Leif in Calif Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 (edited) Looks to be fairly priced. Long winded ad! These cars always make me think of Harry Truman. https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/dana-point-1948-chrysler-windsor-sedan/7537634229.html 1948 Chrysler Windsor Fluid DriveWhat is Fluid Drive?Does have a clutch, but has a fluid flywheel, so can sit at traffic light without having to push in the clutch! Has two gears, when accelerating in 1st, and letting off the throttle, a fluid/solenoid system automatically changes up to the second gear (all be it a little slowly, but with a satisfying clunk). A kick down switch is on the carburetor to automatically changes down a gear if you floor it. Then a manual column gear shift to change to High range, where the same two gears operate. So, two auto gears, that operate in Low or High range. Ingenious! It will pull away quite easily in High range. Only need low range for low speeds or up steep hills. Many NY Taxis used these Chryslers in the 40’s as Auto transmissions hadn’t been invented.The Good:Original car stored for many years by the previous owner’s aunt in a garage in Tennessee.Original ‘Spitfire’ flat head 6, Fluid Drive transmission and 6v electrics.The aunt had the interior and exterior restored back in the late 70’s in Tennessee. Still holds up pretty well today, see pictures.Previous owner had it shipped years ago to Pasadena, where it was stored inside for several more years before I purchased it as a running/driving car back in May 2015.I performed the following upgrades:Replaced all tires including spare with radial white walls. 7.60 R15 American Classic. (They are manufactured to look like period cross ply’s).Fitted new carburetor and fuel filterFitted new 6v coil and electronic ignitionFront disc brake conversion.Fitted new parking brake shoes.Had steering box professionally rebuiltFitted inertia reel seat belts, 2 in front with lap belt in middle and 3 inertia reels in the back.Fitted 6v Halogen headlampsNew 6v BatteryNew high amp battery cablesReplaced 6v generator with 6v alternatorFitted rev counterHad new muffler fittedChanged engine oil/filterPurchased new twin windshield and rubbers (Not fitted).Obtained replacement glove box (not fitted)Dropped sump, cleaned and new gaskets and new engine oilHad radiator professionally repaired as slight leak near filler neck.All original parts and some spares come with car.Registered in my name. No back fees as currently registered on non-op.I drove it around for about 18 months, great fun!54,317 miles on the odometer, but no idea of course if this is actual miles. I can say the speedo and odometer do work.The BadCurrently a non-runner since late 2017.The compression has gone, probably needs an engine rebuild.I’ve lost interest. It was going to be a retirement project, but my wife passed away and I’m now planning to return to the UK.A beautiful original daily driver when running again. Will make a great project for some lucky person.If the ad is still up, it is still available. No trades, I don't need help selling it.I'll consider reasonable offers. Call or text me. Edited October 8, 2022 by Leif in Calif (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deac Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 Even though the engine lost compression it still strikes me as a lot of car for the money and a pretty car at that! I hope it goes to a good home and the engine gets rebuilt.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 You need to edit the title of this thread. It's very confusing as written. Having owned a '48 Windsor, I can say they are great cars. But the unexplained "loss of compression" here would really concern me. Normally, these flathead Mopar sixes are bulletproof. Something really bad must have happened to this engine. This car might be a good buy if you could get it for about half of what he is asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 (edited) 22 minutes ago, deac said: Even though the engine lost compression it still strikes me as a lot of car for the money and a pretty car at that! I hope it goes to a good home and the engine gets rebuilt.... I agree 100%. I would be interesting to know if the engine was smoking or making unusual sounds. Did it loose compression all at once and are all the cylinders reading low. Edited October 6, 2022 by Fossil (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 (edited) I can recall the old timers that hung my older brother's gas station talking about postwar Chryslers having some difficulty with valve guide clearance, especially in cold weather. They said that it was common to have to pull the head and ream the guides in order to keep the valves from hanging up in an open position. I had forgot about that until now. I wonder if there is any truth to it. Edited October 6, 2022 by Hudsy Wudsy (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel boeve Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 This is really a give away price .If I was not in Belgium and i had room enough because I have already to many cars i would buy it asap .But i guess i am not alone in this position .This weekend I am going to the Mannheim swap meet in Germany and promised my wife to buy certainly no car . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 Title typo: 1948, not '38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Perkins / Mn Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 On 10/5/2022 at 1:19 PM, Leif in Calif said: Looks to be fairly priced. Long winded ad! These cars always make me think of Harry Truman. Ol’ “Buck Stops Here” rides with me on my ‘48 NYer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 Waiting for the thread title to be corrected to 1948. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif in Calif Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 16 minutes ago, StillOutThere said: Waiting for the thread title to be corrected to 1948. Oops! I just saw this...my goof (obviously) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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