Chrysler historian Joe Morgan has traced and documented the known ownership histories of the surviving original 1931 CG Imperial Dual-Cowl Phaetons, examples of which are among the most desirable and best-engineered Full Classics. He notes that the car offered here, serial number 7802580, was acquired during the early 1950s by Joe Fisher of Media, Pennsylvania, an early enthusiast and connoisseur of Classic Era Imperials, who performed the original restoration.

Mr. Fisher retained the car until his death in 1982, at which point it was sold to the well-known Canadian collector, Terry Radey. In Mr. Radey’s hands, a fresh restoration was undertaken by the late Bud Hicks of Marshall, Michigan. For decades Mr. Hicks was considered one of the Midwest’s foremost professional restorers, winning numerous honors in both CCCA and national concours competition worldwide. In a 2017 telephone conversation with RM Sotheby’s Research and Editorial team, Mr. Hicks recounted that the Chrysler as-received was a solid, complete older restoration, with good body wood and strong, largely rust-free original sheet metal, none of which had to be replaced in the course of the fresh body-off, ground-up restoration. The car was finished in “Hicks Yellow,” the unusual and attractive hue regularly used on the craftsman’s personal cars, with an interior in rich Forest Green leather. At its completion the restoration was awarded a Classic Car Club of America National First Prize. Mr. Hicks considered the Chrysler one of the finest restorations that he completed in his long career.

That the car was so well-done is spoken for by the fact that its finishes remain largely well-preserved to this day, mellowed from occasional use but still highly attractive. Mr. Morgan thought well enough of it that he eventually purchased it for his own personal collection, and he enjoyed it enough that he would own it twice over the intervening years! After over a decade in another private collection, it joined the present owner’s wonderful stable in the Pacific Northwest in the early 21st Century, and has enjoyed good care since.

A beautiful example of what is arguably one of the most beautifully proportioned and sweet-running of all Full Classics, this Chrysler is due for a fresh round of show appearances or, given the model’s famous drivability, enjoyment on CARavans and tours. It is a lasting tribute to superb engineering and enduring quality, both in its design and its restoration.