Vehicle Description
Attractive older restoration in period colors and materials.
Accessory windshield visor (removable). Great-running 251 cubic
inch six with Fluid Drive transmission. Massive trunk. A stylish
post-war coupe that's ideal for touring.Travelling salesman must
have been a much bigger career in the 1930s and '40s than it is
today, as almost every automaker built cars that catered to this
road-based profession. This 1947 Chrysler Windsor business coupe
was one of the more upscale offerings in this niche market, the car
for a successful salesman who wanted a bit more luxury than a
regular Chevy or Dodge might offer. Chrysler obliged with a
downright gorgeous 3-window coupe body style that perfectly
balanced the long hood and rounded deck lid around a compact
greenhouse. Dressed in basic black, it is the ideal 1940s
representative and the older restoration is holding up rather well.
There's a nice gloss to the paint and while there are a few minor
signs of use and age, there's really nothing that stands out as
needing attention. Note the way the front fenders blend into the
doors, the forward-canted B-pillar, and the rounded trunk, all of
which make this 3-window coupe look sleek and up-to-date in the
busy years following WWII. You'll also find Chrysler's trademark
eggcrate grille, which is in good condition with minimal pitting,
lots of polished stainless trim, and that cool visor over the
windshield that offers a little more protection from the sun's heat
(and it's completely removable with no holes to fill). This is a
great-looking car from any angle.The tan interior with a blue seat
is striking in person and is a common 1940s theme in near-luxury
cars. Code 19, Blue and Tan Broadcloth, is this car's original
combination and it looks fantastic in person. The cabin is spacious
with just a front bench seat, and there's cavernous storage behind
it. The dashboard was painted to match the blue upholstery, along
with the blue steering column and wheel, giving it a very cohesive
and stylish look. The tan carpets provide an anchor and use a short
loop design for durability. The instruments cover all the engine's
vitals and they're all operational except the clock, which is
typical. The center stack is dominated by the speaker for the
unique horizontally-oriented radio (which is sadly not functional)
with secondary controls underneath. You'll find lots of neat little
touches, including a courtesy light that also flashes to remind you
to disengage the emergency brake, multiple heater and defroster
units, and lots of chrome. The headliner is probably original and
remains in great shape for its age, and the downright massive trunk
is outfitted with a rubber mat, full-sized spare, and jack
assembly.The 251 cubic inch 'Spitfire' inline-6 was an excellent
choice in the Windsor. Like all Chrysler's six-cylinder engines,
it's smooth and torquey, not to mention virtually indestructible.
Dressed in corporate silver engine enamel it has a no-nonsense
look. It's also easy to maintain thanks to great parts
availability. We don't have any information on a rebuild, but this
one starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls the big coupe around
without seeming to work very hard. There's a nice 6-cylinder
grumble from the exhaust and a pleasing whirring sound from under
the hood that sounds expensive. It's equipped with an accessory oil
filter and shows plenty of signs of proper maintenance over the
years. It's backed by Chrysler's unusual Fluid Drive transmission,
which combines elements of both manual and automatic transmissions.
There's a clutch, but once you've engaged reverse, high, or low
range, you never have to use it again. That's because there's also
a fluid coupling, or torque converter, that makes driving in
traffic a snap-no clutch is needed. For normal driving, just leave
it in high range and it accelerates cleanly from a stop, and once
you're running about 20 MPH, briefly lift off the pedal and it'll
automatically shift into top gear. It's quite content at 60 MPH and
once you've spent some time with it, the Fluid Drive is easy to
use. 3.73 gears out back help make it feel lively around town and
the manual steering and drum brakes have modest effort so it's easy
to handle for almost anyone. The floors are in excellent shape and
it appears that the rockers have been rebuilt during the
restoration, although the inner rockers are not perfect-nothing
that's visible with the car on the ground. Recent tube shocks help
with surprisingly up-to-date road feel and the 6.70-15 Goodyear
wide whites are exactly the right choice on the big coupe.The more
time we spend with this handsome Windsor, the more we like it.
Chryslers of the period have a well-earned reputation for
reliability and durability, while the 3-window coupe styling makes
it stand out in a crowded field of '40s sedans. If you have a lot
of stuff to carry or like the idea of a big 2-seater coupe, this
beautiful Windsor definitely delivers. Call today!Harwood Motors
always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections
of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
