View source for Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton

{{Infobox automobile
| name = Imperial Parade Phaeton
| image = 1956 Imperial Parade Phaeton - Dwight Eisenhower car - fvl.jpg
| caption = The "Detroit" Parade Phaeton, now owned by the [[Petersen Automotive Museum]]
| type = Limited edition parade vehicle
| manufacturer = Chrysler
| engine = {{convert|331|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} [[Chrysler FirePower engine|Hemi]] [[V8 engine|V8]]
| transmission = 2-speed [[PowerFlite]] [[Automatic transmission|automatic]]
| production = 1952
| wheelbase = {{convert|147.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=CAVANAUGH |first1=J.P. |title=Automotive History: The Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaetons – The Royal Treatment |url=https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-the-chrysler-imperial-parade-phaetons-the-royal-treatment/ |website=curbside classic |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref><ref>"Advertisement: Styling and Influences your Chrysler-Built Car." LIFE 33:29 (10 November 1952), 2.</ref>
| length = {{convert|240|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
}}Three '''Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaetons''' were produced in 1952 by [[Chrysler (division)|Chrysler]] as ceremonial vehicles. They were styled by [[Virgil Exner]] and were in many ways a preview of the new "100 Million Dollar" styling that would debut in 1955 on the newly separate [[Imperial (automobile)|Imperial]] marque and on other full-size Chrysler Corporation Cars. The "Imperial Parade Phaeton" moniker came along only later; when first publicized, Chrysler named the car the "Chrysler Phaeton."<ref>"Advertisement: Styling and Influences your Chrysler-Built Car." LIFE 33:29 (10 November 1952), 2.</ref>

== Details ==

The cars were based on stretched (to 147.5 in) 1952 [[Chrysler Imperial#1949–1954|Imperial Crown Limousine]] chassis and carried completely custom bodywork with the exception of the 1951 Imperial grille, bumpers and front and rear trim. Almost uniquely for a postwar car, they were dual-cowl [[Phaeton body|phaeton]]s, with separate front and rear passenger compartments, each with its own [[windshield]]. There were no side windows, and a lightweight [[Dacron]] convertible top covered only the rear compartment during inclement weather, and was manually retracted beneath the rear-hinged deck lid when not in use. The rear doors were [[suicide door]]s and had no exterior handles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Strohl |first=Daniel |title=SIA Flashback – Imperial Parade Phaeton |url= https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/25/sia-flashback-imperial-parade-phaeton/ |website=www.hemmings.com  |date=25 January 2009 |accessdate=7 May 2019}}</ref> In 1940, Chrysler built six limited production cars with the same approach to uniqueness called the [[Chrysler Newport#1940s|Chrysler Newport Phaeton]] also using an Imperial chassis.

Under the custom bodywork, the mechanicals were standard top-of-the-line Chrysler for the period, with a [[Chrysler FirePower engine#331|331 cubic inch (5.42 L) FirePower]] [[V8 engine]], [[torque converter]] transmission, and [[power steering]].

Three cars were built. One was for [[New York City]], the second for [[Los Angeles]], and the third was intended to be a gift to the [[White House]], but the gift was refused as against the then rules for receiving gifts. Instead, the third car was nominally based in [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] and was used around the country. The cars continued to be owned and serviced by the Chrysler Corporation.

After three years of service, the cars were brought back to the factory in 1955 to be updated to 1956 Imperial appearance, in which form they continue to exist to the present day. The front and rear, including grilles, bumpers and trim, were replaced. Internally, the engines were updated with 4-barrel [[carburetor]]s, and fully automatic [[Powerflite]] transmissions were installed. The cars were all repainted. After the rebuild, the cars were donated to the respective cities.

A revival was introduced by Chrysler as a [[concept car]], called the [[Chrysler Phaeton]] in 1997.

== New York car ==
[[File:Apollo 11 Parade.jpg|thumb|The [[Apollo 11]] astronauts ride in New York's Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton in a [[ticker-tape parade]] ]]
The New York car was originally painted in black with a grey interior. In the 1955 rebuild, it was repainted off-white with a red interior. It must have been repainted in black again before the August 11, 1969 parade with the [[Apollo 11]] astronauts as evidenced in the photo. The car remains in the possession of the City of New York, and was rebuilt in the early 1980s. At this time, it was repainted in black again, but retained the red interior.

