This nameplate began in 1926 as Chrysler’s flagship luxury car, positioned above the rest of the line as the company’s most prestigious and technically advanced offering. In its earliest years, it served as a showcase for Chrysler engineering and styling, with the Imperial badge appearing on some of the brand’s most ambitious prewar and immediate postwar models. The name quickly became associated with top-tier American luxury and was used on cars intended to compete with the era’s most exclusive makes.
A major turning point came in 1955, when Imperial was separated into its own luxury marque rather than remaining just another Chrysler model. That move established Imperial as Chrysler Corporation’s dedicated answer to Cadillac and Lincoln, and the brand developed its own identity through distinctive styling, premium appointments, and a long run of advanced features. Imperial remained a standalone marque through the mid-1970s, then disappeared from the market after a brief revival in the early 1980s.
The name returned again for the 1990 through 1993 model years as the Chrysler Imperial, a modern full-size luxury sedan aimed at buyers who wanted a traditional American flagship. Because the Imperial nameplate appeared in more than one distinct production era, its history is best understood as a series of separate chapters rather than one uninterrupted run. It is remembered today as one of the most important luxury nameplates in Chrysler history and as a recurring symbol of the company’s attempt to reach the top tier of the American market.