1933 Chrysler Imperial

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys Arizona event, 23 January 2026.
$650,000 - $750,000 USD

• Immaculate concours restoration, recently completed
• First in Class at the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance
• A genuine example, one of 36 made; known history back to the early 1950s
• Formerly owned by noted Imperial enthusiasts Ed Perkins and Bill Sipko
• A CCCA Full Classic

The Classic Era in America brought about many beautiful automobiles, but the Chrysler CL Imperial of 1932 to 1933 was hard to beat for overall greatness. It featured a potent inline eight-cylinder, a sweet-shifting transmission, and handsome bodywork, with a hoodline extended back to the windshield, emphasizing the cars length and the size of the engine lurking beneath. Each body was meticulously constructed to the highest standards. The result was an automobile that was smoothly powerful, easy to drive for its era, and built with quality as the foremost consideration. It was a superb car and it looked terrific.

Despite the latter-day fitment of LeBaron plates to many closed cars, only the open CL Imperials boasted genuine LeBaron coachwork. The Dual-Windshield Phaeton was particularly striking, with its dramatic, long, flow-through beltline molding providing a natural spot for accent colors, and a second windshield which lowered in and out of the cowl in the manner of a Cadillac Sport Phaeton or Duesenberg Tourster. Only 36 were made in 1933; about 20 remain in existence, and they are always fiercely sought-after when one becomes available for sale.

The CL Imperial offered here has had its ownership history traced back to the 1950s on the East Coast, first with an Edward Shafer. In 1954 early enthusiast Joe Fass saw two gentlemen driving it, followed it all the way to the junkyard they were bringing it to, and bought it, likely saving it from an ignominious fate. He later sold the car to Andy Young of New Jersey, from whom it passed to Bob Fiarro of Paterson. Fiarro then sold the Chrysler to Dave Soper of Iowa, who at the time was assembling a small and impressive collection that came to include no fewer than four CL Imperials, including amazingly two original Dual-Windshield Phaetons.

In the 1980s much of the Soper stable, including the Imperials, was sold to a family of collectors in Connecticut. Serial number 7803662 was soon passed to the prolific Classic Chrysler enthusiast and collector Ed Perkins of Connecticut. Mr. Perkins began a restoration which progressed over many years. Reportedly, this was one of the great favorites in his collection, and he turned away multiple attempts from others to acquire it as work progressed.

The restoration remained incomplete when Mr. Perkins passed away in 2020. His prized Chrysler was sold to Bill Sipko of Pennsylvania, and, following Mr. Sipkos own untimely passing in late 2021, to the present owners. In their ownership, the restoration was at last completed, with initial work by the noted Stone Barn of Vienna, New Jersey, under the care of former owner Joe Fass son Rich, then finally by LaVine Restorations of Nappanee, Indiana. Work by the LaVines included reproducing many interior components, including the steering wheel with its correct detailing, and replating and refinishing much of the trim, as well as beautifully fitting the interior. The car finally made its grand appearance at the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, where it was judged First in Class always an impressive achievement, especially in the hotly contested American Classic Open Early Class.

Fresh to market and eligible for any number of additional important concours and club shows all over the country and, indeed, overseas, this is a most significant dual-windshield Chrysler, on one of the eras best chassis and with excellent known history. It is undoubtedly the finest available.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/az26/.