Chrysler Windsor

Chrysler Windsor

1951 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe
Overview
Manufacturer Chrysler
Production 1939-1961
1961-1966 (Canada only)
Assembly Los Angeles (Maywood) Assembly
Windsor, Ontario, Canada (1961-66)
Body and chassis
Class Full-size car
Body style 4-door sedan
2-door coupe
Layout FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor Chrysler Airflow
Successor Chrysler 300

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 positioned above the entry-level Royal from 1939 to 1950. With the demise of the Royal for the 1951 model year the Windsor became Chrysler's price leader through to 1960. For the 1961 model year the Chrysler Newport was made the marque's price leader with 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.[1]

1939-1942

Chrysler Windsor 1939-1942

1942 Windsor Club Coupé
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler Saratoga
Chrysler New Yorker
Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto Custom
Powertrain
Engine 241.5 CID L-head 108 hp (81 kW) I6[2][3]
Transmission 3-speed manual[2]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 122.5 in (3,112 mm) [3]
Length 202.5 in (5,144 mm)

The Windsor first came out in 1939. It was a junior model to the larger Chrysler New Yorker. In 1940, the Windsor came in either long or short wheelbase versions[2] as a 6-passenger sedan, a 6-passenger coupe, a convertible,[4] a Victoria sedan, or an 8-passenger sedan.[5] New this year were sealed beam head lights.[6] The Windsor used independent front suspension, 11" brakes, and a X girder truss type frame.[3]

New for 1941 was the Windsor Six Town and Country, a station wagon type vehicle designed by David A. Wallace, who was the president of Chrysler at the time.[2] Fog lights and bumper crash bars were optional.[2]

Production ended in January, 1942,[2] as all automobile companies in the USA switched to war production. The 1942 heralded post-war design, with fenders being better integrated into the overall bodywork.

1946-1948

Chrysler Windsor 1946-1948

1948 Chrysler Windsor 4-door sedan
Overview
Manufacturer Chrysler
Production 1946–1948
Body and chassis
Class Full-size car
Body style 2-door sedan[1]
4-door sedan [1]
2-door coupe [1]
2-door convertible [1]
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related Chrysler New Yorker
Chrysler Town & Country
Chrysler Saratoga
DeSoto Custom
Powertrain
Engine 250.6 CID L-head 114 hp (85 kW) I6[7]
Transmission 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 121.5 in (3,086 mm) [7]
Length 208.25 in (5,290 mm) [7]
Width 77.75 in (1,975 mm) [7][8]

After the war, the Windsor was put back into production. It was similar to the 1942 models. New things included a handbrake warning signal that warned that the handbrake was not fully released,[9] and a new grill. Tank capacity was 17USgallons.[7] There was full instrumentation.[9]

The Windsor made up 62.9% of the company's sales.[8]

1949-1952

Chrysler Windsor 1949-1951

1951 Chrysler Windsor sedan
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler New Yorker
Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto Custom
Powertrain
Engine 250.6 CID L-head 116 hp (87 kW) I6[8][10]
Transmission Prestomatic semi-automatic[8]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 121.5 in (3,086 mm) [7]
Length 208.25 in (5,290 mm) [7]
207.3"(1951)[8][11]
Width 77.75 in (1,975 mm) [7]

In 1949, for Chrysler's 25th anniversary, Chrysler Windsor's were redesigned.[8] The style was boxier than the competition.[8] New this year was a padded dashboard with sponge rubber for safety.[8][12]

In 1950, the Windsor Traveler Sedan was reintroduced. It only lasted one year.[8] The Windsor still had full instrumentation.[13]

1951, the Royal was dropped, and the Windsor became Chrysler's low-priced car.[8] Front leg room was 41.8".[8] The Windsor DeLuxe had an electric clock standard.[8]

Little changed in 1952. Power brakes were standard on the Windsor DeLuxe 8-passenger sedan.[8]

1953-1954

Chrysler Windsor/Windsor DeLuxe 1953-1954

1954 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler New Yorker
Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto Powermaster
Powertrain
Engine 264.5 CID 1 bbl. 119 hp (89 kW) I6[8]
Transmission 3-speed manual[14]
PowerFlight automatic[8]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 125.5 in (3,188 mm)
Length 211 in (5,359 mm) (1953) 215.6 in (5,476 mm) (1954)
222.3 in (5,646 mm) (8-passenger sedan 1953) 229.6 in (5,832 mm) (1954)
Width 76.8 in (1,951 mm) [8]
Height 62.5 in (1,588 mm) [8]

In 1953, the Chrysler Windsor (along with the rest of the Chrysler line) got new sheet metal and one-piece curved windshield.[8] Power steering was a $177 option.[8]

For 1954, the base Windsor was dropped and all that was left was the Windsor DeLuxe.[8] The grill was new.

1955-1956

Chrysler Windsor 1955-1956

1955 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler New Yorker
Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto Powermaster
Powertrain
Engine 300.5 CID Spitfire 2bbl. 188 hp (140 kW) V8(1955)[8][15]
331CID 2-bbl. 225 hp (168 kW) V8
Transmission 3-speed manual
PowerFlight automatic[8]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 126 in (3,200 mm) [8]
Length 218.6 in (5,552 mm) (1955)
220.4 in (5,598 mm)(1956)[16]
Width 79.0 in (2,007 mm) (1955)[15]
78.8 in (2,002 mm)(1956)
Height 60.6 in (1,539 mm) [8]

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.[8] With the introduction of the Imperial brand, the Windsor became the top model of the Chrysler Division as an alternative to Buick and Mercury.

