The Chrysler New Yorker is an automobile model produced by Chrysler from 1940 until 1996. For several decades, it served as either the brand's flagship model or as a junior sedan to the Chrysler Imperial, the latter during the years in which the Imperial name was used within the Chrysler lineup rather than a standalone brand.
A trim level named the "New York Special" first appeared in 1938, while the "New Yorker" name debuted in 1939. The New Yorker helped define the Chrysler brand as a maker of upscale models that were priced and equipped to compete against upper-level models from Buick, Oldsmobile, and Mercury. The New Yorker was Chrysler's most prestigious model throughout most of its run. Over the decades, it was available in several body styles, including sedan, coupe, convertible, and wagon.
Until its discontinuation in 1996, the New Yorker was the longest-running American car nameplate.
1938–1942
The New York Special Series C19 was introduced as a distinct sub-series of the 1938 Chrysler Imperial. It was available as a four-door sedan with a straight-eight engine and a generous amount of comfort and space for the passengers, and a two-door Business Coupe - though no records show one was ordered and built. Unique broadcloth upholstery was specific to the New York Special, offering two single-color exterior paint or four two-tone color combinations. Instrument panels were highly polished woodgrain finish and were harmonized with the upholstery colors.Lee, p. 145 For 1939, it was expanded with two more coupe versions and a two-door sedan, as well as a larger, more powerful engine from Imperial, and it took on the "New Yorker" name, dropping the "Special" tag.Lee, p. 146 Prices ranged from US$1,223 ($ in dollars ) for the two-passenger two-door coupe to US$1,298 ($ in dollars ) for the four-door sedan.
The first convertibles were introduced with the new body design of the 1940 models. The C26 series was the first New Yorker to be considered a standalone model rather than an Imperial version.Lee, p. 147 It also saw the introduction of Fluid Drive, a fluid coupling between the engine and the clutch. It featured an independent front coil suspension and a beam axle in the rear. The only transmission available was the basic three-speed manual. The "New Yorker Highlander" included tartan seats and other interior elements, and the same interior treatment was on the Windsor Highlander, but an I6 engine powered it. Interior color choices were blue, green, brown and maroon for the cloth upholstery, while the headliner, interior rear quarter panels, and door panels were trimmed in a lighter, contrasting shade of upholstery color.
Lightly redesigned bodies were introduced for 1941, with the business coupe now being a three-window design. The bodies were all marginally wider and lower, with increased glass surfaces. Another new model was the Town Sedan, with the rear doors hinged at the forward edge of the doors. This year, the Vacamatic was made available. However, unlike the version sold on six-cylinder models, the Saratoga/New Yorker version was a three-speed transmission with overdrive called "Cruise and Climb".
With America entering World War II on December 11, 1941, all automobile production ended at the beginning of February 1942. Thus, the 1942 model year was roughly half the usual length. Cars built after December 1941 had blackout trim. The 1942 Chryslers were relatively modern, with a design that heralded the post-war ponton style and fenders more incorporated into the bodywork. The grille consisted of five horizontal chrome bars wrapped around the front, reaching to the leading edge of the front wheelwell. A total of 12,145 New Yorkers of the C36 series were built this year. Chrysler would produce and experiment with engines for tanks and aircraft during World War II.
1946–1948
When production resumed after World War II in 1946, the New Yorker became Chrysler's top luxury trim package, while the Imperial Crown offered New Yorker levels of luxury with an extended wheelbase. Unlike most car companies, Chrysler did not make significant changes with each model year from 1946 through 1948. As a result, Chryslers had the same basic appearance during this period, characterized by their die-cast "harmonica" grille and based on the body introduced with the 1941 models. 1947 saw a minor redesign in tires, trim, and instrument panel, while the first 1948s were just 1947s with no visible changes. Post-war Chryslers continued to offer Fluid Drive, with the New Yorker now offering the Presto-Matic four-speed semi-automatic transmission.
Chrysler offered the New Yorker as the luxury car to compete with the Cadillac Series 61, Buick Roadmaster, and Packard Super Clipper, listing the four-door sedan at US$2,073 ($ in dollars ) before optional equipment. The Chrysler Saratoga featured the larger eight-cylinder engine, but with a lower trim level and interior features. Six-cylinder engines with higher grade interior and appearance were offered as Chrysler Royal short wheelbase or the longer-wheelbase Chrysler Windsor. The Chrysler Town & Country models included exterior wood body panels until the line consisted exclusively of the station wagon.
The two-door sedan was available in three variations, and the body styles were shared with DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth branded models. The styles were a three-passenger Coupe, a six-passenger Club Coupe with a sloping rear roof, and a six-passenger brougham sedan with a formal rear roof appearance.
New Yorkers produced between December 3, 1948 and January 11, 1949 were marketed as 1949 "First Series" models.Greg Zyla, 29/6/2024, A Reader Chronicles His Rare Series I 1949 Chrysler New Yorker Sport With Spitfire Engine, www.autoroundup.com, as archived at web.archive.org This was due to production issues which resulted in the restyled 1949 models not being ready for release.
