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.

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 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)

1941 Chrysler Windsor 4-door sedan

The Windsor first came out in 1939 as the 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 grille. Tank capacity was 17USgallons.[7] There was full instrumentation.[9]

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

• 
  1948 Chrysler Windsor 4-door sedan
• 
  1948 Chrysler Windsor Club Coupe
• 
  1948 Chrysler Windsor Convertible

1949–1952

Chrysler Windsor 1949–1951
1951 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe sedan
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door hardtop (Newport) 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Layout	FR
Related	Chrysler New Yorker Chrysler Town & Country DeSoto Custom
Powertrain
Engine	250.6 CID L-head 116 hp (87 kW) I6[10]
Transmission	Prestomatic 4-speed semi-automatic[8]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	121.5 in (3,086 mm) [7]
Length	208.25 in (5,290 mm) [7] 207.3"(1951)[11]
Width	77.75 in (1,975 mm) [7]

In 1949, for Chrysler's 25th anniversary, Chrysler Windsors were redesigned, however, the styling was "boxier" than the competition.[8] New this year was a padded dashboard with sponge rubber for safety.[8][12] 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.[13][14]

In 1950, the Windsor Traveler Sedan was reintroduced, but only lasted one year.[8] The Windsor still had full instrumentation.[15] 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.[16]

1951, the Royal was dropped, and the Windsor became Chrysler's low-priced car.[8] The costly egg crate-style grille was deleted in favor of painted metal and two broad chrome strips. The Windsor DeLuxe had an electric clock standard, while electric windows were optional.[17] 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.[18]

Little changed in 1952. Power brakes were standard on the Windsor DeLuxe 6-passenger sedan.[8]

• 
  1950 Chrysler Windsor Six-Passenger Club Coupe
• 
  1950 Chrysler Windsor Newport (rear)
• 
  1951 Chrysler Windsor DeLuxe Six-Passenger Sedan (rear)
• 
  1952 Chrysler Windsor two-door Club Coupe
• 
  1952 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country Wagon

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[19] PowerFlite 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 finally a 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 grille and the instrument panel was new.[20] 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.[21]

1953 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Newport

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][22] 331CID 2-bbl. 225 hp (168 kW) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual PowerFlite 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)[23]
Width	79.0 in (2,007 mm) (1955)[22] 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]

The styling of the Windsor 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.[24] 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.[8] Interior trims remained mostly the same, though a new Highway Hi-Fi phonograph player was a new option on the Windsor.[8]

The 1956 edition for the Canadian market featured the Plymouth 303 Poly V-8 Engine, the same one used in the Plymouth Fury and the Canadian Dodge Custom Royal.[25]

• 
  1956 Chrysler Windsor Two Door Newport Hardtop
• 
  1956 Chrysler Windsor Six Passenger Sedan [26]

1957–1958

Chrysler Windsor 1957–1958
1957 Chrysler Windsor 2-Door Hardtop
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[27]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	126 in (3,200 mm) (1957) 122 in (3,099 mm) (1958)
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 bar suspensions and rust.[8]

In 1958, the Windsor (LC1-L) was moved to the Dodge/DeSoto Firesweep 122-inch (3,100 mm) chassis.[8] Canadian Windsors still used the longer, 126-inch (3,200 mm) chassis and was essentially a rebadged Saratoga (LC2-M), a model which was not sold in Canada this year.[28] 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.[29] 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.[29] The Windsor made up 42.36% of Chrysler's sales in 1958.[8]

• 
  1957 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country Wagon
• 
  1957 Chrysler Windsor 4-Door Hardtop. Dual headlight were initially an option for 1957, but became standard equipment soon after production commenced.
• 
  1958 Chrysler Windsor four-door sedan (US)
• 
  1958 Chrysler Windsor Sedan (Canadian)

1959–1961

Chrysler Windsor 1959–1961
1959 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[30]
Transmission	TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic[30]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122 in (3,099 mm)
Length	215.4 in (5,471 mm) [31]
Width	79.4 in (2,017 mm)

In 1959, Chrysler started to advertise the car's new wedge-head "B" engines as "Golden Lions" and the cars as "Lion Hearted".[32] 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 DeSotos. Thus, Canadian Windsors also did not get the "Golden Lion" decorations; instead, they were fitted with three golden crests on the front doors.[33] 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.[33] 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.

In 1960, all Chrysler cars got a unibody frame. A new parking brake was also used,[31] and the brakes on the Windsor were 11" drums.[31]

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.[34] 1961 was the last year of the Windsor in the United States. [35]

• 
  Canadian market 1959 Chrysler Windsor 2-Door Hardtop. Note triple crests rather than Golden Lion badging on the front doors.
• 
  1960 Chrysler Windsor 4-Door Sedan
• 
  1961 Chrysler Windsor two-door hardtop

Canadian models 1961 to 1966

Production of a Chrysler Windsor model continued in Canada up to and including the 1966 model year.[36]

• 
  1965 Chrysler Windsor 4-Door Sedan (Canada)
• 
  1966 Chrysler Windsor 2-Door Hardtop (Canada)

References

1. Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946–1975 (Revised 4th Edition)
2. Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805–1942. Krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.
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. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1946_Chrysler/1946_Chrysler_Brochure_1". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
8. Flory Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946–1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
9. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1946_Chrysler/1946_Chrysler_Owners_Manual". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
10. Hearst Magazines (September 1951). "Popular Mechanics". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 102.
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. https://www.allpar.com/cotm/12-08-highlander.html
14. http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisherAttachments/9990548605107/1949_Chrysler_Info_1B.pdf
15. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1950_Chrysler/1950_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
16. Lee, John (1990). Standard Catalog of Chrysler, 1924-1990. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, Inc. pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-87341-142-0.
17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
18. Magazines, Hearst (1 September 1951). "Popular Mechanics". Hearst Magazines – via Google Books.
19. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1953_Chrysler/1953_Chrysler_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
20. http://oldcarbrochures.org/March%202020/1954%20Chrysler%20Windsor/slides/1954%20Chrysler%20Windsor-15.html
21. "The Owners Report of the '54 Chrysler". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. 1954. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
22. "1955 Chrysler Brochure - Canada". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
23. "1956 Chrysler Windsor Sedan specs, photo & performance data (since middle 1955 for North America U.S.)". Automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
24. "1955 Chrysler Folder". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
25. "Chrysler of Canada - the history and the cars". www.allpar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-03.
26. 1956 Chrysler Windsor brochure, www.xr793.com Retrieved 18 November 2020
27. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1957_Chrysler/1957_Chrysler-Plymouth_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
28. Wilson, Gerard (June 2013). "Chrysler Cars and Production Numbers, Canada". Allpar.com.
29. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1958_Chrysler/1958_Chrysler_Auto-Pilot_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
30. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1960_Chrysler/1960_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
31. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1960_Chrysler/1960_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
32. 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
33. Smale, Ian. "Chrysler Products in Canada, Eh. (1957– 1961)" (PDF). Victoria, BC, Canada. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
34. "Directory Index: Chrysler_and_Imperial/1961_Chrysler/1961_Chrysler_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
35. Chrysler '59 (brochure), pp. 12–13
36. Gerard Wilson, Chrysler Cars and Production Numbers, Canada, www.allpar.com Retrieved 28 June 2018

External links

• 1965 Chrysler brochure – Canadian, www.lov2xlr8.no