Chrysler Imperial

Chrysler Imperial: which generation changed what

The 7 generation is the only FWD Imperial, the only Sedan with Ventilated disc fronts, the only one with Distributed injection (multi-point), and the only one with a measured kerb weight (1596 kg) and ground clearance (150 mm). The 6 generation is the torque and power peak: 448 Nm and 238 hp. The 3 generation is the only Coupe. Generations 1, 2, 4 and 6 are Cabrio.

The 7 generation is the only FWD Imperial, the only Sedan with Ventilated disc fronts, the only one with Distributed injection (multi-point), and the only one with a measured kerb weight (1596 kg) and ground clearance (150 mm). The 6 generation is the torque and power peak: 448 Nm and 238 hp. The 3 generation is the only Coupe. Generations 1, 2, 4 and 6 are Cabrio. The 5 generation is the earlier Sedan.

Boost is No wherever it is measured. Cylinders are 6 (1 generation and 7 generation) or 8 (2–6 generation). Layout is Inline until the 6 generation (V-shaped 8) and 7 generation (V-shaped 6). Engine placement is Front, longitudinal on generations 1–6; it is not measured on the 7 generation.

Specs: engines and versions (use these names exactly)

Valves per cylinder are 2 on every version that records them.

Power per litre and what the step-up actually buys

7 generation (1990–1993) Sedan, FWD — pick between 3.3 AT and 3.8 AT. The 3.8 AT has 3 hp more than the 3.3 AT (150 vs 147, +2.0%) and 41 Nm more (289 vs 248, +16.5%). Displacement is 477 cm³ larger (3778 vs 3301, +14.4%). Specific output falls: 39.7 hp/L on the 3.8 AT vs 44.5 hp/L on the 3.3 AT. Kerb weight is identical at 1596 kg, so mass per horsepower is 10.86 kg/hp on the 3.3 AT and 10.64 kg/hp on the 3.8 AT. Compression is 8.9 on the 3.3 AT and not measured on the 3.8 AT. Bore × stroke is 93 × 81 vs 96 × 87. Power rpm is 4800 on the 3.3 AT and not measured on the 3.8 AT. Both use Gasoline 95, Automatic 4, FWD, Independent, spring front, Dependent, spring rear, Ventilated disc / Disc. Tank, wheels, gross weight, 0–100 and mpg are not measured on both.

Buy the 3.3 AT if you want the denser engine (more hp per litre) and a fully specified compression and rpm pair. Buy the 3.8 AT if the 41 Nm step is the point: that is the only large measured gap between the two 7 generation cars. The extra 3 hp alone is not a reason.

6 generation (1949–1954) Cabrio, RWD — two cars both named 5.4 AT. Distinguish them by power. Same 5422 cm³, 8 V-shaped, Carburetor, CR 7.5, 96.8 × 92.1, RWD, Front, longitudinal, tank 75 L, Drum / Drum, Independent, spring front, rear suspension not measured. The 5.4 AT (238 hp) makes 55 hp more than the 5.4 AT (183 hp) (+30.1%) and 25 Nm more (448 vs 423, +5.9%). Specific output is 43.9 hp/L vs 33.8 hp/L. The 238 hp car uses Automatic 2; the 183 hp car uses Automatic 4. Peak power arrives at 4400 vs 4000 rpm; peak torque at 2600 vs 2000 rpm.

Buy the 5.4 AT (238 hp) if this generation’s job is maximum hp and Nm in the whole Imperial catalogue. Buy the 5.4 AT (183 hp) if you want 4 automatic gears instead of 2 and will trade 55 hp for that. Kerb weight is not measured on either, so kg/hp cannot be compared here.

5 generation (1940–1948) Sedan — three 5.3 MT versions. All three share 5302 cm³, 8 Inline, Carburetor, 82.6 × 123.8, Manual 4, RWD, tank 76 L, Dependent, leaf spring front, rear suspension not measured, Drum / Drum. The 5.3 MT (145 hp) is 8 hp above the 5.3 MT (137 hp) (+5.8%) and 6 hp above the 5.3 MT (139 hp). Torque is 366 Nm vs 353 Nm on the 139 hp car (+13 Nm, +3.7%); torque on the 137 hp car is not measured. Compression is 7.5 on the 145 hp car, 6.7 on the 137 hp car, not measured on the 139 hp car. Specific output: 27.3 / 26.2 / 25.8 hp/L.

