The 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country is one of those wagons that seemed to get everything just right, offering a high level of luxury for passenger comfort plus a powerful V8 under the hood for the driver to enjoy. The biggest drawback was cost, as these were quite expensive for the period, so they weren’t exactly a huge seller in the brand’s lineup. The seller of this 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country wagon here on Craigslist says only 1,100 were produced for this year’s model, so this one’s sort of a rarity plus it’s also got an interesting story. This full-size station wagon is in Boone, Iowa, with the seller aiming for $7,500. We’d like to thank reader Henry Reining for sending us the tip here!
Our tale begins with the wagon’s origin, which is said to have been an auto graveyard. It’s hard to believe nowadays that somebody would just junk a vintage wagon such as this, but back in the day, that was often the norm. The seller doesn’t mention how long it sat in the scrap yard or when he came to the rescue, but it was enough time for somebody to snag the mighty 331 Hemi and the transmission. A 318 from a 1969 Plymouth Fury is in the bay now, along with a TorqueFlite presumably from the same vehicle. The transmission is said to be working but may need some attention, although the engine has already been rebuilt. Out back is a 3.50-gear 9-inch Ford rear end, with the wagon said to be running and driving fairly well, though it’s yet to have experienced much pavement besides a few trips around the block.
The exterior originally started out green, then was resprayed a cream color, and finally ended up being the color we’re seeing now. The seller made a couple of body repairs and painted these areas, but just buffed the remainder of the body. A tough decision will be facing the next owner, and that’s whether to leave this one with the patina as-is, or finish the bodywork and give the outside a fresh coat of paint.
The Rat Rod theme continues inside, including a Mustang floor shifter and steering column, with the latter connected to a modified Vega steering box. Rust repairs have already been made on the front floors, plus all of the wiring has been replaced, so it’ll be up to the future owner how much further to bring the interior condition up to. The seller says there are still a few bugs to be worked out, but it seems like a good start, and I’m not sure that the $7,500 asking price is excessive here. What are your thoughts on this 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country Wagon?
It certainly would be an outlier at any Cars and Coffee, even in my underpopulated q-zone. We took some on trade in the late ’50’s and early ’60’s and they were comfortable enough for my Father to have Mom driving one as often as a cream puff came into our inventory. I even remember one with no hood, a high rise manifold and two four bbl’s sitting up there like the king of the mountain. Someone must have had the car on his radar because it was gone the next day by the time I punched in for my work shift. It’s hard to recall what a small minority of people would identify as hot rodders back in those days. And the only guy we knew who was a collector was Bill Harrah. Now I would bet there to be a couple of hundred “collectors” with 100 cars in inventory and a staff to maintain them. I cannot recall the last time I went looking for a Cad-LaSalle three speed manual transmission.
The hemi was complicated, the 318 in it now is a better engine for it in so many ways. Similar HP and so much more reliable. Actually, a nice 230.2 flathead, not originally available in this car, would have been a good period choice.
These were really nice cars in their day, not worth it (for me, at least) to try and rescue this one from its present “rat rod” condition.
It would not be fun.
Just paint it, get the problems sorted, and then drive tires off it.
What a blast from the past this car is! Haven’t seen one in over
50 plus years. Last time I saw one in the flesh was 1966 when I
was at the market with my Mom. Helped the lady who owned it
load her groceries into it and then I loaded Ours. Even got a tip
from the lady and I put it in the offering plate at church on Sunday morning. Ah, what memories this brings back.
Sweet car, don’t see why it’s a rat rod, just original..
Put in a headliner, preserve the exterior as is , sort any mechanicals and go!
Wow, well I would definitely get rid of the Vega and Mustang parts and go with Chrysler Dodge parts. Maybe see if Volare or Aspen parts would work keeping it Dodge Chrysler and swapping the front suspension would be a easier option to convert to disk brakes makes me wish my garage was built already this would be a fun toy
An expensive undertaking depending on the extent of the restoration. The 1954 Chryslers were nice, great lines & interiors.
I’d buy that for $7500 – damn good thing I’m way out east.
I have owned 3 Hemi’s they only thing complicated is the dule points, I saved mine from the bone yard and that old hemi has been performing perfectly better than my newer cars. Mine is a newport Windsor Deluxe with a 354 Imperial engin, the original motor was a polly motor –piece of junk–I think it was called a 301. I have been driving this ol girl for 33 years. Why they would change the steering column makes no sense mine will turn with one finger sitting still. A 318 in a rat-rod ?? I would have gone for a 440, with a 727 trani. Was never to impressed with the 318. Mine weighs 2and a quarter tons to much for a 318. That wagon would look nice jet black with some nice chrome wheels and baby moons and a big ol 440.
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This car is not worth squat to anybody but a collector, or someone looking for this exact type car, then the price is just fine. Unlike some lost causes, this will increase in $, it’s worth restoring back to original. Best of luck to the owner.
Seller has put about the ask in this – I’d say a good buy if that’s what you are looking for…..
I spent many hours staring at the gauge cluster in our ’54 New Yorker Deluxe, clicking the bright light indicator on and off. It was a red crown, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Does anyone else remember when bright light indicators were different and cool? Ours was this same basic color combination, but in reverse, and had gold-anodized stars on the wheel covers. I tried to get my dad to keep the car for me to drive when I was old enough, but it had a transmission leak. I can still remember us speeding down the highway, windows up, A/C on, and both of my parents smoking.
I was the last family caretaker for my Grandfather’s ’54 New Yorker Deluxe. Lost my storage and had to let it go back in the ’90s.