Well, it’s not a two-door station wagon, a body style that often, today, captures the imagination, but this 1953 Chrysler Windsor discovery, courtesy of jonny, is still a fine find. The seller suggests that this wagon is a “scarce” model, so let’s dive in and see what we can learn about it. Located in Bozeman, Montana, this one-time example of Chrysler’s suburban staple is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $3,995.

Scarce is a good description for this wagon as it’s one of only 1,200 produced in ’52. Throw in the New Yorker version of the Town and Country and you up the wagon number by only another 1,400 units. And today, 70 years on…yeah, it’s a scarce one. Specifically, this car is considered very complete minus its Town & Country badges. But that’s not exactly the case as there are other missing things like the taillights and rear trim. And speaking of the trim, what’s there is pretty forlorn – the chrome-plated bumpers, however, aren’t too bad. Yes, it has surface rust and some isolated rust through here and there. Dents? Yup, those too. The seller suggests, “This car can certainly be restored or it might make a wonderful parts car if you are restoring a rusty car like this“. Parts car? I dunno about that, this one seems better than being reduced to that ignominious fate.

This 1953 Chrysler is Hemi-less, being powered, when running, by a 119 HP, 264 CI, flathead, in-line six-cylinder engine – doesn’t sound very Chrysler-like, but that’s the way the Windsor rolled in ’53. It’s obviously missing parts and the seller suggests that it’s “stuck“. Too bad, but it’s a pitchable engine anyway. A three-speed manual transmission handles the real wheel connection.

The interior is rough! The driver’s side floor is wearing some pretty sizeable holes and the upholstery has gone up in fluff. Unfortunately, the genuine wood cargo floor looks as if it has become termite fodder – too bad as the combination of the wooden components and the stainless trim was probably very impressive looking in the years that have gone by. The spare tire well, under the cargo floor, is probably going to need some metalwork. Unusual for the era, with a premium car anyway, is the austerity of the instrument panel. It looks like 1953 but not what I would expect in a Chrysler – it’s more like a Plymouth outfit.

Well, this Chrysler has its shortcomings but I still don’t think it’s in a parts car class. The necessary metalwork doesn’t seem to be extreme, and as for the engine room problem, “Put a Hemi in it!”, right?