1949–1954
The 1949 New Yorker used Chrysler Corporation's new post-war body with ponton three-box styling, which was shared with Dodge and DeSoto. The engine remained the straight eight coupled to Fluid Drive and the Presto-Matic four-speed semi-automatic. Body styles were reduced to club coupe, four-door sedan, and convertible. The wheelbase on the New Yorker was increased to from the frame introduced in 1941. The previous design had been carried through early 1949, with the new (C46) series having been delayed due to a strike in late 1948.Lee, p. 157 A padded dashboard was optional.
A new body style was introduced for 1950: a two-door hardtop called the Newport and the Special Club coupe. Further upgrades included foam rubber padding on the dashboard for safety. The New Yorker was the more deluxe of the regular eight-cylinder Chryslers. At the same time, the Saratoga was repositioned lower in the hierarchy, offering the straight eight with plainer trim with cloth upholstery in several colors, the Spitfire straight-eight engine, and a roomy interior featuring "chair height" seats. The "Presto-Matic" fluid drive transmission had two forward ranges, each with two speeds. In everyday driving, the high range was engaged using the clutch. The car could then be driven without using the clutch (unless reverse or low range was required); at any speed above , the driver released the accelerator, and the transmission shifted into the higher gear of the range with a slight "clunk". When the car came to a stop, the lower gear was again engaged.
Chrysler introduced the FirePower Hemi V8 for 1951. The FirePower Hemi equipped cars could accelerate 0 to in 10 seconds, faster than the Oldsmobile 88 Rocket engine of that time. This engine became popular among hot rodders and racers.
The New Yorker also offered Fluid Torque Drive, with an actual torque converter, instead of the Fluid Drive units. Cars with Fluid Torque Drive came only with Fluid Matic semi-automatic transmission and had a gear selector quadrant on the steering column. Hydraguide power steering, an industry first, appeared as an option on Chrysler cars with the Hemi engine.
A station wagon was available for 1951, with only 251 built. Its wheelbase is the longest ever used on a station wagon.
The 1952 model year saw a minor redesign of taillights with backup lights in the lower section. This was also the final year for the wheelbase chassis for the New Yorker.
Harold A. Clark used a New Yorker as the base for a full-size sports car called the "Clark Cyclonic". The price was approximately $15,000 ($ in dollars ), and Clark planned to produce 48 during the first year. Whether this car ever reached production is not known.
The 1953 model year New Yorker had a less bulky look with the wheelbase reduced to , a one-piece curved windshield, rear fenders integrated into the body, and pull-style exterior door handles. Wire wheels were now an option. The Saratoga line was discontinued for 1953 and replaced by the New Yorker. The previous New Yorker model positioning was redesignated as the New Yorker DeLuxe. The convertible and Newport hardtop were available only in the New Yorker DeLuxe line, while the base New Yorker offered a long-wheelbase sedan and a Town & Country wagon. The convertible was New Yorker's most expensive model on the chassis for 1953, with 950 built.
The six cylinder was replaced in 1954 with the popular FirePower V8; a DeLuxe option was rated at . Although it was introduced very late in the 1953 model year, all 1954 New Yorkers were available with the new two-speed Powerflite automatic transmission. Fluid Torque Drive and Fluid Matic were dropped. 1954 was the last year the long-wheelbase sedan was offered by Chrysler.
1955–1956
For the 1955 model year, Chrysler introduced new designs that borrowed styling cues from Virgil Exner's custom 1952 Imperial Parade Phaeton. These replaced the out-of-fashion high roofline designs of K.T. Keller. Additionally, the Imperial luxury brand was reintroduced. A new four-door hardtop body style became available. The tradition of adding Newport as a suffix to the model name continued, while the "St. Regis" nameplate was used for hardtops with exclusive two-tone paint. The Hemi V8's output was up to , another step forward in Detroit's ongoing horsepower war, while the Chrysler 300 offered higher amounts of horsepower from the same displacement engine. The PowerFlite transmission added a control lever on the instrument panel for 1955.
All New Yorkers for 1955 were now given the "DeLuxe" suffix, and the Imperial Newport two-door hardtop replaced the Club Coupe. The new, higher-priced St. Regis two-door hardtop filled the position of the former Chrysler Windsor. The sedan, convertible, and Town & Country wagon were offered.
Chrysler desigmated the 1956 model's design "PowerStyle", a product of Chrysler designer Virgil Exner. The New Yorker gained a new mesh grille, leather seats, pushbutton TorqueFlite selector, and a 354 cubic inch Hemi V8 with . A four-door pillarless hardtop made its debut, and the "DeLuxe" nameplate was dropped from the New Yorker for 1956.
Chrysler introduced an under-dash mounted 16 2/3 rpm record player, dubbed the "Highway Hi-Fi", that was manufactured by CBS Electronics. A two-way switch in the dash changed the input for the speaker from the all-transistor radio to the 7-inch record player. The St. Regis two-door hardtop was available with a choice of nine optional three-tone paint schemes, and the Town & Country Wagon model was Chrysler's most expensive vehicle labeled as a Chrysler for 1956, listed at $4,523. Only 921 convertibles were made.
1957–1959