The current owner of this 1956 Chrysler Windsor isn’t the car’s first owner, but he has been its custodian for more than 40-years. Now aged in his 80s, he has decided that the time has come for him to part with a classic that he has loved and cherished for more than four decades. His loss could be your gain because this amazing survivor has only managed to accumulate a genuine 24,834 miles on its odometer over the past 64-years. The next owner will have nothing to do but to drive and appreciate what is a pretty stunning looking car. The Chrysler is located in Pueblo, Colorado, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Windsor has been pretty intense, and with it now sitting at $10,100, the reserve has been met. So it would seem that a new home is not far away for this old beauty.
The Windsor received a professional repaint in its original combination of Desert Rose and Cloud White around 15-years ago, but otherwise, it is said to be completely original. The repaint was performed over a body that was already arrow-straight and completely rust free. This was no doubt aided by the fact that the vehicle has been garage-kept since day one. The Chrysler was sold new in Pueblo, so it hasn’t ventured far during its lifetime. Today, it gets driven to the occasional show or wedding, and then it goes straight back into the garage. The paint isn’t that old, but given the fact that it has survived so well, this would indicate that the work was completed to a high standard. All of the exterior trim and chrome, along with all of the glass, is said to be original. If this is accurate, then its condition is extremely impressive. The owner does provide some shots of the Windsor’s underside, and it is just as spotlessly clean and solid as the rest of the car.
Climbing inside the Windsor reveals an interior that is nearly as impressive as the exterior. I say “nearly” because I can spot some staining or marks on the driver’s door trim. Beyond that, it is pretty hard to fault the upholstery or trim. Those plastic covers that are on the seats are only about 5-years-old, but they were fitted to replace a set of clear plastic covers that had graced the seats since the car was new. That’s right, no-one has ever actually sat on the upholstery that you can see below the covers! The headliner looks to be flawless, and the same would appear to be true for the carpet. The owner has had custom floormats made, along with a matching mat for the trunk, and a matching dash cover. Below that cover, the dash is said to be in perfect condition, while the dash face itself looks brand new. There have been no aftermarket additions made, and everything, including the original clock and radio, are said to work exactly as they should.
Lifting the hood on the Chrysler reveals the original 331ci V8, while the vehicle is also fitted with a 2-speed PowerFlite transmission and power steering. With only a genuine 24,000 miles on the clock, it should be no surprise to learn that the Windsor runs and drives like a new car. While it doesn’t see a lot of active use, it does get started on a regular basis to keep the fluids moving, and it is always carefully and properly serviced and maintained. If you want documentation, then you would seem to get it with this car. As well as the original visor-mounted Operating Instructions still being present, the Chrysler comes with its original Owner’s Manual, original Colorado Title, and even the 1956 color Dealer’s Brochure. In the trunk, you will find the original spare tire and jack.
This 1956 Chrysler Windsor looks like it is a true “plug and play” classic. It would seem that it needs nothing more than a new owner who is willing to slide behind the wheel, and to enjoy an incredibly clean survivor. It isn’t a car that is going to command an enormous price, but values have been creeping up, albeit slowly, over the past 3-years. I would expect that this one will probably sell for somewhere around $14,500 and $15,000, which would put it up around the top end of potential values. You’d have to admit though that at that sort of price, you would be getting a lot of car for your cash.
I wonder if it was a tough decision to repaint it? Beautiful car. GLWTS
I’m drooling over here. Four door haters and “parts car for my coupe” trolls just scroll on past, nothing for you here.
Bah Humbug. Four door cars as a whole look far far far more handsome and majestic. And by the way, did I mention, four door cars are far far far more practical.
How about it Tim, I could think of many cruel things that could be done to anyone that would even think of doing that. How stunning!! In my opinion Bakyrdhero, it looks like a very quality repaint, and as original everything else is, doubt very seriously if the value is hurt because of it. Awesome find
@ Bob S
I once read here on Barn Finds somebody say that paint is a wear and tear service item like
Oil, brakes and so on..
