Sometimes ya gotta wonder why the 1957 Chevrolet is so adored. Sure, it has strong styling, an engine most people like (or room for one you like better), and was plentiful enough that anyone could find one if desired. However, as a kid, once I explored beyond the cliché 1950s cars, I caught wind of cars like our Pick of the Day and fell in love. This 1957 Chrysler New Yorker convertible is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Volo, Illinois. (Click on the link to view the listing)
It’s truly a shame that the company that was famous for producing cars of sound engineering principles also was producing cars with boring styling—that was the Chrysler Corporation from 1949-54. Certainly, sometime in-between those years, the manufacturer got the hint and began to add color and style to its portfolio, but the styling paled in comparison to cars coming out from General Motors and Ford (if not Independents).
Come 1955, and Chrysler Corporation’s Forward Look showed that the manufacturer was straightening up and flying right. All cars—from Plymouth to Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial—featured styling that rivaled others in the industry, and there were several engineering advancements too that made Chrysler Corporation cars superior to some. Even more was in store with its 1957 redesigns.
Chrysler Corporation cars for 1957 were spectacular, so much so that General Motors knew it lost its style leadership—not quite hubris, but certainly GM was not on the leading edge. Additionally, Chrysler Corporation now offered three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission, Torsion-Aire Ride, and the availability of quad headlamps, three features that distinguished it from the competition. However, it was the styling of all the brands that was the big news.
In particular, Chrysler offered three mainstream models that shared the same design aside of minor trim variations: Windsor, Saratoga, and New Yorker; additionally, the performance-oriented 300-C featured a unique front grille. Soaring fins with tall taillights, huge expanses of glass, and a 392 Hemi that offered more horses than the competition were but some of the features that Chrysler offered.
This 1957 Chrysler New Yorker convertible was at the top of the Chrysler pecking order aside of the 300-C. Painted Cloud White with a Gauguin Red sweep along the sides, this is fancy stuff for ’57! The top is also white and the wire wheels clearly show this is no down-market Mopar. The interior features a surprise—mocha and red! Quite the unusual combination, it surrounds red and white vinyl and cloth seats with a center arm rest up front. You’ll also find power steering, power windows, power seat, power top, and dual antennas. Under the hood, 325 horses from the Firepower V8 mean this Mopar is not demure.
Only 1,049 New Yorker convertibles were built for 1957. This is a chariot’s chariot, a cruiser in the best sense. To make the world think you’ve got it made, it’ll take $144,998.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com