1931 Chrysler Imperial Dual-Cowl Phaeton
- Engine
- 6.3L (384.8 cu in) L-head inline-eight, 125 bhp, with four-speed manual and overdrive
- Colour
- 'Hicks Yellow' (a distinctive pale yellow) with forest green leather interior
A 1931 Chrysler Imperial Dual-Cowl Phaeton, one of only ten known survivors from a production run of 85 units, bodied by LeBaron on a 145-inch wheelbase chassis and powered by a 125 bhp straight-eight. Documented by Imperial historian Joseph Morgan, the car received a ground-up restoration by noted Midwestern restorer Bud Hicks, earning a CCCA National First Prize. Morgan himself later acquired the car for his personal collection, owning it on two separate occasions.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$325,000 – US$375,000
- → 1982Acquisition unknownJoe Fisherpartial documentation
Early enthusiast of Classic Era Imperials based in Media, Pennsylvania, who carried out the first restoration of the car. Retained ownership until his passing in 1982.
- 1982 →Private saleTerry Radeypartial documentation
Well-known Canadian collector who purchased the car following Fisher's death and commissioned a full body-off restoration by Bud Hicks of Marshall, Michigan.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJoseph Morganpartial documentation
Imperial historian who acquired the car for his personal collection and owned it on two separate occasions over the intervening years.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJoseph Morganpartial documentation
Second ownership period by the same historian, following an interlude of more than a decade in another private collection.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownUnidentified private collectornone documentation
An unnamed individual who held the car for over a decade between Morgan's two ownership periods.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Acquired the car several years prior to the auction sale; maintained it well as part of a broader collection.
Competition
- —Classic Car Club of America national judgingCCCA National First Prize concoursFirst Prize
Award earned following the ground-up restoration completed by Bud Hicks while the car was in Terry Radey's ownership.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
First restoration of the car, carried out by owner Joe Fisher sometime during or after his acquisition in the 1950s. Scope and extent are not detailed in the prose.
Described as an 'older restoration' that left the car solid and complete with sound body wood and largely rust-free sheet metal.
- —RestorationBud Hicks
Comprehensive body-off, ground-up restoration commissioned by Terry Radey and executed by Bud Hicks of Marshall, Michigan. No original sheet metal required replacement. The car was finished in 'Hicks Yellow' with a forest green leather interior.
Hicks was regarded as one of the foremost professional restorers in the Midwest and considered this one of his finest completed projects. The restoration earned a CCCA National First Prize.
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