1933 Chrysler Imperial CL Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron
- Engine
- 385 cid flathead L-head straight-eight, 125 bhp at 3,200 rpm, Stromberg two-barrel carburetor
A 1933 Chrysler Imperial Model CL Dual Cowl Phaeton with LeBaron coachwork transferred from a 1931 Imperial CG — an unusual and documented body-swap commission carried out by Simons-Stewart Company in New York at the instruction of cereal heiress and socialite Marjorie Merryweather Post, one of the wealthiest Americans of her era. Post originally owned the 1931 car and had its body remounted on the newer CL chassis at considerable expense. The car passed through several subsequent owners, including Bruce R. Thomas who undertook a comprehensive rebuild, and is now offered from the estate of Howard Fafard.
Ownership
- 2023-03-02Auction saleEstimate US$375,000 – US$450,000
- 1933 →Factory deliveryMarjorie Merryweather Postpartial documentation
Post had the LeBaron dual cowl phaeton body transferred from her 1931 Imperial CG to this 1933 CL chassis, work carried out by Simons-Stewart Company in New York at a cost of approximately $6,000. She retained the car for a number of years before eventually gifting it.
- 1956 →Private saleBruce R. Thomaspartial documentation
A Chrysler enthusiast who purchased the car from the Army Officer and undertook a thorough mechanical and cosmetic rebuild, then used and toured with the vehicle extensively.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownEleanor Davies Tydingspartial documentation
Received the car as a gift from Post; the vehicle was observed sitting idle on her driveway before passing to the next owner.
- Date unknownPrivate saleArmy Officerpartial documentation
Noticed the car unused at Tydings' home and acquired it, subsequently using it as everyday transportation for roughly a decade.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownHoward Fafard Estatepartial documentation
The car is offered from this estate; no details of acquisition date or circumstances are provided in the prose.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1933ModificationSimons-Stewart Company
Coachwork from Post's 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton was transferred to the new 1933 CL chassis by Simons-Stewart Company Inc. in New York, the authorised Chrysler agent; the project reportedly cost $6,000.
The body transfer is confirmed by correspondence from Post's office dating to the 1950s.
- —Restoration
A thorough and comprehensive rebuild of the entire car was carried out under the ownership of Bruce R. Thomas following his acquisition in 1956.
Thomas recounted the details of this work directly to Bonhams.
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