BF Auction: 1948 Chrysler New Yorker Business Coupe

Seller: H C (Contact)
Location: Tucker, Georgia
Mileage: 00000 Shown
Chassis #: 7084985
Title Status: Missing
Engine: 323 cui Straight-8
Transmission: Fluid Drive Automatic

With its long hood, compact passenger compartment, and enormous rear deck, this 1948 Chrysler New Yorker Business Coupe has a presence all its own. The three-window body gives it an unusual profile, while a Spitfire straight-eight provides the power. If you enjoy postwar Chryslers, this one offers plenty to appreciate, along with a few projects for its next owner. It is located in Tucker, Georgia, and is being offered here as a Barn Finds Auction.

The black finish shows its age, including deterioration on the deck lid and areas of surface corrosion. Its repaint history is uncertain, so buyers should view it as an older finish without assuming it is factory-applied paint. The seller says the car has spent much of its life garaged. The bumpers have reportedly been replated or replaced, and the exterior trim includes a full set of hubcaps. There is room for cosmetic improvement, although the next owner could take a preservation approach and concentrate on making it more usable.

Under the hood is a 323-cubic-inch Spitfire straight-eight, described by the seller as original, with Fluid Drive. The seller reports that it runs, drives, and stops. Reported work includes rebuilding the carburetor and fuel pump, cleaning the tank and fuel lines, and replacing the points, condenser, distributor rotor, plug wires, coil, and battery. Brake work includes replacement shoes, hardware, wheel cylinders, lines, and master cylinder. The seller also reports replacing and packing the front wheel bearings and renewing the wheel studs. It retains a six-volt electrical system, and the older bias-ply tires need replacement before regular road use.

The seats and door panels have been reupholstered in a red Highlander-style plaid pattern. A previous owner also painted the dashboard and interior trim bright red and installed the red carpeting, which the seller acknowledges is not period-correct. The headliner is described as original and shows its age. The radio, clock, and chrome dashboard details remain, but their presence should not be mistaken for confirmed operation. The radio needs attention, including a replacement speaker, and the seller reports repainting the speaker cover.

There are several remaining jobs to consider. A replacement speedometer cable has been installed, but the instrument cluster still needs attention, and the fuel gauge and sending unit are reported inoperative. The seller says the ammeter, oil-pressure gauge, and temperature gauge work. The heater is included but disconnected, and the sale includes new door sills, a sun shield, and the original front bumper guards. Mileage is unknown, and the car is offered on a bill of sale without a title. For someone who enjoys preserving and improving an unusual postwar coupe, this Chrysler could make an interesting project. What would you tackle first?