Of all of the Detroit auto stories that have transpired since the 2008 meltdown, the almost demise of the Chrysler brand is the most disconcerting for me. Its current line-up consists of the dated 300 sedan and a minivan – and the 300 is getting ready to say adios – oh for earlier times. OK, let’s do that and head back to 1953 and review this Windsor sedan and, besides its stellar condition, it’s a two-door body style! T.J. found the listing for this Portland, Oregon domiciled beauty and it is available, here on craigslist for $23,000.
By my accounting, Chrysler had fifteen different models in ’53, that is if you include the Imperial which was not yet positioned as a separate marque. Besides the Imperial, there were New Yorker and Windsor models, with the Windsor offering two and four-door sedans, a two-door hardtop, a convertible, and a Town & Country station wagon. Chrysler managed a ninth-place production finish in ’53 with 170K units and the Windsor two-door sedan, known as the Club Coupe, was responsible for almost 12K new owners.
The listing states “family-owned” which could mean anything, with complete originality and only 36K miles of usage. There’s no denying the condition of the finish, trim, body panels, glass, you name it, it presents like new. The three-piece rear backlight is typical for the era and it’s a spectacular styling cue. I’ll run with the assumption that the sun shield and window shades are not original but they are certainly period correct and enhance this Chrysler’s ’50s vibe. There’s a hyperlink included in the listing that is supposed to take you to a video and 100-plus additional images but it doesn’t really work. You can find the images but clicking on them then takes you to an eBay listing where there is a non-working YouTube link.
Powering this sedan is a 119 HP, 264 CI, flathead, in-line, six-cylinder engine married to what is stated to be an automatic transmission but it appears to be a “Fluid-Matic Drive“. The engine is clean enough to eat off of (I don’t, however, recommend that) but nothing is stated regarding operating prowess. It gets high marks for appearances!
The interior is about how you would expect for a car that is in such superior exterior condition. Best of all is the instrument panel – it is a very premium affair, especially for a car that is the bottom trim level. I’d call it a work of art. Beyond that is the very clean fabric upholstery with matching door panels – a perfect accompaniment to the gray exterior. Interestingly, it’s a carpeted cabin but there is a form-fitted rubber mat covering the front seat portion of the floor.
I’m not sure that I have encountered a two-door Chrysler sedan from this era, the four-door models seem more common, but regardless, the lines are perfect. So, decision time, if you had a choice and price was no issue, would you rather have this ‘56 Imperial Six-Passenger sedan or go for this exceptionally clean Windsor Club Coupe?
I believe the transmission was semi-automatic, in that the clutch pedal was used to shift gears but wasn’t needed to get the car moving-basically a manual with a fluid drive ahead of it.
Actually, the clutch was used to get the car rolling and then the automatic took over. I had one of these in the 1960’s and made it into a beach buggy by cutting off the body .
My buddy Karl thinks this needs a 318, though he thinks everything should have one.
Another incredible survivor for reasonable money. It would be interesting to hear the back story on this one as 69 years is a long time for a car to belong to the same family. Not a flashy car as I think “stately” describes it better but a car that would be a pleasure to own.
The ’54 was the first year for the automatic. I had a 54 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe club coupe. damn I wish I still had it.
David, I was the caretaker of my grandfather’s ’54 New Yorker for a while, long after he was gone. Smoothest cruising ever.
Wow. Now that’s an automobile!!
I cant remember ever seeing a two door , most of these I’m sure were four door models . even with only 36k on it,, this is in extremely nice shape , maybe the best original one of these left .
It’s effing gorgeous.
Spectacular car and text.
Love it! Frt view gives off a Cars movie vibe. Maybe Doc Hudson’s cousin? Anyway, beautiful car. You could spend a day just polishing the chrome and it would be a day we’ll spent.
Beautiful car but the market for these 50’s car is fading fast as that generation dies off. Takes teh right buyer for this one.
This is so much nicer than anything you can buy today at a similar price leve. Simply outstanding and surely will sell quickly.
Hard to understand this one. It looks like a restored car, yet in a few details it doesn’t. Restored by the original family owners, with stickers preserved? It’s certainly possible.
It could be a nearly turn-key driver, whatever its story. These were never what one could call beautiful. But they were well engineered, comfortable and tough as could be.
Needs whitewalls!!!
Absolutely! These were luxury cars and would not have been sold without whitewall tires.
Could you get these with a regular three speed? The Fluid Drive seems overly complex.
The ’53 semi-automatic got a torque converter for it’s last year. We were still driving a ’53 New Yorker in ’64 and my schoolmate’s Dad had a Windsor 2dr. He drove with a heavy foot, waiting for the upshift, not realizing that you lift your foot slightly and engine vacuum tells the solenoids to engage fourth gear with a loud clack. Driving range started in third gear, low range in first. If you kept you foot to the floor, our hemi would hit 70 and then go into fourth. I learned that if you started in double low and kept your foot to the floor, it would scream like the new Dodge hemis.
Beautiful car. Chrysler died when the Germans pillaged it.
I think if I had Musks money I would do the world a solid and buy Chrysler then turn it back into the company it once was. Priority number one, restart Plymouth and give the world nice little base level cars at a used car price. Going upscale has never worked in Chryslers favor for long. Think about what made fortunes? The K-Car, Valiants and Darts. For as much fun as Hellcats are, they are a niche. I know many young people who would kill for a simple reliable, but more than anything else, affordable car. I would bring back cheap trucks along the line of the Maverick, maybe even simpler and cheaper. Trucks are not to show off in or for suburbia, they are for work, time to get back to that. Performance would be an afterthought. Sporty looks, maybe, but adequate power is more important as it brings MPG and reliability. (slant sixes had enough power to get by and ran forever, and then some)
The seller, “cascadia” is a dealer who regularly sells on BaT, also eBay and evidently Craigslist as well. I could tell from the very first photo. He somehow has a knack for finding beautifully restored, stock vehicles from the 40’s and 50’s. Among others, of course.
As for current day Chrysler; I think most people would’ve been better off if they had let it go under. Garbage.
Eric, I’m afraid you’re right man. So sad.
Those fluid drive cars where cool to drive.
Grant, I’m with you,but it will not likely happen. The mail reason is government intervention. Crash requirements,emissions requirements and C.A.F.E. requirements all rolled into one makes a vehicle cost way too much to start with. I live out west where the Ford Rangers don’t rust. If you have a nice one (particularly a 2000 or older, 4 cyl manual transmission) You can sell it in a heart beat. They don’t break and are as reliable as on old brick.