Chrysler Windsor

Chrysler Windsor
Production period:	1939-1961
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Previous model:	Chrysler Royal
Successor:	Chrysler Newport Chrysler 300 Sport

The Chrysler Windsor was a car model offered by the US automobile manufacturer Chrysler from 1939 to 1961.

Year by year

Series C22 (1939)

Royal Windsor Series C22
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Production period:	1939
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.0 liters (74-79 kW)
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Empty weight :	1418-1484 kg

The first Chrysler Windsor was derived from the Royal and represented a better equipped special series. Like its sister model, it rested on a chassis with a 3023 mm wheelbase. As with all Chrysler models of this year, the headlights were integrated into the front fenders for the first time and a wide radiator grille with narrow, vertical chrome bars ("waterfall grille") extended between them. Above this, the engine casing was built up like a ship's bow, which was also provided with two engine hoods hinged in the middle. Unlike the Royal, the Royal Windsor did not have a long chassis. The four available bodies (Coupé, Club-Coupé and Victoria-Coupé with two doors each; sedan with four doors) had a better interior than the Royal and the lettering "Windsor" appeared on the sides of the engine cowling.

60,001 Royal and Royal Windsor vehicles were built in 1939.

Series C25 and C28 (1940–1941)

Windsor Series C25 / C28
Chrysler Windsor Coupe (1940)
Production period:	1940-1941
Body versions :	Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 4.0 liters (79–82 kW)
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Empty weight :	1402-1694 kg

Again, the Windsor (now as its own model name without Royal) shared the chassis, which was extended to 3112 mm, and the more powerful in-line six-cylinder engines with the Royal. A new addition, however, was the Highlander model with the same technical details. This year the Highlander was the top model among the six-cylinder Chrysler, the Windsor took the middle position. In addition to the four body versions from the previous year, there was a convertible with only 3 seats and a 2-door sedan. In addition, the Windsor was available for the first time with a long chassis (3543 mm wheelbase) and two 8-seater bodies (sedan and Pullman sedan). The front of the vehicle was a bit smoother and had a radiator grille made of nine horizontal chrome bars.

In 1941 these models were built with minor changes. The nine chrome bars on the radiator grille gave way to five wider chrome bars. A city limousine was also offered on the short chassis (with a retractable partition to the driver), on the long chassis there were two Town & Country station wagons with imitation wood on the doors and sides of the vehicle, five doors and either six or nine seats (the latter with an additional back seat ).

In 1940, 73,998 Royal and Windsor were produced, in 1941 the number of Windsor and six-cylinder Highlanders produced was 136,701, of which 997 were Town & Country station wagons.

Series C34 (1942)

Windsor Series C34
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Production period:	1942
Body versions :	Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Otto engine : 4.1 liters (88 kW)
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Empty weight :	1518-1792 kg

In 1942 the concept known from the previous year is retained; the wheelbases remained the same, only the two station wagons were no longer delivered on the long, but on the short chassis. The engine had been enlarged by approx. 100 cm³ to 4106 cm³ and made 120 bhp (88 kW) at 3800 min ⁻¹ .

The horizontal chrome bars of the radiator grille known from the 1941 model year ran around the vehicle corners to the front wheel cutouts. The rear of the vehicle had a similar design.

For the first time, the Chrysler annals show separate production figures for the Windsor series: 14,386 units were built on the short chassis (999 of which were Town & Country station wagons) and 41 sedans and Pullman sedans were built on the long chassis.

C38W series (1946–1948)

Windsor series C38W
Chrysler Windsor (1947)
Production period:	1946-1948
Body versions :	Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Otto engine : 4.1 liters (84 kW)
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Empty weight :	1532-1836 kg

After the war, the production of the Windsor series was continued without major changes. As with all Chrysler models, the grille now consisted of a pattern of small chrome-plated rectangles (egg carton grill) with three horizontal chrome bars. The Town & Country version was now also available for sedans, coupés and convertibles. The engine, unchanged in size, only made 114 bhp (84 kW).

In these three years a total of 213,012 Windsor were built, 5886 of which on the long chassis.

Chrysler Windsor Cabriolet Town & Country (1948)

Series C45W, C48W, C51, C60 and C62 (1949–1954)

Windsor Series C45W / C48W / C51 / C60 / C62
Chrysler Windsor Newport hardtop coupe Town & Country (1950)
Production period:	1949-1951
Body versions :	Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.1–4.3 liters (85–87.5 kW)
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Empty weight :	1614-2007 kg

In late 1948, Chrysler presented the first real post-war model of the Windsor. The wheelbase of the short chassis had grown to 3,188 mm, while that of the long chassis remained unchanged. The engine was carried over from its predecessor, with the output increasing to 116 bhp (85 kW). The series standard included a semi-automatic gearbox (automatic clutch) and, for safety reasons, padded dashboards. The three-seater coupe and the station wagon were no longer offered. The grille was more roughly divided into rectangles and only had two curved vertical chrome bars.

For the 1950 model year, Chrysler launched a hardtop coupé like the New Yorker top model. The two-door car with six seats was called Windsor Newport. Instead of the station wagon there was a Traveler (not to be confused with the pre-war Traveler model series ). This was a 4-door sedan with the back seat removed so the space behind the front seats could serve as cargo space. Like other versions, this model was also available as Town & Country; but the traveler was not popular.

In 1951 there was again a station wagon (of which - only this year - 153 factory-made ambulances were made). The Royal series was discontinued, and so the Windsor was the only Chrysler of that year with a six-cylinder engine. There was a standard and a deluxe version. The station wagon was only available in the standard version, the hardtop coupé Newport and the long versions and in the deluxe version. The grille had lost its egg box design and only had the two horizontal chrome bars.

