Attractive older restoration in period colors and materials. Accessory windshield visor (removable). Great-running 251 cubic inch six with Fluid Drive transmission. Massive trunk. A stylish post-war coupe that’s ideal for touring.

Travelling salesman must have been a much bigger career in the 1930s and ‘40s than it is today, as almost every automaker built cars that catered to this road-based profession. This 1947 Chrysler Windsor business coupe was one of the more upscale offerings in this niche market, the car for a successful salesman who wanted a bit more luxury than a regular Chevy or Dodge might offer. Chrysler obliged with a downright gorgeous 3-window coupe body style that perfectly balanced the long hood and rounded deck lid around a compact greenhouse. Dressed in basic black, it is the ideal 1940s representative and the older restoration is holding up rather well. There’s a nice gloss to the paint and while there are a few minor signs of use and age, there’s really nothing that stands out as needing attention. Note the way the front fenders blend into the doors, the forward-canted B-pillar, and the rounded trunk, all of which make this 3-window coupe look sleek and up-to-date in the busy years following WWII. You’ll also find Chrysler’s trademark eggcrate grille, which is in good condition with minimal pitting, lots of polished stainless trim, and that cool visor over the windshield that offers a little more protection from the sun’s heat (and it’s completely removable with no holes to fill). This is a great-looking car from any angle.

The tan interior with a blue seat is striking in person and is a common 1940s theme in near-luxury cars. Code 19, Blue and Tan Broadcloth, is this car’s original combination and it looks fantastic in person. The cabin is spacious with just a front bench seat, and there’s cavernous storage behind it. The dashboard was painted to match the blue upholstery, along with the blue steering column and wheel, giving it a very cohesive and stylish look. The tan carpets provide an anchor and use a short loop design for durability. The instruments cover all the engine’s vitals and they’re all operational except the clock, which is typical. The center stack is dominated by the speaker for the unique horizontally-oriented radio (which is sadly not functional) with secondary controls underneath. You’ll find lots of neat little touches, including a courtesy light that also flashes to remind you to disengage the emergency brake, multiple heater and defroster units, and lots of chrome. The headliner is probably original and remains in great shape for its age, and the downright massive trunk is outfitted with a rubber mat, full-sized spare, and jack assembly.

The 251 cubic inch “Spitfire” inline-6 was an excellent choice in the Windsor. Like all Chrysler’s six-cylinder engines, it’s smooth and torquey, not to mention virtually indestructible. Dressed in corporate silver engine enamel it has a no-nonsense look. It’s also easy to maintain thanks to great parts availability. We don’t have any information on a rebuild, but this one starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls the big coupe around without seeming to work very hard. There’s a nice 6-cylinder grumble from the exhaust and a pleasing whirring sound from under the hood that sounds expensive. It’s equipped with an accessory oil filter and shows plenty of signs of proper maintenance over the years. It’s backed by Chrysler’s unusual Fluid Drive transmission, which combines elements of both manual and automatic transmissions. There’s a clutch, but once you’ve engaged reverse, high, or low range, you never have to use it again. That’s because there’s also a fluid coupling, or torque converter, that makes driving in traffic a snap—no clutch is needed. For normal driving, just leave it in high range and it accelerates cleanly from a stop, and once you’re running about 20 MPH, briefly lift off the pedal and it’ll automatically shift into top gear. It’s quite content at 60 MPH and once you’ve spent some time with it, the Fluid Drive is easy to use. 3.73 gears out back help make it feel lively around town and the manual steering and drum brakes have modest effort so it’s easy to handle for almost anyone. The floors are in excellent shape and it appears that the rockers have been rebuilt during the restoration, although the inner rockers are not perfect—nothing that’s visible with the car on the ground. Recent tube shocks help with surprisingly up-to-date road feel and the 6.70-15 Goodyear wide whites are exactly the right choice on the big coupe.

The more time we spend with this handsome Windsor, the more we like it. Chryslers of the period have a well-earned reputation for reliability and durability, while the 3-window coupe styling makes it stand out in a crowded field of ‘40s sedans. If you have a lot of stuff to carry or like the idea of a big 2-seater coupe, this beautiful Windsor definitely delivers. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.