1948 Chrysler Windsor - $29,900 - Orange Village, OH - Rare Highlander interior. Nice older restoration in good order and ready to enjoy. A nice change of pace compared to all the Ford and Chevys out there.
This 1948 Chrysler Windsor convertible offers a lot of charm in a reasonably-sized package. With a restoration that’s probably 10 or 15 years old, it remains in very good condition with shiny burgundy paint that always looks right on a late-40s convertible. Fit and finish are quite good and there’s little indication that this car was ever rusty or pieced together. The doors open and close with a reassuring solidity, the hood snugs down without a slam, and the trunk fits flush with the deck. In short, someone took their time putting it back together. Of course, it’s not perfect and shows some signs of use, but careful maintenance and a recent freshening give it a lot of curb appeal. The chrome and brightwork remain in very good to excellent condition, including the nicely detailed hood ornament and ornate grille, which probably cost a small fortune to restore.
Perhaps the Windsor’s most endearing feature is the “Highlander” interior, which features handsome blue and red plaid upholstery. We know it’s not for everyone, but if you’re a fan of these cars, you know it’s the one must-have feature that practically defines Chrysler’s post-war interior styling. The upholstery is quite accurate and nicely finished, with burgundy leather and vinyl trim to tie it all together. Matching burgundy carpets were installed and show only very minor wear, while the back seat looks virtually unused since it was completed. The instrument panel frames a complete set of gauges with a big speedometer in the center and unique backlighting that was a big selling point on these cars. The center stack offers a unique vertically-mounted AM radio with the heater controls arrayed along the bottom. Fluid-Drive was available across the Chrysler lineup, and offers the conveniences of an automatic transmission with the ruggedness and simplicity of a manual. There’s a nice tan top overhead that’s power actuated and the trunk is simply finished with a rubber mat and correct cardboard side panels.
Renowned for their durability and smoothness, the 250 cubic inch inline-six under the hood is a sprightly performer in the mid-sized Windsor. The engine itself wears correct silver enamel, and although it shows signs of being driven and enjoyed over the past few years, it remains a great road car. It starts easily and pulls the stylish ragtop around easily, and we’ve found that it’s simply easiest to leave the transmission in high range and let the engine’s great low-end torque pull it away from a stop. It still uses a correct oil bath carburetor and original ignition system, but its road manners feel quite contemporary in comparison to much of its competition. Braking is confidence-inspiring and the suspension feels agile around town but supple on the interstates, which this car will cruise happily at 55-60 MPH all day. Steel wheels are fitted with shiny hubcaps and correct-style bias-ply wide whites.
A fun, stylish, and rather unusual convertible, this Windsor makes a strong argument for Chrysler’s engineering prowess following the war. Easy to maintain and downright fun to drive.
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