The Phaeton is still occasionally used for official functions, parades and ceremonies. It has carried many dignitaries, celebrities, and notables over the years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hu |first=Winnie |title=Your Ride Has Arrived for the Ticker-Tape Parade |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/nyregion/parade-car-chrysler-phaeton.html |work=The New York Times |date=30 July 2018 |accessdate=7 May 2019 }}</ref>

== Los Angeles car ==
The Los Angeles car was painted cream with a red interior, and was first used in the 1 January 1953 [[Tournament of Roses]] Parade, "carrying Vice-President and Mrs. Richard Nixon"<ref>"Chrysler Phaeton Will Star in Auto Show March 13-22." Oakland Tribune, 26 February 1953, 34.</ref> and their daughters. The upholstery was dyed to match the hybrid rose recently produced in Los Angeles, [[Rosa 'Chrysler Imperial']]. One float in that 1953 parade--"Moonlight and Roses"--was sponsored by Chrysler and by the Southern California Floral Association, and it featured 53,000 blooms from the new rose variety.<ref>"53,000 Chrysler Imperial Roses Adorn Parade Float." Pasadena Independent, 28 December 1952, 60.</ref>

Publicity surrounding the car's debut in Los Angeles included more details of its construction: "45 inches from ground to cowl center, and 57 inches to the top of its front windshield....two-spoke steering wheel with an automatic clock in its hub...a separate spare-tire compartment reached through a door behind the rear bumper; a panel in the partition between front and rear seats containing a clock, two ash receivers and two cigar lighters, and two other complete smoking sets built into the rear doors."<ref>"Chrysler Phaeton To Carry Marshal In Pasadena's Annual Rose Parade." The Register (Santa Anna, CA), 28 December 1952, D4.</ref>  
[[file:LA Mayor Karen Bass at the 2025 Nisei Week Parade.jpg|thumb|left|Mayor Karen Bass at a parade in the Los Angeles car in 2025]]
On 13-22 March 1953 the Phaeton was exhibited at the Greater Eastbay Auto Show in [[Oakland]]. It was subsequently used up and down the West Coast. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and family rode it in the Star of Bethlehem parade in Van Nuys on 5 December 1953.<ref>"Grand Marshal's Car." The Valley Times, 8 December 1953, 8.</ref> When updated in 1955, the vehicle was repainted metallic silver-blue with an off-white interior. It is seen in that form in the [[Li'l Abner (1959 film)|1959 film]] of the Broadway musical [[Li'l Abner (musical)|''Li'l Abner'']], transporting the "General Bullmoose" character. It was later restored and repainted white, retaining its off-white interior. The interior was more recently replaced in red leather. It is still in the possession of the City of [[Los Angeles]] and takes part in official parades and celebrations. Its use in other Hollywood films includes 1953’s [[How to Marry a Millionaire]] transporting [[Lauren Bacall]], [[Victor Mature]]'s limousine in 1959’s [[The Big Circus]], the 1960 [[Jerry Lewis]] film [[Cinderfella]], and 1962’s [[Sweet Bird of Youth (1962 film)|Sweet Bird of Youth]]. A more recent appearance was in the 1987 Charles Bronson film [[Assassination (1987 film)|''Assassination'']].

== Detroit car ==
[[File:1956 Imperial Parade Phaeton - Dwight Eisenhower car - rvr.jpg|thumb|The Detroit car from the rear]]
The Detroit car was originally painted in a metallic green with a natural pigskin interior, and was used in events around the country. It was repainted in desert sand with a red interior in its 1955 rebuild. This Phaeton was sold and ended up in private hands, becoming part of Paul Stern's collection for some time before being sold to the [[Imperial Palace (hotel and casino)|Imperial Palace]] collection in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] where it was displayed for many years. In 2001, with the mass of the Imperial Palace collection being broken up, it was sold to Robert Petersen and is now on display at the [[Petersen Automotive Museum]] in Los Angeles. The car is currently in white with a red interior.

In 1954, Chrysler shipped the car (by truck) to Florida for the opening of the [[Sunshine Skyway Bridge]] spanning Lower Tampa Bay; Chrysler's publicity gave the vehicle's production cost as $72,000.<ref>"Everyone Crossed Over the Bridge." Tampa Bay Times,  7 September 1954, 2.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.imperialclub.com/Rare/Phaetons/1950s/ ImperialClub.com on the cars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717020717/http://www.imperialclub.com/Rare/Phaetons/1950s/ |date=2012-07-17 }}
* [http://www.imperialclub.com/Rare/Phaetons/1950s/NewYork/ Pictures of the New York car as it is today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515134258/http://www.imperialclub.com/Rare/Phaetons/1950s/NewYork/ |date=2016-05-15 }}
* [http://www.imperialclub.com/Rare/Phaetons/1950s/LosAngeles/ Pictures of the Los Angeles car as it is today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709151120/http://www.imperialclub.com/Rare/Phaetons/1950s/LosAngeles/ |date=2016-07-09 }}
* [http://teamchicago.com/imperial/images/PPP1.jpg Picture of the Detroit car as it is today in the Petersen Museum]
* {{YouTube| id= 6MIlgnvblM8 | title= "Los Angeles car on Jay Leno's Garage" }}

{{Chrysler}}
[[Category:Chrysler vehicles|Imperial Parade Phaeton]]