Vehicle Description
1955 Chrysler New Yorker
Harry S. Truman, (born May 8, 1884, Lamar, Missouri, U.S.-died
December 26, 1972, Kansas City, Missouri), 33rd president of the
United States (1945-53), who led his country through the final
stages of World War II and through the early years of the Cold War,
vigorously opposing Soviet expansionism in Europe and sending U.S.
forces to turn back a communist invasion of South Korea.
A piece of history in our midst, in the form of a Chrysler New
Yorker Deluxe, and a special twist as it was former president Harry
S Truman's personal vehicle after he left office. Several photos of
Harry driving the car for his daughter's wedding, and it has spent
time in the actual Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. Now fully
restored and looking like it's in its original glory.
Exterior
A wide trimmed split front grille with another horizontal trim
piece below and a nicely curved bumper framing the bottom with
signal lights attached to the top of said bumper, leads the way. A
big cloisonne badge is on the small "beak" in the grille are
flanked at the end of each front quarter panel with a wide chrome
bezel single headlight. A nicely shaped bulbous but overdone hood
makes its way to the wide trimmed curved front glass. The remainder
of the passenger compartment glass is surrounded by thin trimmings.
Black paint covers all the steel panels, which are all rust free.
Some of these show slight cracking and crazing from an earlier
restoration when this car was initially completed. On either side
is an ever-widening trim spear in beautiful shiny chrome. Just past
the B pillars are open vents which feed an air conditioning/cooling
system which is housed in the trunk. On back the big chrome theme
continues with upper rear quarter trimmings that are basically
chromed tail fins housing the cathedral style taillights. Just
below are oval backup lights and a thick shiny wrap around bumper
with dual chrome tipped exhaust outlets peeking out below. Wide
whites wrap pristine wire spoked wheels with center knock off hums.
Make no mistake this car is very large... I guess we could call it
"Presidential"!
Interior
Inside swinging near perfect doors which are covered with wide
stitched and padded upper panels in tan leather, have a chrome
curved delineation applique, and below show a beautifully molded
darker tan lower and seamless armrest. A shiny actuator lever and a
power window toggle panel are also within this door panel. Inside
warm tan broadcloth power activated seats with various stitches in
textures have been recovered to emulate the originals but have all
new coverings. Upfront a wonderfully sculpted undulating dash
befitting of the Chrysler moniker houses all the gauges one needs
to monitor while driving this automobile. Curved two tone deep gold
mixes with dark tan painted metal. Shiny bezels, a shifter in the
dash and perfectly chromed knobs pepper this dash with all the
essential switches and below a shiny chromed panel houses the
ignition, ashtray, and a cowl vent slider. A Town and Country radio
is neatly installed and for the passenger a tan painted glove box
covering door is curvaceous to the point of making Raquel Welch
jealous, and sports some vertical opening for the speaker and a
circular clock above. Thick pile brown carpeting covers the floors
and is the perfect landing spot for those wingtips so they will not
have their spot shine marred! "The buck stops here!"
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a completely restored numbers matching 331ci Hemi
V8 engine fed on top by a single 4-barrel carburetor. On the back
is a 2-speed Powerflite automatic transmission, and way back for
the axle it has 3.36 gears. All is very nice under this hood. "If
you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" The engine
cranks but does not start...similar to a post war economy.
Undercarriage
All fully restored and undercoated neatly, just a light coating of
surface rust on the exhaust piping. All else is black and
structurally sound. Floor pans look nearly as new. Power drum
brakes are all around and for the front independent coil springs
provide the ride, in back the task is left for the leaf springs. "I
found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did
the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and
enthusiasm and hard work."
A nicely restored former President turned private citizen
automobile, spending time in his library, and well documented as to
its history. Also, a list of the car's condition from virtually
every angle can be looked over if you are interested in this car.
Some of it is seemingly picayune, some possibly important, but
overall, this car has a great history and is a very nice car, it
just does not run!
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