Therefor a quality paint job shouldn’t negatively affect a vehicles value, only enhance its appeal. I agree with that.
A 15-year-old paint job on a car that was then 49 years old when it was repainted? If that was THEE original paint in still decent shape, I say buff it out instead.
This Windsor With Twenty Four Thousand Miles Looks Twenty Four Thousand Times Better Than The B.S Nova With Fourteen Thousand Miles.
Gentlemen Take Notice Of What A True Low Mileage Vehicle Looks Like.
Have a most awesome evening!
Jeff, not to be starting another peeing contest, just because a vehicle has low miles, it doesn’t mean that it has had white glove treatment. Grandma might have had issues pulling it in and out of the garage, or maybe detailing it a couple of times a year wasn’t high on her list of things to do. I, myself doubted the mileage claim on that Nova, but not everyone drives thousands of miles a year, nor do they necessarily take care of their investment either.
How true Bob S. True story: I was a pump jockey back when there was full service gas stations. One day an elderly lady from out of town in 5-6 year old Buick came in for gas. After showing her where the hood release was (apparently didn’t know the hood opened) I checked the oil. Barely showed on dipstick and was like tar. I told her she almost out of oil and it needed to be changed. She said,and I quote, “Thats the original oil”. Her late husband had told her to keep cars all original and they would be worth more. Finally sent her off to Buick dealer to see if they could explain it to her.
Have backed away from those low mileage grandma cars ever since.
The number of doors is so far out of the realm of this car’s essence and relevance. In terms of American fifties cars, as individual aspects are explored, it pushes darn near every button. Exquisite. But unfortunately, this is the casebook example of where the parts just don’t make the whole. Attempt to compare it to a ‘56 Chevy. Or even a Pontiac, Buick and heck why not, a Ford. It just doesn’t cut the mustard. There won’t be a lot of attention garnered at the local car show, or even worse, not too many chicks will be doing a double take. And there, my friends, lies the problem. Peace out.
Chicks is a lot of reason we can,nt aforrd a nice ride like this. I wounder if the guy would trade it for my 33 year old chick? I,m sure this nice car wouldn,t cost me as much each month. This is a very -very nice car, Sure wished I owned it. Have you noticed at car shows how many comaros,mustangs gto,s ,firebirds and 55-57 chevrolets you see. They are boreing anymore. I,d pass on them to see something different . I like it alot. Very nice car.
Heck Johnny, send him a pic of the chick, he might go for it! As an old divorcee, I’ve wanted to put in an add in the personals, WANTED: Kind sweet woman with house and garage…..please send pictures of garage!!
I have a 55 Chevy I restored and drive some and show occasionally but I agree a 100%.
If this particular car were being sold back in the 70s, I would agree it would not be a chick magnet. But any 1950s AncientMobile in original low mileage condition is likely to attract hotties like an MRI machine. Though granted, this car will not rope ‘em in as much as a ‘57 Bel Air convertible.
But on the other hand the reason I go to car shows and cruises is to see things I don’t see everyday. If I saw a 56 Chevy or Pontiac or a Buick, they are invisible to me as a single blade of grass. A dime a dozen. Now this Chrysler on the other hand? Beautiful and very different. I’d be all over the dam thing.
For reasons I can’t explain, images of 55 and 56 high status Mopars fail to convey just how enormous they truly are. They are NOT Plymouth Plazas.
As to chick magnet cars, only two really exist. The Avanti and, of course, the Jag XKE, especially the XKE. The XKE blinds the female of the species to the facts that you are old, fat, bald, broke, and married.
I don’t care how many doors this ’56 Windsor has; this is a beautiful car. If indeed the bidding tops out at $15,000, you’re getting a lot of car for the money, especially as it seems to need nothing. I had a ’57 Chevy 210 4-door and it was a really nice car in and out. It stood out because it had four doors, just like the cars most folks bought. Whoever is lucky enough to be the next owner of this car will be delighted with it, it’s a real gem.
