It’s not often that you find a nearly 70-year-old car that is said to be original, especially when it comes to the paint. If true, this 1950 Chrysler Windsor Coupe found here on Craigslist in Scott City, Kansas, would make for a incredible preservation find.
The seller states that the paint is original but it does look like the right rear quarter has possibly had some work done at some point. There is a definite color different from the door to the quarter on that side. Could it have been repaired after a small fender bender? It’s hard to tell from the picture but it looks like there might be a blend line below the sail panel. The stated nicks and scratches would certainly add to the originality, though.
This classy Chrysler looks to have been maintained very well through the years. As expected, the interior has been replaced. It simply looks too nice to have almost 70 years worth of age. Even so, it looks very nice and adds to the overall condition of this car. There is no mention of the 85,000 miles being all original to the six-cylinder engine.
The seller adds a nice selling point by saying that the car runs and drives like 1950. For those interested, this sort of sentiment might cause daydreaming of weekend or evening cruises around town. The $6,500 price tag doesn’t seem like a hefty price to pay for a decent old car like this one. Is it “original” enough to be labeled as such?
A trick of the light, or is there 2 shades of green on the drivers side?
No trick; I saw that too. 68 year old car probably had a dent or two ironed out in it’s life. I can’t fault that. This, to me, is an EXCELLENT well-cared for car for $6500. This was the year before the 331 Hemi came out, so a six is just fine. My Dad had a `52 Saratoga sedan with the Hemi, and twice he got teased at red lights by kids, and beat `em–so he said. Mom just said that car was “frightfully fast”!
I agree. But, write up says left side. That could be a brain cramp, too.
I used to see one in this same color driving around Los Angeles 15-20 years ago. Looked almost as nice as this one.
Really like these simple everyman type of cars. Been keeping my eyes open for one with a manual. If it had one I would be calling the owner up and planning a trip.
I may be wrong but didn’t all of these Chryslers come with the MOPAR fluid drive? Was there a manual available? I grew up with a massive 1948 Windsor four door. Great long distance crusing car but OMG, So Slow from a green light. I road tested a “50 Windsor sedan a year ago in great condition. Just seeing cars behind you trying to get out from behind was so uncomfortable. I was trying so hard to accelerate. Still……I like this car, wish I had the room for it.
Smokey, I just looked it up and you are right. They were all fluid drive in these years. I had been looking at adds that listed the cars as manuals and assumed that was what they were. Most likely they posted it as manual because it had the third peddle and the seller didn’t know the difference.
I like the look and flat head sixes so they were calling me.
Thanks for setting me straight.
In Canada, only the high level Chryslers had fluid drive standard, although the “safety clutch” imprint on the pedal indicates this car does. They could be left in second gear all the time for shiftless/pedal less driving, or even third if you were into leisurely motoring.
If I would by it I would want to convert it to a 12 volt electrical system and put pertronix ignition in it because I have bad memories of driving the old 6 volt cars with there hard starting especially in winter months in south east Pa. The interior is ok but I would pull out the seats and have tuck buttons installed to dress up those plain, bland looking seats and put some custom wheels/ tires on also.
To SMS……… Well, I guess in a way it could be driven like a manual. Especially for a little faster get-away from the green light. There was a lower gear available for that, and a lot of Chrysler drivers used that a lot. But you would need to use the clutch for that lower gear. Otherwise the car could just be driven all day with just the gas pedal and brakes. But back then remember that most all cars were rather slow yet. BTW, just because it was a six cylinder didn’t mean it would get good mileage. Our big ole’ ’48 Windsor did about 10 mpg in town and maybe 12mpg to almost 15 mpg on the road.
Had a ’40 Hudson with a flat head six. So smooth and quiet. That is why I like them. Surprised about the millage though. My Hudson got 20-23 around town
This is not a Barn Find . I am tired of seeing these perfect cars.
What would you like them to do?
The are pumping out a considerable amount if featured threads, more than the used to. I personally like older American muscle cars, SS396 Chevelle’s, Cuda’s, GTO’s 442’s, Buick GS’s not their base 2 doors. But even that would get boring. I clicked on this car, solely because of its apparent condition and wanted to read about its history, not because I’m infatuated by that era of Mopar.