The styling of the Windsors was more rounded and featured wrap around windshields. The word DeLuxe was added to Windsor again. Front head room was 35 inches (890 mm). Rear axle ratio for the 3-speed manual was 3.73.[17] It made up 64.72% of Chryslers sales.

For 1956, the "Forward Look" restyling was introduced. The first tail fins on a Chryler appeared.[8] Interior trims remained mostly the same. A new Highway Hi-Fi phonograph player was a new option on the Windsor.[8]

1956 Chrysler Windsor Newport 
1956 Chrysler Windsor Newport 

1957-1958

Chrysler Windsor 1957-1958

1958 Chrysler Windsor Sedan
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto Firesweep
Powertrain
Engine 354 CID "Spitfire" 2-bbl. 285hp (290 in 1958) V8[8]
Transmission 3-speed manual
TorqueFlite Automatic[18]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 126 in (3,200 mm) (1957)
122 in (3,099 mm) (1958)[8]
Length 219.2 in (5,568 mm) (1957)
218 in (5,537 mm) (1958)
Width 78.8 in (2,002 mm) [8]

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.[8] Front head room grew to 35.7 inches.[8] Safety equipment was optional on the Windsor. Unfortunately for Chrysler, 1957 cars were plagued with quality problems, such as breaking torsion bars and rust.[8]

In 1958, the Windsor body was moved to the DeSoto Firesweep 122-inch (3,100 mm) chassis.[8] New this year for all Chrysler cars was the new "Auto-Pilot" cruise control system.[8] It had two features. One was the speed-warning feature that the driver would turn the knob to set a certain speed.[19] 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.[19] The Windsor made up 42.36% of Chrysler's sales in 1958.[8]

1959

Chrysler Windsor 1959
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto Firesweep
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission 3-speed manual
TorqueFlite automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 122 in (3,099 mm)
Length 216.6 in (5,502 mm)
Width 79.3 in (2,014 mm)
Canadian market Windsor two-door hardtop coupé. Note triple crests rather than Golden Lion badging on the front doors.

In 1959, Chrysler started to advertise the car's new wedge-head "B" engines as "Golden Lions" and the cars as "Lion Hearted".[20] The RB 383 produces 305 hp (227 kW) 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 $510 option.[8]

Canadian-built cars did not get the new RB 383 engine, but were equipped with the "Low Block" 361 cu in (5.9 L) engine as used in US Dodges and De Sotos. Thus, Canadian Windsors also did not get the "Golden Lion" decorations; instead, they were fitted with three golden crests on the front doors.[21] The B 361 engine produces 295 hp (220 kW) with a twin carburetor. As convertibles and station wagons were imported from the US, they did not receive differing specifications.[21] Brochures for the 1959 US Chryslers actually show this triple crest being mounted on the front door, with the Golden Lion appearing on the rear fenders instead, but this is not how the finished product appeared.[22]

1960-1961

Chrysler Windsor 1960-1961

1960 Chrysler Windsor 4-Door Sedan
Body and chassis
Layout FR
Related Chrysler Town & Country
DeSoto (1961)
Powertrain
Engine 383 CID 305 hp (227 kW) V8[23]
Transmission TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic[23]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 122 in (3,099 mm)
Length 215.4 in (5,471 mm) [24]
Width 79.4 in (2,017 mm)

In 1960, all Chrysler cars got a unibody frame. A new parking brake was also used.[24] Brakes on the Windsor were 11" drums.[24]

In 1961, all Chrysler cars were redesigned. On the Windsor, standard equipment included a cigarette lighter, map lights, and new for 1961, a safety padded dash.[25] 1961 was the last year of the Windsor in the United States.

Canadian models 1961 to 1966

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975 (Revised 4th Edition)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.
  3. 1 2 3 "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1940_Chrysler/1940_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1940_Chrysler/1940_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  5. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1940_Chrysler/1940_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  6. ↑ "1940 Chrysler Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1946_Chrysler/1946_Chrysler_Brochure_1". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  9. 1 2 "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1946_Chrysler/1946_Chrysler_Owners_Manual". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  10. ↑ Popular Mechanics - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  11. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1951_Chrysler/1951_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  12. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1949_Chrysler/1949_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  13. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1950_Chrysler/1950_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  14. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1953_Chrysler/1953_Chrysler_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  15. 1 2 "1955 Chrysler Brochure - Canada". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  16. ↑ "1956 Chrysler Windsor Sedan specs, photo & performance data (since middle 1955 for North America U.S.)". Automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  17. ↑ "1955 Chrysler Folder". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  18. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1957_Chrysler/1957_Chrysler-Plymouth_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  19. 1 2 "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1958_Chrysler/1958_Chrysler_Auto-Pilot_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  20. ↑ Presenting the Lion-Hearted car that's every inch a new adventure: Chrysler '59 (brochure), Detroit: Chrysler Division, 1958, p. 1, CS-422, retrieved 2015-08-29
  21. 1 2 Smale, Ian. "Chrysler Products in Canada, Eh. (1957- 1961)" (PDF). Victoria, BC, Canada. p. 5. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  22. ↑ Chrysler '59 (brochure), pp. 12-13
  23. 1 2 "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1960_Chrysler/1960_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  24. 1 2 3 "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1960_Chrysler/1960_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  25. ↑ "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1961_Chrysler/1961_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
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Chrysler, a division of the Chrysler Corporation, car timeline, 1925–1969 next »
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Entry-Level Airstream Royal WWII Royal Newport Newport Newport
Full-size Airflow 8 Windsor Windsor Windsor Windsor Windsor Windsor Windsor Windsor 300 300 300
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See also: List of Chrysler vehicles
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