Imperial was a brand of high-end luxury cars built by Chrysler, yet marketed as an independent make. Prior to Imperial's introduction as a separate make in 1955, the car's predecessors were sold as the Chrysler Imperial. During its production, the Imperial showcased technology and improvements that would find their way into the Chrysler range. Three main trim levels were available for the majority of the Imperial's life: Custom (base), Crown (intermediate), and LeBaron (top). The Imperial was produced in six generations: 1st Gen (1955-1956), 2nd Gen (1957-1966), 3rd Gen (1967-1968), 4th Gen (1969-1973), 5th Gen (1974-1975), and 6th Gen (1981-1983).