There is a simple solution, skip the cars you aren’t interested in, something else will likely come along almost everyday that should peak you curiosity.
Steve R
I would rather see these affordable turn key cars, like the earlier Chevy Nova today, than rusty hulks in fields and bushes all the time.
Truth is there are only so many actual barn find cars to find, it stands to reason that other posts are needed to keep this site going. I’m very ok with what has be put up. A Steve said if your not liking a car then don’t click on it.
Ad was posted 17 days ago. Somewhat surprising it’s still available. Looks like a good deal for a Cars n Coffee cruiser.
I hope whomever buys this leaves it as is. Originality is where it’s at when it comes to appreciation value. Too many classics are messed with these days.
In an era where the last of the boomers are buying classics as opposed to foreign made tuner cars, like the youth of today are, we all need to learn to slow down and just enjoy the ride in a classic like this one. 😁
Doesn’t look like a 50′, my uncle had one after he gave his 48 to his brother, this is a later one, maybe 54-55??
No later than 52 still has the bolt on rear fenders. 53 had flat sides.
I dig the vintage Texaco gas station in the back ground. Not sure if its real working station but very kool indeed.
How could it be? The pumps only go up to 99c a gallon, they don’t accept credit cards, & don’t have the emission nozzles. & there’s no mid grade pump.
I bet the stickers on the side of the phony pumps say “contains lead”.
& i bet no one makes parts anymore for mechanical dial pumps.
Do we know where this station is located?
Back when these were new , a guy on our block had a Chrysler 2 door just like this , he married a girl and bought her one just like his . I remember seeing the two exact look a like Chryslers setting in his drive way, his next car was a 1958 Caddy 2 door , different story on that one
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Your Hudson was probably a lot lighter than this huge “48 Windsor . And, the semi-automatic Fluid Drive transmission, tho very smooth and easy to operate, was a great power wasting slush bucket. Especially for just around town driving. I still loved that big old car a lot! It also had a Muti-colored light in the speedometer. It started out green at lower speeds, then blue, then a kind of yellow as you gained speed. If you went much over 60 it started to turn red! And Mom kept an eye on the colors. If it got into the red, mom would always comment on that. Of course it only worked like that IF the dash lights were on, so dad was happy about that.
Gotta love Moms!!
Buy it and DRIVE it! I love the instrument cluster!
Beautiful car. Seems so cheap seen here from France…if it wee next door, I would almost think about buying it!
All 1950 Chryslers came with Fluid Drive – but remember, Fluid Drive is not a transmission. It is a fluid coupling mounted between the engine and the clutch, with a ring gear for the starter.
The Royal had the three speed manual as standard equipment, so you could shift gears (with the clutch) and not have to worry about stalling it (thanks to Fluid Drive).
Chrysler’s 4 speed semi-automatic, known as Prestomatic in 1949-50, was standard on all but the Royal, which had it as a $120.90 option. You needed the clutch to shift between low, high, reverse and neutral, but the shifts between low and high within the two ranges were done almost automatically. You had to take your foot off the gas to let the unit shift. It would downshift automatically as you slowed down to a stop.
No matter if you chose the Royal with a manual transmission or the Windsor and its semi-automatic, you would be enjoying a nice leasurely drive. Your tires would last much longer on your Chrysler as opposed to the Olds 88 with it 303-cid V8.
In Canada for 1950, Fluid Drive was standard on Dodge Custom (Coronet in the US), DeSoto Custom, and Chrysler Royal and Windsor. But the semiautomatic transmission was standard on all but the Royal. As in the US, the Royal came standard with a 3 speed manual transmission.
I had more or less the same car a couple years back. 50k miles on it. Took awhile to sell it and eventually got $4,250 for it. Fluid Drive was fun though took a little getting used to. One thing to be aware of is the cost of the brake system. When I bought mine it had no working brakes. Master cylinder was tough to find and $250 when I did. Wheel cylinders were shot and there are 2 per wheel in the front (singles in the back), those are $60 bucks a piece as well.
Trim pieces are also quite hard to find in good nick, so if this is your type of car get the best one you can find. Quite peppy for it’s size, even with the straight 6 engine.