Akstraw Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 I would like to buy a forties Chrysler with the Highlander interior option. Are there any experts out there on these? Can you tell from the VIN or data plate whether a car was a Highlander from the factory? I have seen a ‘42 New Yorker Highlander that had Highlander badging on the exterior. Did all the Highlanders have special badging, or was the Highlander badging only used in certain years/models? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Perkins / Mn Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 I have a 1948 New Yorker 4dr. with the Highlander interior. Three pictures below illustrate some things that distinguish mine. #1) note trim number “23” denoting the Highlander interior #2) if you do find a car and it has the Highlander horn option you would be indeed fortunate! #3) This is the only Highlander badging on my car. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c49er Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 (edited) One in a hundred million to ever find an original Chrysler with those Highlander horns. Certainly have seen many Highlander Chrysler cars through 1950. Edited December 28, 2021 by c49er (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narve N Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 First year of the Highlander interior option was 1940. Contrary to some sources I do not believe the Highlander was any unique branded series for 1940, but rather just an option. On my New Yorker it was numbered 891 and called "Red Combination Plaid". The car by the way has those 4-tone horns, but that is not mentioned as an option for 1940 in the catalog .. maybe retrofitted by a previous owner. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Perkins / Mn Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 4 hours ago, c49er said: One in a hundred million to ever find an original Chrysler with those Highlander horns. I spotted a Highlander horn on a NY’er coupe for sale last fall. I actually found one! It is being reconditioned by a friend in Ohio. This is from an article in Old Cars that was written by John Lee: “Speaking of Scottish music, the Highlander theme was expanded in 1941 to include an optional set of horns that played the Scottish tune “The Campbells Are Coming, Oho! Oho!” The four-tone Highlander horn assembly, part #863127, was listed in the 1942 MoPar parts catalog as available for all 1941 and ’42 Windsor and New Yorker Highlander models for $15 extra. The Highlander plaid upholstery cost $25.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c49er Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 (edited) I have read about the Sparton motorized horns...Chrysler's Highlander Four Tone .... A long detailed article in Old Cars... They can be difficult to repair. A very rare accessory. Other cars used that four trumpet horn too...different songs for different cars too. Edited December 28, 2021 by c49er (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narve N Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) I have now checked that the tune on my car's horns is indeed "The Campbells are coming". Pity videos cannot be uploaded as I have a drive with horns ablaze on record.. The horns works best with a good battery plus a steady charge from the generator, and some drops of oil in the right spots. Edited January 2, 2022 by Narve N (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normanpitkin Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 From what I know the Highlander horn was only offered in 1941 and 1942 ,I have a 1948 NewYorker highlander with all original interior ,19,000 miles from new and untouched. My 1941 Windsor convertible has the original red interior . Neither has a Sparton horn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1lark Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 (edited) 22 hours ago, Narve N said: Pity videos cannot be uploaded as I have a drive with horns ablaze on record. You could post the video on YouTube, and post the link here. I for one would love to hear these horns. Edited January 3, 2022 by r1lark (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Perkins / Mn Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) I would love to hear a Highlander horn in operation……I had no idea that the horn was available only for 1941-42……the one I saw was on a ‘41 NYer coupe. I have a friend who has the horn I will get, he will restore it for me. He has restored several Spartons before. Edited January 4, 2022 by Jeff Perkins / Mn (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 As Jeff knows, I previously owned a '48 Windsor 4-door with the same exterior color (St. Clair blue) and same Highlander interior (plaid and bedford cord) as his New Yorker. I agree with Jeff that the only Highlander badging on the '46-'48 cars was the script under the radio speaker grill, as shown in his photo. I'm no expert, but as far as I know, the Highlander option was strictly an interior trim option as opposed to a separate "model," although I believe in '40 and '41 the cars had Highlander script on the exterior, I believe on the side of the hood. I think some genius in the marketing department figured that they could attract a younger group of buyers with a "smart" interior, and hit on the idea of the name "Highlander" based on the fact that the Chrysler plant was in Highland Park, MI. When it was introduced in 1940, the Highlander option featured totally plaid seats instead of just plaid panels with the bolster and seat front in the contrasting bedford cord or leather. I really love the ad copy from this 1940 ad -- who knew that "swagger" was an adjective! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narve N Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 I have at least three 1940 Chrysler ads with those small dogs placed in and around the cars, very charming. Here are the nameplates of the hood and dash of my 1940 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible with Highlander option interior and Fluid Drive, as you can see the name "Highlander" is nowhere included. Maybe the 1941 models had it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 12 hours ago, Narve N said: I have at least three 1940 Chrysler ads with those small dogs placed in and around the cars, very charming. Here are the nameplates of the hood and dash of my 1940 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible with Highlander option interior and Fluid Drive, as you can see the name "Highlander" is nowhere included. Maybe the 1941 models had it? Narve, thanks for the correction on the badging question. Just based on those two detail shots, you car looks to be in tip-top shape! Do you have any photos of the interior that you could post? Do you have the plaid top boot as well? I have only seen advertising photos of the '40 and would love to see some photos of an actual example. I found this article online that has some great photos of different Highlander interiors various years. It also shows some exterior Highlander script that looks like it's from '49 or '50. (However, I noticed several errors with the photo captions so I don't know how accurate the article is.) https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/scotch-on-a-chrysler 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Here's a pretty spectacular '41 Windsor Coupe that was being offered by Mecum in an auction in January 2021. If you blow up the first photo to full screen and full size, you can see the Highlander script on the side of the hood near the A pillar. https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-443131/1941-chrysler-new-yorker-highlander/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narve N Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 On 1/6/2022 at 11:16 PM, neil morse said: I have only seen advertising photos of the '40 and would love to see some photos of an actual example. Here are some dealer photos of my car, apparently I have never made any myself focusing on the interior: Also, since you are in San Francisco, do you know anything about the Mullen Motor dealership originally selling the car? (The Old Car Weekly article repeats the incorrect information of Highlander being a distinctive sub-series in 1940.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNhawkeye Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 I've got a '48 NYer ragtop with Highlander on dash (under radio speaker). Let me know if you're still looking for one. NEW YORKER on the exterior hood badges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Perkins / Mn Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 @Narve N Here is an interesting item for sale forwarded to me by a friend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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