Vehicle Description
Wagons are either your thing or they're not. If this 1956 Chrysler
Windsor station wagon doesn't talk to you, well, move on. But if
you are digging this awesome '50s hauler, complete with a 331 V8
and pushbutton transmission, then stick around because vintage
wagons don't get much cooler.
The color is Desert Rose, and while it's technically '50s pink, it
works extremely well here. Yeah, you've got to be secure in your
masculinity to drive a pink station wagon, but if you're cruising
in something from the 1950s, pastel is where it's at. The car was
repainted at some point, but the paint is showing some age, so it
has a very age-appropriate patina that could almost pass for
original. For that reason alone, we love it. You'll note that
there's no evidence of botched bodywork, all four doors and the
tailgate fit quite nicely, and for a product of the 1950s, fit and
finish are quite good. There's plenty of chrome, but the Windsor is
a lot more stylish than the slab-sided Chevys and primitive Fords,
with a very modern look that has a cool little kick-up in the rear
doors so it resembles the Windsor coupes and sedans. Nice, right?
The chrome and stainless trim is in good condition overall and it's
complete, which is important on something this rare. Oh, yeah, it's
got fins, too, which are cool chrome-tipped pieces that frame a set
of very cool taillights. There's just no angle from which this car
doesn't look great.
The black and white interior combines a bit of whimsy to make for a
very stylish station wagon. Check out the plaid cloth seat inserts,
the simulated wicker hand grips on the steering wheel, and the big,
round gauge pods. Everything works except the radio and clock,
which is typical, and it's nice to see both a power front seat and
a set of power windows in this, which isn't unexpected in a
high-end Chrysler. There's a huge amount of room inside (this is a
bigger car than it first appears) and it's easy to imagine hitting
the road for a two-week road trip in this land yacht. Someone has
already spent a good amount of money inside because there aren't
many things to complain about, from the nicely restored dash to the
beautiful cargo bay with its polished rub strips and extra-long
tailgate.
The power plant is 331 Spitfire, correct for the period. The engine
bay is beautifully detailed and the engine runs superbly. A new
fuel pump ensures that it fires up easily and the 4-barrel
carburetor makes plenty of power to pull the full-sized wagon
around with authority. Corporate silver engine enamel looks great
in the pink engine bay and little details like the wiring, hose
clamps, and air cleaner all make it look very authentic. Power
steering makes it easy to handle and the push-button 3-speed
automatic transmission works as it should, turning this into a car
you can still drive every day. Dual exhaust gives this pink wagon a
decidedly un-wagon-like voice and you can tell by the undercarriage
that this car has always lived in a dry climate. Recent 235/75/15
whitewall radials are a great choice and the original hubcaps are
simple and clean so the bodywork does the talking.
If you're a wagon guy, you're probably already picking up the
phone. There's just no way this Chrysler will hang around for very
long. Call now!
