Vehicle Description
1948 Chrysler Royal
The Chrysler Building is one of the most beloved of New York City's
skyscrapers, an architectural manifestation of both the Art Deco
era and the automobile age. Famous as it may be, the Chrysler
Building holds many fascinating secrets, compounded by the fact
that it is difficult to visit and doesn't offer tours, unlike the
Woolworth Building and the Empire State Building. The Cloud Club
once belonged to a group of mile-high power lunch spots in New York
City atop the city's most distinctive skyscrapers. The New York
Times calls The Cloud Club "the inspiration for many of the
others." It was initially designed for Texaco, which occupied 14
floors of the Chrysler Building, and used as a restaurant for
executives. It opened with 300 members of New York City's business
elite.
For consignment, a 1 family owned car with believed to be an actual
58,534 original but unverifiable miles wearing a nice paint job and
clean post war lines. A fine example from 1948, hailing in the big
and plenty chrome era.
Exterior
Bathed in a Dove Gray respray, the big steel body is straight and
gaps are good. All chrome is still nicely polished and not much
fault can be found with it. In front there is plenty of chrome trim
interacting to form the eggcrate centrally peaked grille with
multiple layers. This emulates the peak of the hood and carries it
through down to the clean front bumper. Fenders with single
headlight showing off with chromed bezels and chrome grille bars
which wrap around the fenders and die off before the front wheel. A
nice hood ornament which is a flamboyant Chrysler badge leads off
the rounded bulbous hood and sits upon a long trim piece which runs
rearward to the front glass. The passenger cabin design with its
front split glass has a rearward canter, and more surrounding
chrome trimming wrapping all the other glass. On the rear quarters
are rounded bump outs to carry on the design from the front
fenders, with a belt line trim spear and more trimmings just above
the rear wheels. A beautifully rounded trunk finishes this car off,
and within this round field is another Chrysler badge and fancy
chromed license plate illuminator. Small veed taillights in shiny
chrome bezels wrap the rear fenders and hover nicely above a
pristine rear bumper with single exhaust peeking out from
underneath. Dove Gray steel wheels are capped with chrome Chrysler
moon caps and wrapped in wide whites.
Interior
Looking like new, we see fuzzy broadcloth gray panels sandwiched
between a wood painted sill and gray carpeting below. Within the
smooth gray are the door actuators, window cranks and vertically
ribbed broadcloth armrests. Inside a front bench cradled by a
ribbed broadcloth tub and the seating follows suit with thin
striped broadcloth bordered by piping all in gray. This split bench
presents beautifully with no staining or tearing of the material.
In the back is a split bench in matching condition and color which
more so resembles an overstuffed couch than a car seat. The dash is
all original with a faux wood grained front. Within this, a cream
bakelite panel holds the original gauges, a centrally located radio
and bakelite covered speaker looking much like a jukebox, all
chromed and big! The original steering wheel is fronting this dash
and is looking just dandy with its tan bakelite rim and chrome horn
ring. The clear topped shift lever is on the "tree". Very nice gray
carpeting is flooding the rear floors and a ribbed black mat is up
front. Peering upward reveals the original mohair style headliner,
nice, clean and tight.
Drivetrain
Popping the hood, we are greeted by a 250ci L head inline
6-cylinder engine, original to the car and mostly unrestored but
clean. It has a 1-barrel carburetor, an oil bath air cleaner, a
6-volt electrical system, and supple hoses are seen. A 3-speed
manual transmission is on back and a 3.90 rear axle handles the 114
horses that emanate from the mill.
Undercarriage
Still wearing its age-old rust proofing on the frame and flooring,
things present as patined with surface rust but no invasive rust is
noted. All remains solid and we see one small repair area in the
outboard flooring. Hydraulic drum brakes for the front and rear.
Independent of each other, coil springs and shocks work together to
provide the ride for the front, and leaf springs are on the back.
Amazingly preserved underneath with a newer exhaust with a single
pipe working their way rearward to culminate in a chrome tip.
Drive-Ability
This car with its original engine started right up and idled
smoothly. Off at the test track, it accelerated with ease and held
a decent cruising speed. Brakes were good, and the car stopped in a
straight line with an un-held steering wheel. Functions were good
and overall the car provides a nice smooth ride.
Chrysler built solid cars to last, and this car upholds that
theory. Bulletproof construction which was built to last and with
all the chrome add ons it was sure to be a looker, and it is!
Rounded fenders and hood, and a comfy interior and we are looking
really good with this example.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.
