The Chrysler Imperial E80 was introduced as part of Chrysler's push into the American luxury-car market, placing the young company in direct competition with established names such as Cadillac, Lincoln and Packard.

Launched in 1926, the Imperial became Chrysler's prestige model, combining refined engineering, strong performance and more luxurious appointments than the company's mainstream cars.

Chrysler Enters the Luxury Market

Walter P. Chrysler had established the Chrysler marque only a few years earlier, but the company expanded rapidly.

The Imperial was created to give Chrysler a credible flagship model capable of competing with America's leading luxury manufacturers. It offered larger engines, more substantial chassis construction and higher levels of equipment than standard Chrysler models.

The result was a car intended not only to be comfortable and prestigious, but also genuinely fast.

The Meaning of E80

The E80 designation was closely associated with the Imperial's performance.

The “80” referred to Chrysler's claim that the car was capable of reaching around 80 mph, an impressive figure for a large luxury automobile of the mid-1920s.

At a time when many cars were still relatively slow, this level of performance helped distinguish the Imperial from more conservative luxury competitors.

A Large Straight-Six

Power came from a 288.6 cubic inch, approximately 4.7-litre, inline six-cylinder engine.

Producing around 92 bhp at 3,000 rpm, the engine gave the Imperial strong performance while retaining the smoothness expected from a prestige car.

The engine used seven main bearings and pressure lubrication, both features that contributed to durability and refinement.

Power was delivered through a three-speed manual gearbox.

The Roadster Body

The Roadster was one of the sportier body styles offered on the Imperial chassis.

Its open two-seat layout gave the car a more sporting appearance than the larger sedans and touring cars in the range. Some examples were also fitted with a rear rumble seat, allowing occasional additional passengers to be carried outside the main passenger compartment.

This combination of luxury chassis and open bodywork gave the Imperial Roadster a distinctive character, blending prestige with a more youthful and sporting image.

Built for Speed and Status

The Imperial's appeal came from the way it combined size, comfort and performance.

Large American luxury cars of the period were often judged as much by smoothness and prestige as by speed, but Chrysler deliberately gave the Imperial a more performance-oriented reputation.

The E80's ability to approach 80 mph helped support the idea that a luxury car did not have to be slow or conservative.

A Rapidly Growing Company

The Imperial appeared during a period of dramatic growth for Chrysler.

Within only a few years of entering the market, Chrysler had moved from being a new manufacturer to one of America's major automotive companies.

The success of cars such as the Imperial helped establish the company across multiple market segments, from mainstream family cars to more expensive prestige models.

Production

For 1927, total Chrysler Series 80 production was approximately 48,254 cars across the full range of available body styles.

The number of Roadsters within that total was much smaller, but exact surviving production figures for the individual body style are less consistently recorded.

Using the total Series 80 figure gives a better sense of how significant the model line was within Chrysler's rapidly expanding range.

This Car

Built in 1927, this Imperial E80 Roadster represents Chrysler at a particularly ambitious stage in its early history.

Its 4.7-litre straight-six engine, 92 bhp output and claimed 80 mph performance demonstrate how seriously Chrysler approached the luxury market.

Combined with the open Roadster body, the result was a car that offered both prestige and performance, helping establish the Imperial name as Chrysler's flagship for decades to come.