1928 Chrysler 72 Shockers and ID questions

[Jonathan Miller]

Hello folks,

I've recently purchased a 1928 Chrysler 72 2 Door Golfers Coupe for which I need a supplier of "Knight Rebound Controllers". A google search brought up nothing I'm afraid. I'm thinking of converting it to Andre Hartford dampers, but it's worth asking if anyone knows of a supplier.

Secondly, the previous owner swears blind that the body was made by Fisher "of Covent Garden London." Does anyone know if Fisher had a London operation (presumably assembling ckd kits)? Wikipedia shows that they had around 40 plants at this time, so I guess that one of them *could* have been in London.

Thirdly (and lastly) I'm trying to find the engine number, which is not where it should be (LH side of the engine inbetween 1 & 2 cylinders). There are some numbers on the crankcase, but these don't correspond to anything in my reference book (or on the 66 that I also run).

Thanks in anticpation from across the pond.

[28CHRYSLER72]

Jonathan,

Sorry I can't help with shockers.

Regarding Fisher, I believe all 72 bodies were made by Fisher so I suspect the body came from Canada as CKD, to be assembled at Kew.

Have you seen volume 9 No 5 of OLD MOTOR magazine?. It has an article by Bernard Tuckwell who worked for Chrysler at KEW.

Also should be interested to know if you have measured the wheelbase. I know of a UK 72 which has wheelbase 10" shorter than my US one??

This one also has no engine number on it and the log book says it is 31/4ltr. although it has the 4ltr engime???

[dougmckay]

Jonathon,

I have a "72" with a fabric covered "Vanden Plas" style close coupled 4 seater sports tourer body and polished aluminium bonnet.The motor is being built by Ray Jones in Sydney whose "75" is well known in Australia and the U.K.

I am coming over for the Goodwood Revival and am arranging to have a look at several other vintage Chryslers while in the u.K.I would love to meet you and look at your car at that time.

The original shock absorbers on my car are coil sring and fabric strap in a drum type arrangments that I think were marketed as "Watson Stabilators".Their effectiveness may be somewhat suspect and I am thinking of replacing them with either Hartford replicas or 1929 hydraulic lever arms internally modified to give double action operation.

my email address is doug@lovettgreen.com and I would very much like to communicate with you by email direct to exchange more informatio on these most underrated,beautifully engineered vintage cars.

[Jonathan Miller]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Bill: i'll get the tape measure out tomorrow and check out the wheelbase. It looks standard, but is worth confirming. My log book says that my car is 3.5 litres, hence my question <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Doug: The shocks that you describe are the same as mine. As we intend to use the car for some gentle competition (navigational rallies etc.) i'm swinging more and more towards Hartford replicas. I'll be in contact soon re your visit to the UK - I know of 4 vintage Chryslers regularly excercised within 40 miles of here. Have you seen the LeMans rep that the chap at the Fremantle motor museum is building? I think that the body builder got the shock of his life when I told him "I've got one of those" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Jonathan Miller]

Bill, it was good to meet you last week in Herefordshire. I finally managed to measure the wheelbase on the 72. It's approximately 122 inches (I got it to 119.5 from hub centre to hub centre), so I'm thinking that it is a standard wheelbase American model.