The Town Sedan story started in
the 1930's when Chrysler offered models characterized by the absence of
rear quarter windows to create a more formal enclosed styling. For
the 1941 model year, Chrysler introduced a new town sedan body style with
the vent windows in the rear doors, which were hinged on the 
center
posts. This was available on Crown Imperial, Chrysler, DeSoto, and
Dodge. By eliminating the rear quarter window, the rear door could
be extended rearward and made larger. The center post was also moved
back a few inches to create a wider front door. The larger door
openings allowed for better passenger access and more visibility for rear
seat occupants. Of course, there was also the safety factor of
eliminating the standard sedan's suicide doors.
For the Crown Imperial Series,
the Town Sedan was only offered for 1941. The style was continued in
the
Chrysler, DeSoto, and Dodge lines for 1942 as well as being offered on
Plymouth that year. In the post war years it was only offered on
Dodge through 1948. In the years 1941-1948 it was not a big seller,
likely due to its premium price over the standard six-windowed
sedan. It is my belief that the 1941 Crown Imperial Town Sedan was a
unique 
and ultimate automobile to have. It gave the buyer the finest
of Crown Imperial appointments on the C-30 (New Yorker/Saratoga)
chassis. This combination created a terrific driving and handling
luxury automobile on the 127-1/2" wheelbase, rather than the more
cumbersome 145-1/2" wheelbase of the C-33 Crown Imperial. In
addition, I consider the 1941 Chrysler Imperial line to be a superb—almost
timeless—style that Ray Dietrich had a big hand in designing.
Alas, this was the last year for Chrysler that Ray did any
design work
for, since he was dismissed by K. T. Keller in 1940 after Walter P.'s
death that year. Chrysler's motive for the Imperial Town Sedan this
year was likely to offer their luxury clientele something competitive
with, and in many way superior to, the Packard Clipper and Cadillac 60
Special models.
The 1941 Crown Imperial line
offered many standard appointments including 4-speed Vacamatic 
transmission, power windows, marshall upholstery individually wrapped
springs, carpeting in front and rear compartments, rear compartment assist
straps, safety step lights, rear compartment reading light, butler finish
interior hardware, and handbrake warning light. Optional
appointments included running boards, fender skirts, division window, and
air conditioning which was supplied by Bishop and Babcock. Interiors
were opulent and offered in many selections, such as solid or two-toned
broadcloth, striped broadcloth,
pinstriped broadcloth, or shadow stripe
broadcloth.
Crown Imperial Town Sedans are
not easy to find. Only a handful are listed in the various
directories of this type of auto. For years I had never seen one
except in pictures. Then in the May, 1991 Hemmings one appeared for
sale. It was in Connecticut and I was living in California at the
time. After a friend who lived back East checked it out for me, I
purchased it sight unseen. That is the only time I have ever done
that. But geography and my inability to get away from work at the
time made it necessary if I was to own this Imperial.
Later when I could get to
Connecticut to retrieve my treasure, I was delighted to find the car as
good as or better than represented. It was a very nice 43,000 mile
mostly original car that the seller had owned since the 1970's. It
was black, with the blue and gray interior, and the optional running
boards. It drove well and all options worked fine—even the power
windows. A friend, Bill Lauer, and I drove it back to California
(3785 miles) without incident. Once home, it enjoyed a thorough
detailing and participated in a number of California Imperial and WPC Club
events.
When I relocated to Durango,
Colorado to open the Grand Motor Car and Piano Collection with Bill Lauer,
it was driven the 775 miles to its new home, as were all but the two
oldest cars in the collection. Once in Durango, it has participated
in a number of local events including one Fall Classic Car Club tour to
Taos-Red River, New Mexico, where we ended up returning home in a major
snowstorm! Many thanks to Chrysler for offering the twin heating
system, which kept us comfortable, and the windows clear.
The 323.5 cubic inch straight
eight is a superb engine with plenty of torque for the mountain grades in
this part of Colorado, while the 3.29 differential ratio is low enough for
easy highway cruising. The steering is quite easy on this car, and
somewhat lighter than the 1948 New Yorker or 1950 Town & Country that
are in the museum. Of course the K. T. Keller "chair high
seating" is really appreciated on longer drives.
From time to time I get offers
to buy this car, which are politely refused. If I was ever to liquidate
the collection, the 1941 Imperial would be one of the last to go.
Museum visitors are continually amazed that a 1941 model automobile could
offer an automatic transmission, power window lifts, or air conditioning.
As I tell the visitors, "there is hardly any such thing as a new
idea - only old ones warmed over!"
