- Seller: Heck D (Contact)
- Location: Tucker, Georgia
- Mileage: 0000 Shown
- Chassis #: 7084985
- Title Status: Missing
- Engine: 323 cui Spitfire Inline-8
- Transmission: Fluid Drive
Barn Finds occasionally gets the privilege of showcasing something truly uncommon, and this 1948 Chrysler New Yorker 3-passenger Business Coupe is one of those cars. Located in Tucker, Georgia and offered as an auction listing, this sleek, three-window coupe represents one of only 699 built—and reportedly only a handful remain in comparable condition today. It’s a rare opportunity to acquire a high-end postwar Chrysler that has clearly been cared for throughout its long life.
Mechanically, the car stays impressively true to its origins. It retains its original 323 Spitfire straight-eight paired with the classic Fluid Drive transmission, and the seller says it runs beautifully. A long list of recent updates makes this even more appealing: fresh electrical components including points, condenser, distributor rotor, spark plug wires, coil, and battery; a rebuilt carburetor and fuel pump; and cleaned fuel lines and fuel tank. It’s the kind of thoughtful mechanical attention that keeps a postwar straight-eight running smoothly.
The brake system has also been comprehensively rebuilt with new shoes, wheel cylinders, rubber lines, and master cylinder, along with new wheel bearings. The car even received a new speedometer cable, though the gauge cluster still needs a rebuild. Fuel-level information will need sorting as well, since the sending unit and gauge aren’t functioning. However, the amps, oil, and temperature gauges all operate as they should.
The Chrysler still wears mostly original paint, with minor clearcoat blistering on the deck lid and some age-appropriate surface corrosion. The bumpers have been replated or replaced at some point, and all trim is accounted for, including the full set of hubcaps. Inside, the interior was repainted under previous ownership. The original radio is still present and just needs a speaker, and the heater is included but not currently connected.
The car runs, drives, and stops, though the older bias-ply tires will need replacement before regular road use. The seller notes the Chrysler has been “garaged and pampered for most of its life,” and when you consider its survival rate, that care clearly made the difference.
According to the seller, the seats and door cards were redone. Included with the car is a set of new door sills, sun shield, and the original front bumper guards. The title is missing, and like many older Georgia vehicles, it will be sold on a bill of sale.
With a Buy-It-Now price of $25,000, this New Yorker presents a rare chance to own a postwar Chrysler that blends originality, careful mechanical upkeep, and genuine scarcity. Would you preserve its survivor charm or take it further toward full restoration?
Thats a 3 body trunk.
Great car with fantastic and massive proportions- these business coupes must have one of the longest hoods and trunks ever, especially with the small passenger cabin.
I am not sure about the BIN- price, as the market for these is shrinking and the car definitely needs some more love.
BTW: I hate it, when a car is pictured in wet conditions. You cannot really judge the condition.
If I would actually in the market, I would offer 12-14K, not more…
I’ve seen non running versions asking and selling in that $12-14k price range, but not ones running and driving with the brakes all having been rebuilt. Most of the hard work on this one has been done. This one is more of a preservation project, instead of a restoration project. Unless that’s what someone wants to do.
I own one of these and have been told there are fewer than 20 of them in existence in the New Yorker trim level. The interior and dash are eye candy. Fluid drive works surprisingly well although it is a heavy car and would not describe it as peppy. Many in this body style got modified because of the look.
I would suggest a restoration because none of the restomods I have seen are an improvement on the original.
Doremonger, Yes, it would be sacrilege to change this original and well running straight eight. Dropping a Hemi in it doesn’t compute with this survivor.
Beautiful car…looks like it’s going 85 just standing still.
Also the interior is a Highlander style, also rare, and was not aware it was offered in the New Yorker.
It is hard to believe that that bright red interior is correct. If red, a darker shade. Tell me if wrong.
Dave, the interior paint was done by previous owner when he replaced seat and door card upholstery. Resanding and repainting dash would be a big job. Only for a serious buyer to worry about.
Agree with the BIN price being about double the FMV. Too many items just needs this, or sorting out or minor repair.
I generally love the swoopy fast back styling from this era, especially the sedanettes, but this one looks really odd with the huge snout (and tail). What a lot of metal to move a couple of people!!
Not a fan of the fire-engine-red dashboard repaint. The original would have been much more muted.
The interior paint was done by previous owner when he had the seat and door cards redone. A big job. You’re welcome to resand it and repaint it if you want.
This is a rare one. Most folks who needed a business coupe would have opted for the less expensive Windsor model.
That interior – isn’t the dash supposed to be wood grained?
Nice car, though.
No the dash wasn’t ever woodgrained as far as I know in 1948
Dennys N, many Windsor models had the straight 6s some had the larger 8s, but only special orders. But Windsor and New Yorkers shared many other parts, if they were 8s.
You couldn’t get the 8 in a Windsor, you had to step up to the Saratoga or New Yorker, which were built on a 6 inch longer wheelbase and were 6 inches longer overall to accommodate the 8 cyl engine’s additional length. The extra length was entirely forward of the cowl, which is why the proportions of this “long nose” car look “off” teamed with the small passenger compartment.
As for a wood-grained dash the ’48 Windsor Traveler’s dash was mostly woodgrain. My folks had one in the ’50s.
