1962 was a year of changes – both for the Country and for The Chrysler Corporation in particular. DeSoto was gone. Virgil Exner, the legendary designer of the “Forward Look” Mopars, would be gone by the end of that year as well. The tailfin era had come to a close, and the 1962 Chryslers were shorn of their wings, prompting Exner to describe them as “plucked chickens”. This 1962 Chrysler Windsor for sale here on craigslist is located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, with an asking price of $6,500.
American enthusiasts will point out that there was no 1962 Windsor sold in the USA, but the name continued in Canada through 1966 model year. In the US these were sold as Newports. They were popular cars that year, selling 83,120 units in the US.
Have spent decades in such such a wet climate, rust is an important consideration – cars from the Pacific Northwest often rust from the top down instead of the more-common bottom-up rust from snow county. The seller states there is a “pin hole” around a headlight, and “maybe” some rust under the chrome. They also say the car has been the family since new and never driven in winter. No close-up photos are provided, but from a distance the body look relatively straight and solid. The seller adds the caveat “don’t expect the car to be like new it needs some body and paint job.”
Motivation comes from the venerable Chrysler “B” series big block power plant, this one the 361 cubic inch variety. The engine would later grow to the well-known 383 and 400 displacements. All “B” engines share the same stroke and many common parts, most of which are still readily available. This example also sports power steering and brakes. The orange overspray indicates the motor has been repainted at some point, the original color would have been turquoise. The transmission should be the (new for 1962) aluminum case Torqueflite with push button shift.
The cockpit appears to still have the original upholstery front and back, and the dash pad and other soft parts look relatively unscathed from the elements. Chryslers of this era had the famous AstraDome instrument panel, featuring a clear plastic bubble with a three-dimensional array of instruments underneath. At night, the gauges are bathed in electroluminescent blue light, a look emulated by Hollywood on sci-fi set designs for decades thereafter. No word on whether all are functional.
The seller is asking $6,500 for this cruiser, but does not state whether that is US or Canadian dollars (if Canadian, that translates today to about $4,960 USD). While these don’t have nearly the collector following of the fire-breathing long-ram 300’s of that era, they remain popular among the resto, custom and lowrider communities. Would you drive this as-is, do a factory resto, or use this as a starting point to build something more custom?
Neat car. I recall when I was a meter reader for our utility company, some 27-28 years ago, there was a convertible just like it parked on the side of a house right by the Babylon Village, NY marina. I could only see it from the front, but the top was gone so I assume the interior and all the floors were gone as well. What a shame.
This car has great possibilities, First off just get it cleaned p and working and hope there are no big surprises, and then fall in love with at decide what is the best for the car and you. I think it could be a big hit no matter what direction it might go. Its is just too cool!
For one direction, check out the current issue of Hot Rod Magazine.
Nice car. I live on Vancouver Island and we don’t get rust here nearly as bad as many areas. We rarely ever get snow, so rarely salt.
The car is smiling cause it knows it’s that cool
Very handsome car! Has a custom car look to it even though it’s stock and original.
My younger sister bought a ’61 version of this as her first car. The thing felt even huger (if the POTUS can mangle the English language, so can I) than it was. I easily put my full size bicycle in the trunk.
The her version still had the tail fins. But the best thing about it was the dashboard. Style wise it felt like it was some fantastic combination of art deco and ’50 sci-fi movie design.
fcs, you post was the most super-ginormous post ever in the history of ginormous posts. America is really starting to grate again.
My Father ordered a new 1962 Dodge 880 convetible, (this car with a Dodge front end). He had been dealing with this Chrysler/Dodge dealership since 1946.
He ordered blue on blue interior and blue top. It came in with a black interior and top. He refused it. The dealership owner offered a Chrysler at the same price. He called his factory contact who said all blue convertible got black tops and interiors even though the sales material at the dealership said otherwise. My Father rarely cussed, but he did then.
I took him two blocks down the street to the Pontiac dealership. I asked how many top colors on a Catalina Convertible? The reply was 5 or 7; let’s look. He ordered a bamboo cream convertible with darker top and tan interor. It came in as ordered in 4 or 5 weeks, He never owned another Dodge.
Pontiac was huge with conquest sales back then. My dad worked for Chrysler Aerospace from 59-on, so many in his office had Pontiacs that the company rented space down the street for parking. Neat Chrysler!
I had 62 new Yorker that someone had fitted with a later model 440 hp. We called it the cross eyed Chrysler. . It floated down the road straight pipes no mufflers with H pipe sounded sweet around 120 mph with plenty to go.
Nice car
Great price
I love my ’62 Chrysler 300 Sport Convertible….no P.S. or P.B. but has leather, limited slip and 3 speed on the floor.
man that’s a rare floor shift car !
Well I have the 62 Newport, and same basic story. Great grandfather bought new, been in family all its life. Has 17,000 miles. I am now to the point of do I sell it, make it run and drive as it is is (kind of same condition as this one even the rust), or do a little work air ride, new motor, wheels and enjoy…. Tough choices.
Best instrument panel design EVER ! The back lighting resembles INDIGO, by Timex. I believe that a step up transformer to 25 VDC was used to power the lighting.
Better if it was a ragtop. But either way this body style lends itself well to a stylish muscle/touring restomod.I am eyeing a ’62 in 300 trim for just such a conversion.
My one of a kind 300H. My uncle ordered it new in Forest Green.
Being a Canadian-built Chrysler Windsor the engine should be red – Mopar engine red. Torqueflite automatic, back up lights and wheel covers were standard on the Windsor models – 2 and 4 door hardtop, and 4 door sedan. Newport convertibles and wagons were imported.
They don’t show a photo of the rear, but the Canadian Windsor and Saratoga (no 300 in Canada) used the New Yorker trunk lid trim. And the wheel covers on this Windsor are correct for a Canadian 1962 Chrysler – modified 1961 Dodge covers. The rocker trim was optional on the Windsor.
Chrysler of Canada built 1,618 1962 Windsor 2 door hardtops. 10,292 Newport 2 door hardtops were built in the U.S.
Nice looking car, though. Would drive it as is, and fix up anything that needed looking after. No way should this car be used as a starting point for something custom. It’s far too nice a condition for that.