1937 Chrysler Royal: Almost Finished?

royal front

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This promising Chrysler can be found here on craigslist in Carson City for a very reasonable $7,900. It looks like the restoration has come a long way and it just needs the interior (including the steering wheel) to be complete. The owner reports  that it runs well, but needs brake work – the parts are included. What’s that sitting behind it though?

Compare this Chrysler to the one I wrote up a few months ago. The asking for this partially restored Chrysler is only $2,900 more than for the $5,000 asking for the unrestored car! No doubt, the asking price was rather optimistic on the other one, but it makes this Chrysler look like a great deal!

The engine and other components were rebuilt. In the picture showing the frame rail and suspension it looks like a lot of work has been done there. I can’t imagine the buyer chopping this up to make a street rod. It’s got a 3 speed with overdrive which should make it very driveable at highway speeds. Wouldn’t this make a a grand old driver?

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Comments

  1. jim s

    looks like a hemi on the left side of 1st photo.

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    • dave

      That was an option.

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      • Brad

        Wasn’t an option until 14 years later, in 1951.

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  2. Mark E

    Maybe missing the passenger side tail light? For a car that supposedly out-sold the Chrysler Airflow you don’t see these very often. If I was twenty years younger I’d love to take this one on! The steering wheel would be a bit difficult to source but the interior looks like it could be gently cleaned and carefully used, at least for awhile…that would be on the back burner until after I replaced the driving lights with more period ones.

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  3. Mark E

    Oh and in the photo of the engine with the air cleaner, the car in the background appears to have Packard hubcaps.

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  4. Ed P

    What a beautiful car and the price seems very reasonable. The big work seems to be done.

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  5. dave

    That is a real good price. We sell 30s Mopar for a living. (Dodge City Vintage} Jamestown CA.
    The engine alone to rebuild is 2500 to 4000
    Overdrive trans, just sold one for 3000
    These are beautiful driving cars.

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    • David Frank DavidAuthor

      Dodge City Vintage? You do? Wow, can I drop by sometime? Looks like a really cool place!

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    • Mark S

      Hi Dave I have a tech question. I’m currently restoring a 1951 dodge Mayfair two door hard top Canadian car only. The car state side closest to it would be a 1951 Plymouth Belvidere (I my not have spelled that right) the two main differences are first of all the Mayfair is mainly a Plymouth body with say a dodge cornet front clip. The second thing is the Plymouth uses a 217cid engine 23″ long and my dodge uses a 218cid engine 25″ long more common to Chrysler cars of that time period. My question to you Dave is how do I know with certainty weather my car is 6v neg. or 6v pos. Also what hurdles are in my way to go to 12v. Thanks in advance

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    • Wayne Thorpe

      Dave, it has been 18 months since you wrote the above response. I have a 1941 Chrysler Royal with the straight 6 and fluid drive transmission. I just changed the oil and used straight 30 weight oil. When I start the car, within 5-10 seconds, the oil leaks out of the bottom fitting. Seems like an excessive pressure issue. I am going to drain the oil and put straight 20 weight oil. I also installed a new NAPA 1076 oil filter. Do you have any other ideas that I should try. You can email me or call/text me at 8602808457. Duke

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      • Ed P

        20w oil is thinner and will leak more. 40w is thicker but I don’t know if it would flow and lube this engine properly. The best bet is to find and fix the leak.

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  6. DREW V.

    An excellent find for the newbie or neophyte, It can be driven as work progresses, even the experienced vintage auto enthusiast could enjoy this car…

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  7. Birdman

    What happened to that poor steering wheel? But beyond that, it’s a really nice car.

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  8. dave

    If it had a banjo steering wheel, he probably sold it. We sold one for 1500.00 in good shape

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  9. 64 bonneville

    I’m thinking LeBarren-Bonney or Hampton coach has reproduction interiors f this. you will probably give as much for the interior kit as the asking price for this car, but it would be fantastic cross country cruiser when done. I think it is worth the money.

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  10. Jason Houston

    That car to the left is a late 30’s pillared Convertible Sedan, perhaps a Chrysler product or ?

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  11. Kem Jones

    It would make a great companion car to my 38 Imperial convert sedan . This car has been on the Cannadian Coast to Coast tours in 1992 and 2010 . We will be taking it on the 2017 tour and will be pulling a 1947 Fleetwood tear drop trailer

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