was built Chrysler was #2, Ford #3.
I 8th grade teacher in. 1969 was still driving her 52 Chrysler imperial to school every day, she had a 64 Chrysler at home with her husband. Im not a fan of early 50s Chrysler cars
Mr Danforth wrote 3 speed, that is for dodge,DeSoto and Chrysler have a 4 speed fluiddrive limo has fluid torgue option. Push in clutch pull straight down and let clutch you don't need it again. You are in 3 and ,4 the perfect for most. At 15:to 20 mph lift up gas and it t will shift to 4th. If you go normal 2nd postion you get first and second when you lift gas. As we used to say you can pull stumps in first. While everyone else's else's fully automatics were in the shop the fluid drive did not break down. If you were going to drive the Alcan hwy to Alaska and gravel back then you were cautioned if you were going to use an auto only use the fluid drive as only one to hold up even approved for pulling house trailer. 54 saw full 2speed, auto powerflyte, then late 56 the famous 3 speed torqueflyte. Both acceptable for 2000,miles of gravel Alcan hwy. Finally gm and Ford early 60's gave up on their hydramatic and fordamatic and bought patent rights from Chrysler to use torqueflyte, but they kept it a secret.
It's not a limousine if it doesn't have a glass division between driver and passenger.
thats a hemi
The engine is a Ploly-Hemi its like a pre Hemi. Not quite a real Hemi but only true MOPAR fans would understand the diffrence.
Brian You Have It Wrong Poly- Sphere Engine Came Upon Sean In 1955 Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto Custom,,Chrysler Windsor Droped 6Cyl. That Year Replacement Engine With Poly V8 . Poly Means Many Sphere In Sphere. I'm 85 Yr. My Father Had NEW 1951,1952, 1956, 1958 New Yorker Hemi.
Without a center divider window it is not a limousine. It is a large sedan.
I would like to buy it.
When I was a kid my father had a 1952 to the wharf sedan Chrysler remember sitting on his lap and he would let me pretend like I was driving it while he was pulling in the park I remember the dashboard real well and one time he had he purpose Lee wanting to my mothers card was sitting in front of it and then went in and told her that I’d hit her car with his car as a joke