Jul 15

1940 Chrysler Imperial Crown Limousine with Divider

Steve Snyder is selling this and it is only $5,500. What a great car. Am I insane for wanting this?

1940 Chrysler Imperial Crown Limousine. Divider window. Very, Very rare. 8 Cylinder, partially completed project. Includes any and all 40 Chrysler parts that are near the car, as well as a Parts car. Clean Title on the Green project car. Full CCCA Classic Car Club of America Classic! Worthy of being restored!

Contact Info
Vault Classic Cars 714-401-1047 steve@vaultcars.com

1 / 5

Jul 15, 2026

Reply to BillSmith…

Replies (14)

· Jul 15

Bill, I love the car! I was gonna post it also. Seems like a free car. I’m sure it must need a lot of work. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person so they could not have made very many. I may ask steve for more photos.

@StillOutThere should comment on this car. It’s right in his wheelhouse.

· Jul 17

Okay, will. Agree w/ Bill Smith it was very likely done in house at Chrysler. Derham would have been under contract for any custom body work and would certainly have put their badges on if it were theirs. At some point if it is necessary to get in behind the headliner in the rear quarters of the roof, the methodology will be revealed.

· Jul 15

There are no photos of these cars to be found on the internet. The only one I found was on the imperial website. Might even be this car. They mention that the blind rear quarter was a special option and the modification was done in house.

· Jul 16

There are almost zero references in the newspaper archive also. I just found this one.

· Jul 16

231 inches long. That’s one big mother.

· Jul 16

Yeah, no mention of wheelbase but it has to be way up there, 150" plus.

· Jul 17

My research shows 145.5" wheelbase.

· Jul 16

Looks like an opportunity to buy an unusual and attractive body style yet retain reliable and inexpensive Mopar mechanicals.

I have not seen one of these before but the blind quarter really enhances the body style. Being a divider car though, make sure driver's compartment isn't too tight for you. Go for it!

· Jul 16

Divider car can always be an issue. When I was at @TomLaferriere's ice cream social I sat in the 42 Roadmaster Limo. Really cool car but a divider. I think I would be ok in it but it is on the cramped side.

· Jul 16

How big is too big to drive a car with a chauffer's compartment?

· Jul 16

Depends. If you are too tall or fat you are not gonna fit. I'm around 6' 205 and it can be tight for me but usually not miserable. This RR is a divider in that it has a fixed from seat. Tom is around my height but he's probably 195 here. You can see how tight it is. This car we were able to get a bunch of stuffing out of the seat and fee up 2" inches which made a big difference.

· Jul 16

Along related lines I finaly got the seat adjustment working on the 40 Packard which seemed to far back for Tom, Henry or anyone I know who may have driven the car since it came to CT. I could drive it but up a little bit helps a lot. Mary can actually drive it as I have full range of seat adjustment now. So many little fixes...

I hear guys complain about fitting in A roadsters and pick ups a lot. Especially 28-29s. Has not been my experience but much over 6' could be an issue. So much so Brookfield, the metal body reproducer of a few early Ford bodies offers the 30-31 RPU in a slightly extended cab. Authentic, no but you do see a few of them out there.

· Jul 16

Cars that have had the seats done are many times overstuffed and you can pick up some valuable inches by taking the padding out. Some cars there are no hope for.

· Jul 17

Totally depends on the individual car year make model, coachbuilder.   The brochure for my 1960 Imperial 8 pass divider window limo by Ghia did state a "suggestion" (as I recall) that "the chauffeur should be 5' 10" or less".   Driving it at my 6' 2" was doable but not pleasurable.
On the other hand, my 1956  Imperial 8 pass divider window limo by Derham must have had a minimum of three or four more inches in it and was a pleasure to drive.
Both cars sold.   Currently have a 1955 Crown Imperial 6 pass Formal Sedan with divider by Derham.  Have not had it running to drive but to sit in it, the comfort dimension seems similar to the '56 Derham.