There are a lot of interesting observations about this one. The interior is quite striking in the red Highlander pattern cloth and leather (or vinyl). It appears to have replaced what was original to the car I believe. Is it correct? I don’t know but it looks great and contrasts with with the black exterior. The paint is not as good a condition as the interior but I would have to live with it because it would be a very expensive undertaking to repaint. To me the paint lets the car down and undermines the seller’s ask as being show quality in amount and only driver quality in actuality. I would be seriously interested in buying this car if the price was more like $15,000. That would be my best offer. And I would have to conduct an inspection and the car would have to be mostly turn key for me to complete the deal. One thing that I noticed is that the under hood pictures show the battery disconnected and one post has what appears to be a battery maintenance cable on the positive ground. Probably not a big deal but it’s a question that may have a simple answer. This car looks like it was in storage under a cover and then driven outside for more pictures. I hope this is the case because for the money it needs to be mechanically sound all around and drive like it is supposed to. I have actually been casually looking for a Chrysler business coupe of this vintage for a some time now. The last time I saw one for sale was around seven years ago up in New England. I couldn’t connect with the seller and then the listing was discontinued. These are rare birds for sure but people who actually want to buy them aren’t exactly standing in line waving cash either. For now I will just watch.
Most of the exterior paint is original, unless it was repainted decades ago. Car has been garage kept most all its life, I do use a battery tender on the 6 volt battery , and cables were removed in some cases, just for photos and moving around. Sorry but BIN price is what it is
I understand. Thanks for clarifying. I can only justify what I feel it’s worth to me. I hope you get what you anticipated. I think that this is a really neat vehicle but it needs some TLC to get it to where I want. Anyway, GLWTS.
Worth owning just to go cruising with a “Mine’s Bigger” bumper sticker.
Peter Griffin from Family Guy had a similar car,,,
Very interesting Chrysler, but it’s just a museum piece. Driving this on today’s roads would get you killed.
Not true. I can drive my ‘47 New Yorker business coupe 60-65 without pushing it and it is a straight and smooth ride.
On price, since these rarely come up for auction, hard to know what market is, but I have seen $36-65k for restored ones. The exterior paint is a lot to take on, but having an intact and good interior is a big plus on this one.
If cars could talk……………….
If you drive old cars for the thumbs up, smiles, wide eyes, and slack jaws, this is your car. I drove mine to a gas station, and a man ran across the parking lot, gave me a big hug, and said “I’m from Detroit and that’s how we do it right there.“
Doremonger, could you please post a picture here of you 47 New Yorker?
Here it is
OMG, she’s gorgeous! I didn’t want to spend the money sanding and repainting mine, one because it’s more money and two, some people would have protested if it didn’t have survivor paint. You can never please everyone.
Doremonger, did you update to Radial tires, I found that 205-75 R15s and 225 75-R15s work and smaller size fits better in rear tire wells. Coker and others sell the 2 1/2 ” whitewall radials
Doremonger. It looks like Radial tire replacements for these are either 205/75/R15s or 225/75/R15s. With smaller size fitting better in rear tire wells. Does that sound right to you?
Will check next time I am out where it is located. May be a few days.
Looks like Jimmy Durante should have owned it!
Doremonger, gorgeous car. Thanks for posting this photo. What interior does yours have?
Wool fabric seats but otherwise similar. I think they have painted over the chrome insert on the radio and a few other small chrome bezels on this one, so the dash on mine has more contrast. But it is primarily a painted metal dash with chrome accents and the large chrome radio plate in the center. A very beautiful art deco looking dash and interior.
Doremonger, the previous owner didn’t paint over the entire chrome bezel around the radio, but he did paint over a small grill in front of speaker. The bright red paint wouldn’t have been my choice, but it does match the red on the Highlander seats and door cards.
I would add the Highlander interiors are very handsome also. They just went overboard on the use of red on this one. Probably a pretty easy fix.
Another pic of the chrome bezel around radio and clock
There is some additional chrome trim around the gauge cluster that has been painted over. Again, not a hard fix. Also, I may have misspoken and the speaker cover on the radio may have been painted originally.
I understand what the prior owner was trying to accomplish, just went overboard on the red in my opinion. Probably the cheapest fix would be to swap out the red carpet for a contrasting color.
The previous owner installed red carpet for this car thats not period correct. It should be a charcoal or black, composite material. And that would look better with the Higlander interior seats and door cards.
Doremanger, I repainted the speaker cover on the 48 New Yorker business coupe, and it did help. You’re correct the carpet should be charcoal or black. These older radios were probably ran by vac tubes and speaker needs replacing as well.
Yes this is a very rare model in the club coupe for sure and looks to be in pretty good shape for the year. I believe they are asking too much this is a lot of money for a car that probably needs more work than meets the eye… just because something is rare and low production does not Merritt putting an overprice on it, last year I saw a nice 1948 convertible for 7000 less in better shape and worth more than this coupe. don’t get me wrong love these cars 41-49 but simply asking price is too deep you can easily tie up 10-20 k in this vehicle to bring it to a substantial status…
Previous owners have already sunk $10-20k into this rare, 3 window New Yorker business coupe. And all the hard work has been done. Brakes, fuel and Spark, or electrical. Very few have survived to this condition. If you find another example for a cheaper price, that’s non running and stopping, youll be spending more to get it driving again, maybe you should have bought that convertible when you had the chance.