The majesty of cars from the late 1920s and early 1930s is impressive even today. Every car maker was on the bandwagon, showcasing big sedans, big tourers, big phaetons. We forget now – as we look at our nearly homogenous modern car choices – but Chrysler, alongside Ford and many of its brethren, weren’t just making big cars back then – they were innovating rapidly. This 1930 Chrysler 77 sedan, now in need of a new, caring home, brought several advancements to the market. Advertised on craigslist (for $9, which must be a teaser), it is located in Puyallup, Washington. Thanks to Barney for spotting her and sending the tip our way!
In 1924, Chrysler had branded its own line of cars after purchasing Maxwell a few years before. The first of these was known as the B-70, which was followed in quick succession by the G-70 and then the Series 70 cars. Bodied by Fisher and powered by an inline six-cylinder, Chrysler’s cars offered hydraulic brakes, rubber engine mounts for improved ride, full-pressure lubrication, and more horsepower than competitors. In fact, to market the improved performance, Chrysler shifted its nomenclature so it related to the top speed of each model: the Series 77 made a consistent top speed of 77 mph from its 93 hp, 4.4-liter L-head six. The seller notes that this engine does turn, but it has not been started in a couple of decades. The gearbox is a four-speed floor-shift manual.
The cabin might as well be your Aunt Evelyn’s parlor. The Art Deco gauge set, the embellished wood dash, and plush seating – and all of this in what was at the time a mid-priced car. The rear seats look like a loveseat from the Victorian era. The seller notes that the upholstery and paint are original; the tires are new.
The new Chrysler-branded models propelled the company to fourth in sales in the US by 1927, and thanks to a strategic acquisition shortly after, it grew to become one of America’s Big Three just two years later. The B-70 and its successors were crucial to growth, though as the years passed, Chrysler widened its range to cover nearly every niche that buyers could want. By the time 1930 rolled around, the Great Depression was underway, and sales had slowed. Fewer than 10,000 Series 77s were made that year, out of total production of about 78,000 units. This sedan cost almost $1800 new back then. What do you think it’s worth today?
9 Bucks and 999,999 miles? I’m in!!! But seriously, this is a very beautiful car. That interior definitely looks like its from “Aunt Evelyn’s” parlor, the Art Deco touches, not just on the dash, but even little things like the lights in the back seat are very elegant. I’m wondering whats going to happen to this 95 year old car? It would be nice to see it restored. Thank you Michelle!!! I enjoyed it.
Your comment about Aunt Evelyn’s parlor brought back some good memories Driveinstile. Only it was my Grandparents what i call my living room they always called their parlor. As a kid i always loved looking at everything in their parlor along with all the books in their book case which were older then me and where i became a passionate reader which i still enjoy.
I wonder how many zeros are missing and on which side of the 9? Another great pre-war survivor and miles ahead of Ford at the time. Hydraulic brakes, full pressure oiling, “floating power” rubber engine mounts, open drive shaft. Unfortunately interest in these vehicles is waning and a full restoration would put you upside down in a heartbeat. Best to get out the wash bucket and the shop-vac and clean clean clean ‘er up, get it running, check the brakes, change the fluids and drive it every chance you get.
I’d guess 3 zeros on the right Jim. Love your last sentence ending with
“get it running, check the brakes, change the fluids and drive it every chance you get.”
Yeah. Drive it every chance you get!!
I’d be caught dead in that!
The ‘floating power’ engine mounts were a subject in kid’s cartoons of the time, with the running engine floating in water with perhaps fish jumping about in the engine ‘bay’.
What a great car unfortunately their time has (sadly) come and gone. Interest in these vehicles has past the point on “waning” and should this vehicle find a new home it probably wouldn’t do much more than sit for another 10-20 years which truly is a shame. Still a nice find of a once prominent vehicle.
I would love to own this. No price was given?
Give it a good clean up, get it running and if runs good, DRIVE it as is.
Ad states $9000 in the description. Not a bad price. Hope you buy it. It deserves a good home.
If I didn’t have so many projects going, and had the room, I would go for it.
This is about 40 miles from me. And Christmas is coming!
LS Swap…for the holidays!
Would be criminal to modify this beautiful car.
Do it, you know you want to. Besides at that price spend the winter getting running and driving cut and buff the paint and double or triple your investment, and this close to the end of the year I bet you can get it for $5-7 cash
I like what’s behind it and to the right!!!
It looks to be a ’37 or 38 Hudson Terraplane.
Looks like a 1935 Mopar car in the background. BIDSTBC
I bet everyone here is happy I’m not buying it. Because this thing being part of Dodge I would get a Durango 4×4 and put the suspension engine and transmission into this thing so it could be a nice machine to get out and play
The bud vases that you can see in the pictures of the rear seating area are definitely a small reminder of the little things like that made a car like this Chrysler a cut above the pack. It’d be terrific if someone can get this vehicle operational again. GLWTS.
Slam it, bag it and chop the roof about 5. Inches & Save up for a 350 matched with a GM 400 series automatic.
What a wonderful old car, majesty is right Michelle. What’s not to like? I’d call it regal with the wood trim around the windows, the plush seats, and a straight six with all of the other goodies. It’s a beautiful symbol of the Roaring 20’s, which were unfortunately about to come to a screeching halt when this car was sold. I hope someone buys this old gal and treats her right. It would be awesome to see it running and cruising down the road.
is that all anybody knows or can say is LS swap?
$9 huh? A retired Navy Captain that I worked with years ago ow ed a Porsche 911 red with large tail. He seemed so out of sorts driving it. So one day I asked him about it. He told me that his wife bought it for $1. Then he told me that a doctor’s wife sold it because he left her for his receptionist. And she was told to liquidate their belongings :-)
Heard the same story, ‘cept it was a Corvette.
In 1988 I bought a DeLorean with 30k miles on it from a woman in Vacaville CA whose husband had run off with his secretary. He told her to drive it once in a while to keep it running, and on one such trip she got hit in the right front fender. She advertised it as “parting out” but I convinced her to not sell any parts off it. I was already planning a trip there for a relative’s wedding, so took my trailer and picked it up, for $7500. I already had a fender and front fascia (I sold DeLorean parts for 18 years). I put them on and sold it a few months later for $18,500. Those were the days when you could do that.
The ad also says $9000
Years back when prices were down I seen a very nice all restored one go for 5000 and I thought it seemed like a good deal for someone even in the recession
Looks like this one may have been restored once already. In the “70s and ’80s, cars like this were being sold very reasonably as opposed to Ford products that
required you to mortgage your house to buy even a Model A or a
V-8. These were called Brand X
cars by hot rodders who wouldn’t
give them a second thought. Get
it running, have it detailed, throw
in a couple of replica Tommy guns, and show it off at Old Town
on Saturday nights. Nice car though
Awesome car.