The first Impérias, built by Ateliers Piedboeuf of Liège, were designed by the German Paul Henze: these were fours of 3 litres, 4.9 litres and 9.9 litres.

The next year, Impéria moved into the old Pieper factory at Nessonvaux. A monobloc 12 hp appeared in 1909, and in 1910 came a merger with Springuel. From about 1916, Impéria-Abadals were built at Nessonvaux. In 1921, three ohc 5.6 litre straight-eights were built, replaced by an ephemeral ohc 3 litre 32-valve four, capable of 90 mph.

It was followed by the Couchard-designed 1100cc side-valve 11/22 hp four, one of the first cars to have a sliding sunshine roof. Its engine rotated counter-clockwise, and the transmission brake acted as a servo for the front-wheel brakes. Some Impérias were assembled in Britain at Maidenhead. A six of 1624cc appeared in 1937, available in three-carburetor Super Sports form from 1930.

Impérias of 1934 on were merely four-wheel-drive Adlers with Belgian coachwork. In 1936, Impéria merged with Minerva.

Post-1948, Impéria assembled Standard Vanguards under license.

©VEA