Hmm. I planted a CI bareroot and it bloomed as expected. How about the fragrance?

Yes, it has fragrance but it is not particularly strong. I don't have another Chrysler Imperial to compare it to, but the magenta flowers are not looking like the red blooms shown on HelpMeFind.com. However, the size of the flowers seem to be right. Some deep red minis in my garden (Salute, Red Sunblaze and Liberty Bell) let me see by comparison that my CI blooms are definitely magenta vs. red.

Chrysler Imposter?

To my nose Chrysler Imperial has a VERY strong fragrance. It's right up there with Mr. Lincoln and Oklahoma. Any chance of posting a pic or two? Perhaps you do have an "imposter".

Well I'll be. My sister and I were discussing this just last week. She got one three years ago from Antique rose E. and I got one last month from the same place and they were both Magenta. Has anyone else gotten one form A.R.E. No telling how long they have been selling the wrong rose. I have tried to identify it by looking on helpmefind but no luck. Like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Patrick

The color of the dark red HTs is unstable, varying with the weather. Someone posted a pink Mr. Lincoln yesterday. I just had a big bloom of CI that was the same color as Shakespeare 2000, a very purply red. I doubt they are selling the wrong rose, but a HT that is almost always a garnet color is Mirandy.

Thanks everyone for the imputs. I don't have access to a camera now, so I can't post a picture :-(
The two open CI blooms disintegrated in a hard rain last night and I sniffed an unopen bloom this morning when I reported the light fragrance. Now that the bloom is partially open, I can detect a stronger fragrance.

As far as the color, it's like the magenta crayon in the box of 64 crayolas. I hope this magenta color will be temporary condition, as michaelg suggested. I need a dark red in the rose bed.

On HelpMeFind.com, I took a look at William Shakespeare 2000 and Mirandy. The majenta/wine colored photos resemble the color of my blooms. However, the few photos that show a true red or dark red are not looking like my blooms.

The plant is healthy. The leaf shape and size look like they could belong to a genuine CI. I guess the best option is to wait for the next round of blooms and check.

Chrysler Imperial's red has a bit of a blue shade to it -- weather conditions can definitely shade the blooms to the magenta/fuchsia range.

A Damask Perpetual we grow, which normally is a rich cerise/magenta has been all over the map this spring, and is currently blooming a rich medium pink.

Mother Nature's gonna do what Mother Nature's gonna do.
Bloom colors will ALWAYS shift with weather changes.

Jeri

A few years ago in wet early spring conditions my Chrysler Imperial bloomed pink. I had never seen that before, but it didn't sport. It was the weather.

My CI tends to start out a strong, true red, and age to a lighter bluish red, sometimes definitely magenta. I've occasionally had blooms that appeared magenta their entire stages of bloom. As Michaelg suggests, I think it has much to do with the particular weather conditions as the bloom forms.
Interestingly, another post recently was asking advice on finding a "true purple" rose, no redish maroon or whatever. I have a Papa Meilland in its second year. This rose's blooms, when left on the bush, remain deep red and blacken somewhat as they whither. But when cut and brought into a climate controlled room, they not only last much longer, but gradually turn the most intense deep purple. It's fascinating to me.

My Buff Beauty has a pink bloom this morning. Never saw that before. But never see rain in June either....

Thanks everyone for these helpful responses. I'll take a wait and see approach. I noticed the last magenta bloom blew apart when only 2/3 open in not so strong wind. No other blooms in my garden blew apart so easily. I hope the next batch of CI blooms look more traditional.

Papa Meilland sounds like a rose to consider.

Funny, I never considered CI a true red rose. Mine was more like this color

Chrysler Imperial has always been magenta here... I'm thinking it has something to do with the soil ph as well... Mine is 8.0

rosevlr,
Wonderful photo of CI! I wish mine could look as red as yours. decobug, I added some ironite to the soil to see if this makes a difference. However, the leaves on my CI are a healthy green. Thanks for these inputs.

When we get a lot of rain here (KY) my Chrysler's and Mr Lincoln's always lighten from deep/true red to various shades of dark pink. When it's dry they open red. We just had a week of rain on and off and lo and behold, the latest buds just opened pink. Last week's were dark red! Definitely a weather issue here I think.

Hooray! My Chrysler Imperial has produced the velvety deep red blooms that made this rose famous. Dark red buds have opened into dark red flowers. These blooms seem stronger too--not blowing apart so quickly.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I can't pinpoint the precise cause for the previous 'magentaness,' but weather was probably a factor. Changes in fertilizer, ironite, and water levels may have played a role as well.