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Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional
example of this extraordinarily rare 1931 Chrysler CD 2nd Series
124" Dual Cowl Phaeton with original coachwork by 'Locke amp;
Company' of New York with it's original CD 2nd series 261 88HP 8
cylinder engine, original 4 speed non-synchromesh transmission with
hydraulic brakes, and still beautifully presented in a stunning
two-tone Green color paint with all body panels obviously removed,
stripped and media blasted prior to being restored, beautiful
chrome and light lenses and grille and a gorgeous matching Green
leather interior!This particular 1931 Chrysler CD Dual Cowl Phaeton
has beautiful and adventurous Dual Cowl styling and is a striking
restoration and presentation of the iconic Art Deco bodystyle of
the 1930's, it's a former AACA First Place Award winner which has
reportedly been driven less than 3,000 miles since it's frame off
restoration. It was previously owned by renown Pennsylvania
collector Bernard Berman until 1990 when it passed into the hands
of the equally renown John E. Morgan Collection Museum. The car is
an older restoration that was an AACA National First Prize winner
back in 1971 which has been extraordinarily well preserved, with
reportedly less than 3,000 miles since the restoration, and which
has absolutely no rust with no signs or history of any accidents -
one very rare example and one of a reportedly 113 total production
build! The car has it's seemingly original or at the very least
very period correct tan canvas convertible top and frame with no
rips or tears and which is perfectly functional with the original
wood bows in superb shape, it's original steering wheel, dual
factory spare wheels mounted on the fenders, original gauges with
all the options working as they should including all the gauges and
lights.Walter P. Chrysler's first automobile bearing his own name
was built at Detroit's former Chalmers plant and made its debut in
January of 1924. It was a well-engineered and innovative vehicle
that was medium priced and its six-cylinder engine offered above
average performance. The new Chrysler had a tubular front axle,
full pressure lubrication, aluminum pistons, solid front amp; live
rear axles with semi-elliptic leaf-spring suspension, and four
wheel hydraulic drum brakes. During its first year of production
more than 32,000 examples were sold. Chrysler quickly built
reputation for their excellent performance and durability, and this
was proven during the late 1920s and early 1930s in top racing
events, including the 24 Hours of LeMans, Spa 24 Hours, and the
Mille Miglia.In 1926, Walter P. Chrysler decided to compete with
North American marques Cadillac, Lincoln, Packard, Pierce Arrow,
Cord, and Duesenberg in the luxury car field. Chrysler offered a
variety of body styles: a two/four-passenger roadster (four
passenger if car had the rumble seat a four-seat coupe,
five-passenger sedan and phaeton, and a seven-passenger
top-of-the-line limousine. The limo had a glass partition between
the front and rear passenger compartments.The 1930s saw Chrysler
introducing its Imperial Eight and continued updates to its core
six-cylinder models. It was no accident that Chrysler, the flagship
of Walter Chrysler's automotive empire, was the last marque in the
company to adopt a straight eight engine. It is significant however
that it's Eight was the best of the three, larger than those of the
1930 DeSoto or Dodge. In fact there were 4 Chrysler Eights. The
smallest a 240 cubic inch was shared with Dodge. There was a new
261 cubic inch power plant, an intermediate 282 cubic inch unit,
and the Imperial had a massive 385 cubic inch, 125 brake horsepower
unit derived from the earlier Imperial Six. The series CD cars are
the most confusing. Initially the 'New Eight' produced in the First
Series was with the 240 c.i. engine from July 1930, the CD gained a
second series in January 1931 with the 88 HP 261 c.i. engine, as
this particular car was born with. Finally the CD Deluxe Eight
engine debuted in May 1931 with power from an L-head 282.1
cubic-inch engine offering 100 horsepower and mated to a four-speed
'multi-range' transmission. Bodystyles included a convertible
coupes, Royale, roadster, and sedan.This 1931 Chrysler CD Dual Cowl
Phaeton with a 'Locke amp; Co' semi custom Dual Cowl Phaeton body
is reportedly one of just 113 examples built and with obviously
very few known to remain. Power is from the second series 261
cubic-inch L-head eight-cylinder engine offering 88 horsepower and
tied to a four speed manual transmission. It has the renown 'Locke
amp; Company' of New York semi custom coachwork and the front is
the striking sculptured grille with an Art Deco design, flanked by
large bullet shaped headlamps with Trippe Safety lights below.
There are sweeping front fenders accented by dual side-mounted
spares. In the back it a luggage pack. It rides on wide whitewall
tires mounted on cream colored wire wheels. The exterior is
finished in two-tone green paint. It is a previous AACA First Place
Award winner and has reportedly been driven less than 3,000 since
its full restoration was completed.Between 1925 and 1932, the
'Locke amp; Company' of Rochester NY's plant specialized in open
bodies, and produced a large number of beautiful, series-built
cabriolets, phaetons, dual-cowl phaetons, convertible sedans,
convertible Victorias, roadsters and sport tourings for Chrysler,
Duesenberg ,Franklin, Graham, Lincoln, Marmon, Packard,
Pierce-Arrow, Ruxton and Stutz, most of which were advertised as
customs or factory, although they built regular production bodies
as well. A few closed bodies were produced, mostly for show cars,
(for example a beautiful black 1930 Ruxton five-passenger sedan
shown at the 1929 Chicago Salon) but none in any significant
numbers.On rumble seat equipped roadsters, Locke offered a nifty
little side door that allowed entry and exit without having to
crawl over the body. Other roadsters were built with a completely
disappearing top which folded into a purpose-built cavity covered
by a hinged deck panel. Some Locke convertible Victorias featured a
right front seat that slid forward - rather than tipped forward as
was the stand practice of the time. Bodies built for long wheelbase
chassis could also be equipped with a rumble seat, an option
normally found only on roadster bodies. So equipped, the
manufacturer could boast a true 7- passenger seating capacity in a
two-door convertible.For their dual-cowl phaeton bodies, sometimes
marketed as convertible touring sedans, Locke developed an
ingenious counterbalanced rear cowl that raised automatically
whenever either rear door was opened. However ingenious Lockes open
bodies were, they had no effect on the power of the Depression.
When the flow of new factory orders evaporated in 1932, Locke's
Rochester plant and their Manhattan facility soon had to close
doors.This striking 1931 Chrysler CD Dual Cowl Phaeton features all
the fine attributes for which this elegant and magnificent motorcar
is known. As 1 of just 113 built, this grand Phaeton is a special
car commanding attention wherever it goes. Starting from the finely
sculptured grille featuring gleaming Art Deco design, flanked by
huge bullet shaped headlamps with Trippe Safety lights below, its
long and sweeping front fenders are nicely accented by dual
side-mounted spares and its immense length is accented by a rear
luggage rack. Wide whitewall tires, mounted on cream colored wire
wheels, offer a nice contrast to the striking two-tone green body
finish. Chrysler engineering always dictated that their engines
were reliable, and this straight-eight is no exception. Smooth,
powerful, and uncannily quiet operation were just a few of the
hallmarks tha...for more information please contact the seller.
