The 1951 Chrysler Imperial Gave Us Two Car Features We Now Can't Live Without

It's easy to forget that things like power windows and power steering weren't always standard equipment. Today, even the most affordable car in America, the Hyundai Venue, comes with them. But back in 1951, these features were groundbreaking. That year, Chrysler introduced them on a mass scale for the first time with its top-of-the-line Imperial model.

And while the car itself is a stunning piece of automotive history, its real legacy lies in those two everyday conveniences we now take for granted.

The 1951 Chrysler Imperial wasn't just a pretty face. It was the first production car to offer fully electric windows and a traditional power steering system. Prior to that, automated windows existed but used hydraulic fluid or mechanical springs. Chrysler's system was all-electric, a simpler and more reliable approach.

The same car also debuted the legendary Hemi V8 engine, a 331 cubic-inch powerhouse that produced 180 horsepower and 312 lb-ft of torque. This engine, originally designed for fighter planes, gave the Imperial a top speed of 107 mph. It was a technological marvel, even if its valvetrain was finicky and it weighed nearly 4,400 pounds.

The Imperial nameplate itself has a rich history. Launched in 1926, it was Chrysler's answer to Cadillac and Lincoln. Over the decades, it racked up a list of firsts: disc brakes in 1949, electric windows and power steering in 1951, and the world's first production anti-lock braking system in 1971.

Chrysler even spun the Imperial off into its own brand from 1955 to 1983, though most people still called them Chrysler Imperials. The name finally retired in 1994 after a near-70-year run. For a car that started as a luxury gamble, the Imperial left a lasting mark on every vehicle that followed.