The JBS Collection’s restored, award-winning 1933 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton is the featured vehicle in Episode Five of The Journey
The JBS Collection, in association with LaVine Restorations, Inc. and Eyedart Creative Studio, presents Episode Five of the automotive series, The Journey. In Episode Five, collection owner Jack Boyd Smith Jr. and restoration partner Travis LaVine—of LaVine Restorations—share behind-the-scenes details and backstories regarding their intricate and challenging restoration of Smith Jr.’s rare and award-winning 1933 Chrysler Imperial 8 LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton.
Thoroughly documented over time, the “Imperial 8″—featuring coachwork by LeBaron Carrossiers, and one of fewer than 20 of its kind still in existence—had several different owners before Smith Jr. purchased the vehicle for The JBS Collection, ranked No. 85 among worldwide collections by The Classic Car Trust’s The Key publication. Due to its many owners and array of uses—including time spent as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500 racing event in Indianapolis, Indiana—restoring the LeBaron to its original pristine condition, appearance, and components required an in-depth, well-researched, and highly-technical approach.
Since its restoration, including an update back to its original black color scheme, Smith Jr.’s LeBaron has made waves. The Imperial 8 received the Second in Class Award (Class C: American Classic) at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and in 2023 it picked up Best in Class honors (American Classics 1931-1932) at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Later in 2023, at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Lake Como, Italy, the Chrysler beat the odds when it was named Class Winner of the event’s Class A category (The Fast and The Formal: Pre-War High Speed Luxury).
“Being named a Class Winner at Lake Como in 2023 was a tremendous honor, and to be honest it caught me completely by surprise,” said Smith Jr. “I knew that Travis and his team had done a spectacular job with this restoration. The LeBaron looks exquisite from twenty feet away and as you approach closer it reveals its magnificence a little more with each step—especially when you see the incredible interior coachwork. It’s no small feat to take an American car overseas to a prestigious event like the Villa d’Este Concours and receive a First Prize award. That’s when I started to have a better idea of just how special this LeBaron is. I’m proud to be able to share it with the world, and to share details about its restoration in The Journey.”
In The Journey, Smith Jr. and Travis LaVine—the son of LaVine Restorations founders Eric and Vivian LaVine—discuss their shared passion for restoring and preserving classic, rare, and antique automobiles. The series, while highlighting the importance of preserving automotive works of art for future generations to appreciate, offers unique insight into the relationship between a classic car owner and a restoration partner.
Previous episodes of The Journey detail the duo’s preservation of a 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria with surprising and rare Dietrich Interior (Episode Four); an American-made 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall manufactured in the British automaker’s expansion plant in Springfield, Massachusetts (Episode Three); a 1928 Minerva AF Transformable Town Car featuring Hibbard & Darrin coachwork and powered by Charles Yale Knight’s infamous sleeve valve engine (Episode Two); and a 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich that was once owned by female arctic explorer Louise Arner Boyd (Episode One).
For Travis LaVine—whose family-owned restoration outfit in Nappanee, Indiana is considered one of the best in the world—few projects have brought him as much joy and satisfaction as Smith Jr.’s Imperial 8.
“Considering the award this LeBaron received at Lake Como in 2023, and just the overall reception it got over in Italy, this restoration is definitely one of my greatest professional achievements,” said LaVine. “I’m biased because I’ve been a huge fan of these old Chrysler CL Imperials ever since I can remember. The market does not tend to value these automobiles as much as others, and with this restoration we wanted to dig deep and show just how exquisite—if somewhat unsung—these American cars truly are. This project was a challenge, as we discuss in Episode Five, but working with Jack is always a joy and this one will always be memorable for me.”
LaVine, a Packard panelist and moderator at the 2024 Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum and a rising, young industry expert, also sees The Journey as an opportunity to promote the virtues of a career in restoration.
“I was lucky to grow up around my parents’ shop, and automotive restoration is in my DNA,” said LaVine. “One of the things I love about being a part of The Journey is that—for younger folks who maybe dream about getting into the restoration field—it gives me a chance to spotlight the type of work you can do, and show just how rewarding it can be. I want more younger folks getting into the restoration field. There’s only so much we can do, only so many calls we can field in one day. I hope The Journey entertains car lovers, and I also hope it inspires interest in this field.”
Smith Jr. has enjoyed a fantastic rise as a collector since establishing The JBS Collection in 2012 with no prior car collecting experience. For him, The Journey is another way to share his passion and his automobiles with the world.
“I consider myself a lucky man to be the steward to so many amazing and historic automobiles,” said Smith Jr. “I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I work with Travis and his team to bring cars like the LeBaron back to life. Not so I can go and sell them—this is not a ‘buy and sell’ game for me. For me, this is about restoring the former glory of these magnificent vehicles and keeping them in the collection, and then doing whatever I can so folks around the world can also appreciate them. That’s my goal, and I hope The Journey continues to bring people closer to the cars in The JBS Collection.”