Chrysler’s Windsor nameplate was introduced in 1939 on a full-size platform with a blend of luxury interior appointments and an economical engine. The car retained its middle-of-the-road niche after the war, with the New Yorker and the Imperial occupying the top tier, and the Royal in the entry-level slot. It sold very well, representing over 60% of Chrysler’s immediate post-war sales. This example – a 1947 club coupe – was owned by a collector and restored several years ago. Cloaked in Seacrest Green, its cosmetic condition shows mostly mild wear, though the driver’s rear fender has suffered a more serious loss of paint and could use refinishing. The car is with a dealer in Troy, Michigan.
The bright line between Chrysler’s upper-crust cars and the Windsor was the engine. The Windsor and the Royal received a derivative of the same six-cylinder flathead that Chrysler installed in its first production car of 1924 (the B70), while the senior cars benefited from eight cylinders. This engine is a 251 cu. in. six, fed by a single carburetor, good for about 115 hp. The gearbox is a four-speed semi-automatic equipped with Fluid Drive. A clutch pedal will get you going; after that, most of your shifting can happen using the accelerator. This photo is a reminder that these ’40s engine bays were capacious – we can’t even see the little six hiding behind the radiator.
The interior is saturated with interesting features. The split-back bench seat, the rear seats, and the headliner are in excellent condition. Note the two-part windshield – a sign of the times – but also the vent windows, a new trend. The intricate Philco radio sits like a jewel in the crown of the dash; this car is also equipped with a “Mopar Deluxe” factory heater. This photo shows off the beautiful greenhouse, with its rounded lines echoed in the door openings and the shape of the glass.
The Windsor was offered as a two- or four-door sedan, a convertible, and a coupe. Sadly, prices have been drifting down for years in the 1940s American car niche. We found a couple of coupes that had a hard time finding buyers at the mid-four-figure level, though convertibles will sell for around $25k or even more if in top condition. This 1947 Windsor club coupe is for sale on eBay at a buy-it-now price of $8950 or best offer. While the auction has plenty of “watchers”, it’s difficult to gauge real interest. What would you pay for this stylish coupe?
Vent windows were a new thing; heaters were an option as was the radio and other things. The design and styling were much more specific to the manufacturer. We’ve come quite a ways in creature comforts, but the are drawbacks that accompany them by disengaging us from really driving the car.
Chrysler did a nice job on these. This one has almost all the heavy lifting done for someone that can appreciate it and finish the project but too few anymore and fewer every day.
Don’t want to sound like a Danny Doomsdayer, just sayin’.
GLWTA.
People will hate me for this but a car as beautiful as this needs to be daily driven, but not with this chassis/suspension/drivetrain. I would lift the body clear off the chassis and store it carefully and roll a modern chassis and drivetrain under it. Small block v8 with power steering and aircon but being as minimally invasive as possible and don’t touch anything else.
Why try to make 5g out of dial up ?
Bite your heresy spouting street rodding tongue. My best friend had a mop painted ’41 three fendered Windsor 4 door that we cruised all the summer of ’61 with no driver’s licenses, insurance and a borrowed plate in the rear only. Wouldn’t trade that memory for anything.
@wardww
You might as well touch everything else, you’ve already ruined the integrity of this magnificent ’47 Chrysler. You’ve already entered the restomod territory, so keep going. Power brakes, windows, locks, trunk release, stereo, duel exhaust, cruise control, all of today’s creature comforts.
I don’t get the replacing the frame, but whatever
Why would I touch anything else and why do you think I said carefully store the original frame and drivetrain? Why do you even think I would want to do any of the mods you mentioned ? You don’t know me or my tastes. The car as I envisage it would not look any different than it does now. The beauty is in an invisible driveable reversable upgrade. I love the look inside and out but I would want to really drive it. This is not a concours car. A stronger more modern frame supports better suspension and brakes and the extra power. And when you sell the car, you include the original frame and drivetrain too. Very little needs to be done to the body and it can easily be reversed. I’ve seen this done before and then reversed back to original. It’s not rocket science. ;-)
Interesting, it looks like it has a 3rd taillight?. Sale ended 5:02, yesterday (Saturday September 14th.
I think it is a tail light and a brake light. My brothers 42 Plymouth has it to–Plymouth–Dodge–Chrysler and Desoto,s all had them.I,d like to have it.
This is a REAL CAR. Not a over price piece of junk they put out now days. This is something you can use–enjoy and alot more dependable–classy and less expensive to maintain.
This is a very nice car for a great price, the car looks pretty much original and it is a two door which is always better looking, this is so refreshing to see with so many people over pricing cars because of there greed, these are good cars and it would not really take much to make this car really stand out, but would be a shame to see someone butcher this car and modify it from original. Remember its only original once!
