It’s a buyer’s market in some segments of the classic automobile world. Chief among them are immediate postwar Chrysler products. This is unfortunate, as these are some of the finest cars the company ever built. Chrysler was on its game both in engineering and quality control during this period. The problem was that they just weren’t the sleek, futuristic automobiles that America craved-then or now. Their dowdy styling covered up all the great features that these cars offered. Take for example this 1948 Chrysler New Yorker sedan for sale on eBay in Manassas, Virginia. This stately top-end Chrysler is powered by one of the last straight-eight engines ever built and is in great, mostly original shape. It also has a scant 41,000 miles on the odometer. With bidding languishing at $5,600 with just three days to go, is this a real bargain for a collector who may be light in the wallet but knows a good car when they see one?
America first got a glimpse of Chrysler’s fledgling intentions for the New Yorker name in 1938 as a trim level. The name returned for the 1939 model year, but it wasn’t until 1940 that the New Yorker officially became Chrysler’s top-end model designed to compete with similar models at Cadillac, Buick, and Packard. When production resumed after World War II, the New Yorker returned as Chrysler’s top trim level on the bodies that debuted in 1941. It was a seller’s market then, and Chrysler changed little each year besides paint and upholstery. Dwindling sales convinced the automaker that their whole product line needed to be revamped to better face the competition. Those sleeker cars arrived in 1949 to much fanfare, leaving these bigger Chryslers behind.
Seventy-six years later, the straight-eight powered 1948 Chrysler New Yorker you see here is still running perfectly according to the seller. It has been used on numerous day trips and for around-town errands and such. It is said to be quiet and stable at 65 MPHand it starts fine in colder weather. The seller purchased it at the famous AACA Fall Hershey swap meet and drove it back home to Virginia. During the seller’s period of ownership, the car has always been fueled with non-ethanol fuel and treated to an annual oil and filter change. The only issue with driving it is that the brakes are a little soft and require an initial pumping up after the seller changed the DOT 3 fluid by themselves.
Given that it is a 41,000-mile car, the seller has taken great care to preserve it as much as possible. All of the electrical system is still the original 6-volt setup that it left the factory with. The semi-automatic transmission, which requires the use of a clutch to put it into low gear, is still functional. As for the rest of the car, there is some fraying on the lower portion of the door handles, some cracking in the weatherstripping, and the underside has some small bits of surface rust in various places. Most of the chrome is in good condition, with minimal pitting in a few of the plated parts as you would expect after all of these years. One thing to keep in mind is that the seller was told that the car was in rougher shape at one time and extensive work was done to get it to the place it is now.
Why divest yourself of such a nice, original car after enjoying it for so long? The seller states that they have more cars than they can take care of. Furthermore, they are trying to free up the ample garage space that this car takes up. It is being sold with a low opening bid and no reserve to make this sale happen. By this Saturday at 11:00 PM, this New Yorker will be someone else’s pride and joy.
It seems a shame to see a car like this sell for peanuts. Where can you get a straight-eight-powered postwar luxury car in good shape and running condition for likely less than $10,000? Hopefully, one of you will recognize what a bargain this low-mileage car is and make the winning bid. It would be awesome to load the family up in a car like this to glide through the town in search of Christmas lights and hot chocolate.
Would you be interested in this New Yorker? If you won the auction, what would you do with it? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
I really like the bodies on the 46-48 Mopars. I beg to differ that the ensuing ’49-’52 cars were more “sleek”. I think those later cars were really over-stuffed. ’48 Plymouth for me.
I’m with Rex on this one. I prefer these over the early 50s. And I would like to add that these year Chryslers had beautiful dashes and upholstery too. This is beautiful. I have a Danbury Mint 48 Town and Country woodie convertible in maroon. One of my favorites.
Danbury’s `41 Town & Country woody wagon is a treasure as well!
OH man, Driveinstile, post a photo of that T&C!
Hey Rex, Its burried somewhere packed up in a closet from when we moved 2 years ago. If I can get at it I will.
Dave
Hey Rex, this is a link to one identical to mine. https://www.awesomediecast.com/1948-chrysler-town-country-convertible-regal-maroon-1-24-diecast-car-model-by-danbury-mint/
Easier than unpacking the closet lol.
Dave
@Driveinstyle
I have one in beige in 1/18 scale. Not Danbury or Franklin, but still a nice detailed model
Ooops, I thought you had the actual car!
Hey Rex, if I did that would be one ginormous closet in the master bedroom. Sorry about that if I wasnt clear.
@Angel, owning the model really put this on my dream bucket list of cars to own before I’m too old to drive!!!
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved the 1946-49 Chrysler.
Nice looking car. Unfortunately it’s reached a point where most cars from its era don’t have much value, the seller is smart to do a no reserve auction, take what he can get and move it to a new home.
Steve R
I’m a big fan of this era of vehicles especially Mopars. Everything Jeff said about the attributes of this car is true. For those who appreciate them; this will be a great acquisition and a bargain as well. I am sorely tempted to bid but I already have my 1952 Plymouth and other assorted vehicles so it isn’t realistic. The “soft brakes” might be alleviated by following the exact brake fluid bleeding procedure per the shop manual. These cars have two brake cylinders per each front brake. If you don’t bleed all the brake cylinders front and rear following the shop manual dictates; you will have a small amount of air in the system. I found this out when I first acquired my Plymouth. GLWTS.
In about 1968, l, as a 12 year old spent almost every summer day in a gravel pit about a half mile outside our small town. This gravel pit was where all the locals disposed of their old cars – probably 50 – 60 of them at that time. In a backyard on the outskirts on the way to the pit was a 48 Chrysler Highlander coupe, mouse gray with a red plaid interior. The high school kid that owned it was one of the local “bad boys” supposedly smoking funny cigarettes.
He offered me the Chrysler for $15.00. I was terribly excited until my Dad declared a 12 year old didn’t need a 48 Chrysler no matter how nice it was. Oh well.
As a side note, no one batted an eye as I rode my bicycle through town with a .22 rifle on my handlebars. A different time!
Through town. Thank you spell check!
Neighbor has a ’48 with a GM 350 and a Camaro front suspension, looks stock until you open the hood. Tows an old medium sized Airstream with it, did 1000 mile trip this summer. Gas gage is unreliable, but otherwise it goes very well.
I own a ’48 Olds, 4 door sedan. Beautiful classic.. It floats going down the road. This car is one of a kind at the cruise nights… And people love it….
Beautiful car, nice color, well maintained, everything original working, honest price and to top it off 8 in line.
Buy and be happy.
I’d love to own that Chrysler.
It’s magic to me.
The era and the transition from war to peace
Who cares if it’s not sporty
I’d love that in my garage.
6 Bids and $5900 now.
So sorely tempted. And I have room in the garage and it would sit nicely next to our 68 vw convertible. That Chrysler is big. I love the suicide doors. It really is terrific.
My Dad had one just like this when I was about 6, what a bomb , remember the lap robe rope on the back of the front seats , my brother and I used to stand on the back seat and when Dad would brake we would yell accident and fall down grabbing the lap rope on the way down , this would always be followed by if I have to stop this car it will not be an accident lol , Dad had a problem with the fluid drive as I remember going to the shop after it was repaired and Dad saying damn fluid drive !