Buy the 5.3 MT (145 hp) inside this generation: it is the strongest 5 generation car and the only one with both 366 Nm and CR 7.5. The 5.3 MT (139 hp) is the middle if you need a measured torque figure but not the 7.5 compression. The 5.3 MT (137 hp) is the weakest 5 generation row.

4 generation (1937–1939) Cabrio — seven rows, four names repeated. Two displacements: 4487 cm³ (4.5 MT) and 5301 cm³ (5.3 MT). The 5.3 step is +814 cm³ (+18.1%) over 4.5.

• 4.5 MT (112 hp) vs 4.5 MT (117 hp): +5 hp (+4.5%), +10 Nm (298 vs 288, +3.5%), compression 7.4 vs 6.7. Same 3-speed Manual, RWD. Specific output 26.1 vs 25.0 hp/L. The 117 hp 4.5 MT is the one to take if you stay at 4.5 litres.
• 5.3 MT (140 hp) vs 4.5 MT (117 hp): +23 hp (+19.7%), +61 Nm (359 vs 298, +20.5%). That is the real step-up inside 4 generation, not the 5 hp 4.5-to-4.5 bump.
• 5.3 MT (132 hp) is the odd one: 132 hp, torque not measured, Manual 5 (the only 5-speed Imperial in the data), tank 76 L. Specific output 24.9 hp/L — the lowest of the 4 generation 5.3 cars.
• Tank split: some 4.5 MT and 5.3 MT (140 hp) rows are 61 L, others 76 L (+15 L, +24.6%). Same power, same gearbox on the 61 L vs 76 L twins of 4.5 MT (112 hp), 4.5 MT (117 hp) and 5.3 MT (140 hp). If range is the criterion and consumption is not measured, the 76 L twin is the arithmetic choice.

Buy the 5.3 MT (140 hp, 76 L) if you want 4 generation’s peak 140 hp / 359 Nm and the larger tank. Buy the 5.3 MT (132 hp) only for the 5-speed Manual. Buy a 4.5 MT (117 hp, 76 L) if you want the smaller engine with the higher 7.4 compression and the larger tank.

3 generation (1934–1936) Coupe — one version. The 5.3 MT (125 hp) is the only 3 generation car: 125 hp @ 3400, 5302 cm³, 8 Inline, Manual 4, RWD, tank 80 L (largest measured tank in the catalogue), Dependent, leaf spring front, Drum / Drum. Specific output 23.6 hp/L. Torque, compression, kerb weight, clearance, wheels, 0–100 and mpg are not measured. Choose this generation only for the Coupe body; it is not the power or efficiency peak.

2 generation (1931–1933) Cabrio — one version. The 6.3 MT is the largest engine in the data: 6306 cm³, 127 hp @ 3200, 8 Inline, Manual 3, RWD. Specific output 20.1 hp/L — near the bottom of the line. Tank, torque, compression, kerb weight, wheels and performance are not measured. Buy it for displacement, not for hp/L.

1 generation (1926–1930) Cabrio — 4.7 MT and two 5.1 MT cars. Fuel is Gasoline 76 on all three (the only generation with a stated grade besides 7 generation’s 95). Boost, torque, compression, bore × stroke, tank, kerb weight, clearance, wheels, rear brakes and performance are not measured.

• 4.7 MT: 92 hp, 4729 cm³, 6 Inline, Manual 3 → 19.5 hp/L.
• 5.1 MT (100 hp): 100 hp, 5069 cm³, Manual 3 → 19.7 hp/L. That is +8 hp (+8.7%) for +340 cm³ (+7.2%) versus the 4.7 MT.
• 5.1 MT (110 hp): 110 hp, same 5069 cm³, Manual 4 → 21.7 hp/L. Versus the 100 hp 5.1 MT: +10 hp (+10%) and one extra gear, same displacement.