Pretty clean 47 Windsor. I acquired a 48 New Yorker a year ago with a straight 8 with fluid drive, and have brought it back to driving condition. Rebuilt the carb, fuel pump and a thorough tune up. I may be listing here on Barnfinds soon. I normally work on cars from the 1960s, so this one was a little challenging. These straight eights are great engines, when they running right.
If memory serves me correctly there was a Saratoga model amongst the line up as well. I owned a 1948 Windsor 2 door. I love the lines and stance of the 4 door better especially the suicide doors.
Yep. The writer left out the Saratoga. which had the 8, and the Town and Country (ditto, except for the sedan). The Imperial in those years was actually called the Crown Imperial and was a long-wheelbase (145.5″) 8-passenger sedan or limo aimed at the chauffer-driven/carriage trade. Production numbered in the hundreds.
Our family car in the ’50s was a ’48 Windsor Traveler, which had 2-tone paint, leather upholstery and a wood luggage rack on the roof. Solid car, as is this Windsor coupe, but there’s little interest in them today. Even the T&Cs have a hard time meeting auction reserves these days.
That’s right the Saratoga shared much of the same drive train and mechanicals as the New Yorker, with the straight eights. My wheels and bolt patterns are the same as on the Crown Imperial. 5.5″ bolt pattern on a 16″ wheel. Probably same brakes as well.
The light above the trunk handle is the brake light. My 48 Chrysler was upgraded to turn signal lights in the mid 1950s. This Chrysler shares many of the same designs as the New Yorker.
@HC
Hi HC, thanks for mentioning the brake light. Wasn’t sure if I was going to comment on this again. We’ve had this discussion here on BF before. Many “youngin’s ” think it a “third” brake light like today’s cars. In reality, it’s the only brake light.
The other two lights on each quarter panel activate when the parking lights or headlights are turned on. If you were rich enough to afford directional signals these were it also. I noticed this car has them. But when you step on the brake, the ONLY light to be activated was the center light above the license . I believe this feature lasted until all manufacturers redesigned their line ups in 1949.
Studebaker & Hudson were always innovated and ahead of the game and lost their center brake light early.
Ya’ll can correct me if I’m wrong.
Yes Angel, the only brake light is in center above the license and trunk handle. Someone in probably 1950s had the turn signals added to mine. And I’m glad that they did.
Green is the right colour for a late forties to early fifties car like this. If it was mine an early Hemi would be sitting under the hood, nothing too muscley but just enough to match modern traffic………
Stu I agree with you, with just the flat 6 in this car, it’s better to upgrade it a bit. Maybe 1950s-60s Chrysler? The problem with me having a properly running 1948 Straight eight that runs so well, I just couldn’t do that. I had to leave it alone.
I’m cool with restomods but only when the original drive-train cannot be salvaged or when it just cannot function in modern traffic. I remember Chrysler-built flat-heads from my youth. In fact my own first car was a ’37 Plymouth. The sound and the feel of these drive-trains is just as much a part of the experience as the looks. If you’re going to go with a modern V8, you’ve lost two out of three. 115 horses would nicely cruise these cars at 70 mph. Yeah, it took awhile to get there but that has nothing to do with modern traffic requirements. Seventy mph is fast enough. These engines were incredibly durable, and on modern sulphur-free fuels and modern oils they’ll last much longer than their previous enviable record.
Just give me the experience of driving these cars as they were. I would make two discrete improvements: more modern brakes (discs in front) – a concession to safety, and A/C.
Chrysler cars had the third brake light beginning with 1941 models, and disappearing in 1950. It would be a simple job to add duel-filament LEDs and rewire the tail lamps such that all three would go on with the brakes. I imagine the original concern was that the old1157 bulbs did not glow enough brighter when brakes were applied to convey the message to rearward drivers.
Power windows?! Have you ever seen the elegant window winders on these Chryslers with their spring-return folding handles? OMG, NO!!!!! They are part of the experience! Power steering? You know your grandmother could parallel-park these old monsters without any assist. So can you.
You want speed and creature comforts? Just move up a couple decades to the ‘60s and you can have your cake and eat it too. PS, PB, tilt, cruise, PW, a 413 V8. But PLEASE, leave cars like this alone.
To me and I don’t know about others nothing is or sounds worse than a Cadillac or Lincoln with glass packs on it. Then to further murder the car customize it with graphics flames bucket seats etc. And while I respect everyones choice (kind of) car enthusiasts just don’t do that. That’s not to say don’t modernize the mechanics.
I’ve certainly left the straight eight and fluid drive in my 48 New Yorker alone. The straight eight was just too nice to molest. But a flat head 6, I’m sorry I’d have to do something differently.