Chrysler Windsor

The Chrysler Windsor is a full-size car which was built by Chrysler from 1939 through to the 1960s. The final Chrysler Windsor sold in the United States was produced in 1961, but production in Canada continued until 1966. The Canadian 1961 to 1966 Windsor model was for all intents and purposes the equivalent of the Chrysler Newport in the United States.

The Windsor was almost identical to the more luxurious Chrysler New Yorker in terms of size, interior and standard features except that it was only available with the Chrysler Straight Six that originally started the company in 1925, which offered customers a luxurious car with a more modest and economic engine. As the years progressed and technology and manufacturing costs improved, the Windsor offered items that were initially optional as standard equipment while maintaining a market position lower in the Chrysler product hierarchy.

The Windsor was mechanically similar to the Royal from 1939 to 1950 and offered more standard equipment and an upscale interior to the well equipped Royal while both vehicles came with the Chrysler Straight Six. As the Royal nameplate was discontinued for the 1951 model year the Windsor became Chrysler's six cylinder coupe until 1955 when the Poly V8 was introduced. For the 1961 model year the Chrysler Newport assumed the market position originally held by the Royal, keeping the Windsor positioned one level above the Newport. Chrysler replaced the Windsor name in 1962 with the introduction of the non-lettered series Chrysler 300.

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1939–1942

After the war, the Windsor was put back into production. While the underlying technology was based on the pre-WWII vehicles when production ended in 1942, the exterior styling for the front fenders and grille were all new. The Windsor offered the appearance and interior refinement of the more expensive New Yorker, sharing the wheelbase, but offered the six-cylinder engine for buyers who wanted better fuel economy and didn't need the more powerful eight- cylinder engine. As a result, the Windsor made up 62.9% of the company's sales, listing the six-passenger sedan at US$1,711 ($ in dollars ) before optional equipment. and a new die-cast grille. The Windsor Traveler nameplate returned and consisted of a full-length roof rack installed as standard equipment. Tank capacity was . For this reason, the 1946-1948 C38 model was kept in production through to December 1948 as the 1949 First Series and production of the 1949 Second Series was started approximately January 1949.

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| width = The 1949 through 1952 Chryslers continued the Highlander trimmed cars which added an interior trimmed in a tartan fabric and leather, available on all bodies except the station wagon. The Highlanders came with most options standard, including full wheel covers and radio.

In 1950, the Windsor Traveler Sedan which had a standard equipment roof rack installed continued until the Town & Country was added to the Windsor product line. The "Windsor Newport" hardtop coupe bodystyle, seating six and with a three-piece wraparound rear window was new for the year and reserved for the Windsor and New Yorker.

1951, the Royal was dropped, and the Windsor became Chrysler's entry-level car, while still higher in standard equipment and interior treatment above DeSoto, Dodge and Plymouth. In the September 1951 issue of Popular Mechanics, readers reported getting an average of 14.1 mpg with the Windsor and 98 percent reported liking the padded dashboard.

Little changed in 1952. Power brakes were standard on the Windsor DeLuxe 6-passenger sedan.<br/>PowerFlite automatic

| manufacturer = Chrysler

In 1953, the Chrysler Windsor (along with the rest of the Chrysler line) got new sheet metal and finally a one-piece curved windshield. A Popular Mechanics Survey of Chrysler owners reported that the best liked feature for Windsor owners was the comfortable ride (53%), followed by handling ease.

File:1953 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Newport Coupe Passenger Side.jpg|1953 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Newport hardtop

File:54 Windsor 3.JPG|1954 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe 6 Passenger Sedan

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1955–1956

In 1955, all Chrysler cars were completely restyled with styling by Virgil Exner, sharing some visual similarities with the all-new Imperial which became its own division. The Windsor made up 64.72% of Chrysler's sales.

For 1956, the "Forward Look" restyling came out, introducing the first tail fins on a Chrysler car.

1957–1958

For 1957, Chrysler cars, including the Windsor, were restyled again. This time with taller tailfins with vertical taillights, thinner C-pillars, and a wraparound front bumper. Mid-year, dual headlights became standard.

In 1958, the Windsor (LC1-L) was moved to the Dodge/DeSoto Firesweep chassis. New this year for all Chrysler cars was the new "Auto-Pilot" cruise control system. Then, when the driver would start to pass the speed, pressure would be felt in the pedal, letting the driver know that they were going too fast. The other feature was the actual cruise control. It was activated by pressing on the speed-set knob.

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| transmission = TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic

| production = 1959–1961

| manufacturer = Chrysler

In 1959, Chrysler started to advertise the car's new Wedge-head V8 "B" engines as "Golden Lions" and the cars as "Lion Hearted". The RB 383 produces with a twin-barrel carburetor. Lions were used in the advertising, and the cars had lion emblems on the front doors and on the cylinder heads. Air conditioning was a US$510 option ($ in dollars ). The B 361 engine produces with a twin carburetor. As convertibles and station wagons were imported from the US, they did not receive differing specifications. 1961 was the last year of the Windsor in the United States.

File:1959 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country (14176748229).jpg|1959 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country

File:1960 Chrysler Windsor Astradome Instrument Panel (7434648084).jpg|AstraDome Instrument Cluster (starting 1960)

File:1959 Chrysler Windsor (6285200638).jpg|Canadian market 1959 Chrysler Windsor Newport 2-Door Hardtop. Note triple crests rather than Golden Lion badging on the front doors.

File:Chrysler windsor.jpg|1960 Chrysler Windsor 4-Door Sedan

File:1961 Chrysler Windsor 2 door Hardtop (32935947470).jpg|1961 Chrysler Windsor 2-door hardtop

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Canadian models (1961–1966)

Production of a Chrysler Windsor model continued in Canada up to and including the 1966 model year.

File:Chrysler (38528529375).jpg|1965 Chrysler Windsor 4-Door Sedan (Canada)

File:'66 Chrysler Windsor Coupe (Rigaud).JPG|1966 Chrysler Windsor 2-Door Hardtop (Canada)

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References

External links

1965 Chrysler brochure – Canadian, www.lov2xlr8.no