Buy the 5.1 MT (110 hp) inside 1 generation: highest hp, highest hp/L, and the only 4-speed. The 4.7 MT is the smallest and weakest Imperial in the whole file.

Performance, mpg, reliability — what is measured

0–100 km/h is not measured on any version. Top speed is not measured on any version. City, highway and combined consumption are not measured on any version. CO2 and eco class are not measured on any version. There are no reliability or problem counts in the data, so this article does not invent them.

What you can rank without those figures:

• Most hp: 6 generation 5.4 AT (238 hp).
• Most Nm: same 5.4 AT (238 hp), 448 Nm.
• Most hp/L: 7 generation 3.3 AT, 44.5 hp/L.
• Least hp/L among measured engines: 1 generation 4.7 MT, 19.5 hp/L.
• Only weight-based ranking: 7 generation 3.8 AT at 10.64 kg/hp, then 3.3 AT at 10.86 kg/hp. Every other generation: kerb weight not measured.
• Only clearance: 150 mm on both 7 generation cars; all others not measured.
• Largest tank: 3 generation 5.3 MT, 80 L. Next: 5 generation and some 4 generation rows at 76 L. 6 generation 75 L. Smallest measured: 4 generation 61 L twins. 1 and 2 generation tanks not measured. 7 generation tank not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel sizes are not measured on every version. Gross weight is not measured on every version.

The only kerb weight is 1596 kg (7 generation 3.3 AT and 3.8 AT). The only ground clearance is 150 mm on those two. Front suspension moves from Dependent, leaf spring (1, 2, 3, 5 generation) to Independent, leaf spring (4 generation) to Independent, spring (6 and 7 generation). Rear suspension is measured only on the 7 generation: Dependent, spring. Front brakes become Ventilated disc only on the 7 generation; earlier measured fronts are Drum. Rear brakes are Disc on the 7 generation, Drum on generations 2–6, and not measured on the 1 generation.

Which version to choose

Daily 1990s sedan, FWD, injection, disc brakes, known weight: 7 generation 3.8 AT if torque is the split (289 Nm vs 248 Nm); 3.3 AT if you want 44.5 hp/L, CR 8.9, and 147 hp @ 4800. Both weigh 1596 kg and sit at 150 mm. Fuel 95.

Maximum power and torque in the catalogue: 6 generation 5.4 AT (238 hp) — 238 hp, 448 Nm, 5422 cm³, Cabrio, RWD. Accept Automatic 2 and Drum brakes. If you want 4 automatic gears in that generation, take 5.4 AT (183 hp) and give up 55 hp.

Post-war sedan, Manual, RWD: 5 generation 5.3 MT (145 hp) — 145 hp, 366 Nm, CR 7.5, tank 76 L.

Pre-war Cabrio with a measured torque step: 4 generation 5.3 MT (140 hp, 76 L) — 140 hp, 359 Nm, tank 76 L. Take 5.3 MT (132 hp) only for the 5-speed. Stay on 4.5 MT (117 hp, 76 L) if 4487 cm³ and CR 7.4 are enough.

Only Coupe: 3 generation 5.3 MT (125 hp), tank 80 L.

Largest engine: 2 generation 6.3 MT, 6306 cm³, 127 hp, 20.1 hp/L.

Earliest Cabrio, 76-grade Gasoline: 1 generation 5.1 MT (110 hp) over 5.1 MT (100 hp) and 4.7 MT — 110 hp and 4 gears vs 92 hp / 100 hp and 3 gears.

There is no single “best” Imperial in the file: the 7 generation wins measured chassis data and specific output; the 6 generation 5.4 AT (238 hp) wins absolute hp and Nm; the 4 generation 5.3 MT (132 hp) is the only 5-speed; the 3 generation is the only Coupe. Pick the column you actually need — hp, Nm, hp/L, gears, tank litres, FWD vs RWD, Sedan vs Cabrio vs Coupe — and the table above already names the version exactly as the catalogue stores it.