Just right, not a museum piece, so you can own it and DRIVE it. And, despite the 2 speed automatic, they drive well. Friend’s father had a ’56 Desoto, essentially the same car mechanically, and it was a wonderful fast cruiser at a steady 75 mph. Keep good tires on it, and a new spare if you go anywhere far from home, a dual master cylinder, and GO.
Get a new spare if you go ANYWHERE with it. A 64-year-old tire is not something you want to travel on. They say you should not travel on any tire that’s more than 10 years old. Just keep the original spare tire for show. Regarding a dual master cylinder, that is an exception to my rule about “keeping them original“. I doubt if I’d be here if it were not for dual master cylinders.
A two door person on most cars but not this one. Beautiful car and would love to own and drive it.
My earliest memory of my father’s cars was of one of these. His was painted two tone; red and black. This car here today looks incredible. If I had a place to put it and the available funds, you bet I would go for it.
I love this car. The only things that would make it more attractive to me would be an appropriate year hemi engine and a three speed torqueflite transmisssion. You have to have been a teenaged car lover like me to remember when this car was new. This was the car Chevy, Ford, and Plymouth owners would loved to have had but couldn’t afford. The first car I had ever seen with air condition was A Chrysler like this.
I’d buy this classic if it was closer, I’m in Texas. This would be perfect for my various participation to the various car event that our small East Texas “village” have every year, in addition, our local Sonic drive in bi-monthly car shows as well as we have YES A MOVIE DRIVE IN! I usually use my ’64 VW Beetle and ’79 Beetle Convertible. My neighbor also have: ’68 Shelby GT 500, ’59 Cad. Converible, a ’71 MB 280SL. We do have good old boys’ classics. Yep pardner we have a good life here!
From Pueblo to Texas probably a $500-650 transport. Is that really 2 much if you want a car badly.
I paid $1000 for my almost coast to coast transport of my 73 vette. No regrets. Price of wanting a nice solid car.
I wondered why today’s car especially under the hood, it’s so hard to see the engine and other items that can be worked on when you need to do maintenance? This why when my friends ask me what is the best car to buy, I tell them to bring a cup/glass of water and pour it under the hood, buy the car when the water can flow out easily!
All of the new cars are designed to be manufactured cheaply, designed for the packaging, (such as transverse engine FWD), and no thought what so ever for the poor guy or gal who has to actually work on them. I also guess that the difficult degree to work on them is part of planned obsolesence so the car is scrapped instead of repaired.
and I paid $1200 to ship my ’93 Allante from NH to rural CA, by way of Downey CA, two shippers, one big (12″ by 8″) dent, but could be just pushed out, no crease. Since there were two shippers, there was no way to blame either of them, they pointed to the other, and the fix was basically free. Remove the door car, push, done. I could not find a shipper who would do the whole thing, unless I had it delivered to LA and drove it 5 hours to here, which, it might or might not have done. I did drive my 2002 Audi the whole way, no problem until I was within 20 miles of home, went into limp home gear, and limped home.
Times have changed. I had my rust free 70 GTO shipped from Los Angeles to southeastern PA in 1986. Cost me $300 then. Worth every penny. Looked at 10 70 GTOs in my area. Even in 86, total rusted crap. If you the car, pay to ship. I lived in Colorado in early 70s. No rust. Dry. They don’t use salt. They use cinders.
They sure have changed. Cost $725 for a car to go from Florida to North of Pittsburgh ( actually Baltimore. I drove it the rest of the way because I couldn’t get a hauler to come to western PA last year)
It took over 1 month just for that.
Well now you can only speak with brokers who are , for the most part, Horrible. They are freelancers, little skills, work for profit. One even tried to hit on my wife. My wife first asked for his name and asked for a manager. Managers response? Yes, So, what’s wrong with that? So? There ya have it. No it’s not the same.
I think most large cars look best as a four door, unless designed with a sporty flair. All the ’56 mopars could go either way. As much as I love a hemi, the Newport’s grille suited the car better than the fine mesh on the New Yorker. No, I wouldn’t take a poly over a hemi to get a prettier grille!