1932 Chrysler Imperial CH & CL Specifications, Equipment and Options

Imperial Home Page -> Imperials by Year -> 1932 -> Specifications

                                        HISTORICAL NOTES:                                          

 

The second series Chryslers were introduced in January, 1932.  Innovations for Chrysler this year included freewheeling, automatic vacuum clutch, silent gear transmission, vacuum powered brakes, new frame construction and "Floating Power" which consisted of flexible engine mounts.

 

The Chrysler powered "George Howie Special" qualified for the Indianapolis 500, but was bumped from the race before it began.

 

Two "Trifon Special" prototypes for the Chrysler Airflow are produced, based on Carl Breer's

 

 

STANDARD EQUIPMENT   ENGINE -  Inline, L- head Eight.  Cast Iron Block Bore & Stroke : 3.5 inches x 5 inches.  Displacement : 384.84 cubic inches C. R.: 5.2:1 Brake Horsepower : 125 @ 3200 rpm N.A.C.C. Horsepower : 39.2 Main Bearings : Nine Solid Valve Lifters Carburetor - Stromberg Model DD-3   CHASSIS -  Wheelbase : CH - 135-inches CL - 146-inches Gas Tank : 21.5 gallons Tires : CH - 17 x 7.00 CL - 17 x 7.50   TRANSMISSION - "Multi-Range" 4-speed manual transmission.  Speeds : 4F/ 1R.  Floor shift controls.  Conventional clutch.  Shaft drive.  Overall gear ratio is 4.1:1   FOUR WHEEL HYDRAULIC BRAKES   WIRE WHEELS     OPTIONS: Rear fender guards Spare Tire Sidemounted spare tire(s) Leather sidemounted covers Metal sidemount covers Chrome plated sidemount covers OSRV mirror Pedestal sidemount mirror(s) with sidemounts Jumbo style Goodyear "Air Wheel" tires Trunk rack Touring trunk Leather rear tire cover Cigar lighter Radio Radio antenna Wind wings Heater Clock Spotlight(s) Trippe lights Rear windshield (Phaetons) Automatic vacuum operated clutch Silent gear selector Custom bodied Imperials	"Floating Power" is introduced.  In this new system, a leaf spring below the transmission and rubber bearings separate the engine vibrations from the chassis.  Chrysler researchers also develop "Oilite", a revolutionary new kind of large-pore metal material for leaf springs and joints. Oilite is able to absorb 30 percent of its own weight in oil in its pores, release additional greasing volume under pressure and reabsorb it when the pressure declines again.
	Chrysler introduces vacuum power brakes.
	All Chrysler Corporation cars switch to double-drop, bridge-type frames with X-bracing which allowed for lower rooflines.
	Harold Hicks, designer of the Ford Model A's engine, joined Chrysler's research team and A. B. "Buzz" Grisinger joined the design staff at Highland Park.