In 1952 little changed in the bodywork. In contrast to the previous year, the sedan on a long chassis was only available as a standard model, the unpopular traveler was omitted. However, there was a larger engine, consisting of 4334 cc 119 bhp (87.5 kW) at 3600 min ^-1 scooped.

In 1953 the vehicles became a bit wider and flatter. Although the changes were not noticeable, no sheet metal part from the previous year was adopted. At the end of 1953, a PowerFlite automatic transmission became available. The number of bodies was drastically reduced: the Windsor with a short wheelbase only had a 2-door Club Coupé, a 4-door sedan and the 5-door station wagon, which was now uniformly called Town & Country. The long wheelbase Windsor was only available as an 8-seater sedan. The Windsor Deluxe was only available with a short wheelbase as a 4-door sedan, 2-door convertible or 2-door hardtop coupé (Newport).

In 1954 there was a small facelift: the main headlights received position lights directly below and the radiator grille was modernized again. The two-piece windshields gave way to one-piece copies. The entire Windsor standard series was omitted; there was only the Windsor Deluxe, in all body types of both series from the previous year and thus still with two different wheelbases.

In 1949 77,291 Windsor were built, in 1950 there were 112,212. In the model years 1951/1952 118,927 cars were produced, in 1953 there were 84,469 units. In the last year of the six-cylinder Windsor, 44,527 copies were made.

Series C67 and C71 (1955–1956)

Windsor Series C67 / C71
1955 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Newport
Production period:	1955-1956
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 4.9-5.4 liters (138-165 kW)
Length:	5552-5601 mm
Width:	with bumper 2002 mm
Height:	1539 mm
Wheelbase :	Center distance 3200 mm
Empty weight :	1766-1946 kg

Completely new Chrysler models appeared for the 1955 model year, whose design by Virgil Exner was based on his Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton model from 1952. The Windsor Deluxe series now also had overhead V8 engines with a displacement of 4933 cc and an output of 188 bhp (138 kW). Like all Chrysler models, the Windsorm models now had a uniform wheelbase of 3200 mm. In addition to the 4-door sedan, the 2-door convertible and the 5-door station wagon Town & Country, there were two 2-door hardtop coupes named Nassau (simple version) and Newport (luxury version).

In 1956 the additional designation deluxe was dropped. The models received a slight facelift with a modified, now one-piece radiator grille and new bumpers. The Hemi engine was bored out to 5426 cm³ and delivered 225 bhp (165 kW) at 4400 min ⁻¹ . Also new was a 4-door hardtop sedan, also called Newport.

98,874 Windsor were built in 1955, in 1956 there were 86,080 copies.

Series C75-1, LC1-L, MC1-L, PC1-L and RC2-M (1957–1961)

Windsor series C75-1 / LC1-L / MC1-L / PC1-L / RC2-M
Chrysler Windsor sedan (1958)
Production period:	1957-1961
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 5.8–6.3 liters (210–224 kW)
Length:	5474-5568 mm
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Height:
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :	1680-1989 kg

In the 1957 model year, all Chrysler models were completely redesigned. Virgil Exner's design featured a “ forward look design” (the front of the vehicle tilted forward) and large tail fins . This year there were four body styles: a 4-door sedan, a 5-door “Town & Country” station wagon and two hardtop models with 2 or 4 doors, which were no longer called Newport (the name was supposed to be reappear in 1961 for the successor to the Windsor). On request, tail fins in different colors were available for these hardtop models, an option called "Flight Sweep". The Windsor models were powered by an enlarged V8 engine with 5801 cm³ displacement and an output of 285 bhp (210 kW).

1958 the Windsor got a new chassis adapted from the subsidiary Dodge . While the other Chrysler models kept their chassis with a 3200 mm wheelbase, the cheapest model range now had a wheelbase of just 3099 mm. However, only small changes were made to the superstructure. However, there were new models: a “Town & Country” station wagon with a third seat against the direction of travel and 9 seats and a 2-door convertible (of which only 2 were built this year!). The engine output increased to 290 bhp (213 kW).

Further changes to the grill and bumpers followed in 1959: the front bumper became a little flatter and the grill was drawn around the corners of the vehicle to the front wheel cutouts (an idea that was already used in the 1942 models). There was again a larger engine with a displacement of 6276 cc and 305 bhp (224 kW), which was derived from the B-block engines introduced by DeSoto and Plymouth the previous year .

Another major facelift was carried out in the 1960 model year . The front bumper was now slightly V-shaped, making room for an almost oval radiator grille in the style of the 300F . The tail fins were designed to be extremely pointed.

In the last model year, the Windsor slipped one step higher in the model range. It replaced its previous sister model Saratoga and was replaced as the cheapest model series by its successor Newport . While the rear front remained essentially unchanged, the 1961 Chrysler models can be recognized from the front by the inclined double headlights. From the Windsor only a 4-door sedan and a hardtop model with 2 or 4 doors were offered.

48,055 Windsor were built in 1957, compared to 26,795 in 1958. In 1959 35,473 copies were sold, in 1960 another 41,158 copies and in the last model year with only three body variants 17,336 pieces.

Successor and foreign models

The last Chrysler Windsor was made in the USA in 1961. The successor to the models until 1960 was the Newport in 1961 . The 1961 Windsor was replaced by the Chrysler 300 Sport in 1962 .

Another Windsor model was manufactured in Canada in 1965/1966, but it was not exported to the USA and corresponded to the Chrysler Newport manufactured there.

Web links

Commons : Chrysler Windsor - Collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

Kimes, Beverly R. & Clark Henry A. Jun .: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 . Krause Publications, Iola 1985, ISBN 0-87341-045-9 .
Gunnell, John (Editor): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 . Krause Publishing, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87349-461-X .