Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

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1949 CHRYSLER WINDSOR 'HIGHLANDER' CONVERTIBLE SORRY, SOLD TO SORRENTO, FL.

This is an automobile you won't see many of...for several reasons. Most have been crushed and made into Kelvinator Refrigerator's. The other reason is: Limited Build. Chrysler only built 3,234 of these great old Convertible Coupes in 1949. The Windsor Series was an upgraded version of the Royal and it included Fluid Drive and the PrestoMatic Transmission as standard equipment ( which allowed you to either column shift the standard "H Pattern" or leave it in final gear). The '49 Chrysler Dashboards were 'Padded for Safety' and offered an adjoining 'key starter' for the Very First Time.The Scotch plaid 'Highlander" Interior was an option and definitely served to brighten -up the car on every level. The gas filler was moved to the left-rear fender while this model carried an L-Head cast iron Six Cylinder 250 c.i./ 114 h.p. engine as standard fare. Production started late ( another reason for low-build) as Chrysler suffered a Tool & Dye Strike that year. This setback might also have been instrumental in MOPAR dropping the 3-passenger Coupe at the end of that year.

This car was a Big, Lumbering Giant of a Car that literally 'floated' down the highway but, surprisingly the Six Cylinder was known to keep up with the best performance of the Eight Cylinder Version , standard in the fancier, more costly New Yorker Series. The big L-Head Eight only boasted 21 more horsepower but, carried a lot more weight in the process. The Windsor Series Convertible came with a hefty price tag (for 1949) at $2598, plus options but, perhaps since the body carried few identification plates, the Windsor outsold the New Yorker by better than 2 to 1, at more than $1,200 less. Optional Equipment offered was: Wide Whitewall Tires, Colored or Chrome Wind Wing Vents, Exhaust Deflector, Chrome Grille Guard, "Highlander" Scotch Plaid Upholstery, Radio, Heater, Weather-Proof Ignition, Auto-Compass, Underhood Light, Spotlights, Foglamps, Windshield Washer and Spare Tire Valve Extension.

This pre-sold excellent example is finished in Cream with Dark Red "Highlander"Upholstery, Tan Canvas Top, WWW Tires, PrestoMatic Automatic Gearbox, Power Steering, AM Radio, Dual Spotlights, Amber Foglamps, Power Top, Grille Guard and more. It carries 37,000+ (? exempt) miles and hails from the New York Long Island area where it spent 60+ years garaged and, according to the aging owner " was driven only in the Springtime". Recession Priced and a lot of Luxury for only $36,500.

THE STORY:

1949 was a Tough Year for the United States. This would be the First Time in History that the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Society would warn American's that "cigarette smoking could cause Cancer". Since (at that time) over 40% of the USA enjoyed (?) at least one pack a day the News was viewed as grim ( even famous personalities- Arthur Godfrey, Perry Como and Bing Crosby were all pictured on Billboards and Magazines in Chesterfield Cigarette ads with a 'cancer stick' hanging from their lip.) The Soviet Union exploded it's First Nuclear Bomb and most American's, despite Stalin's claim that "it was detonated to stimulate the agricultural development of a barren region", thought it was seen as a sign of a full-scale Nuclear War... just around the corner.

Top Black & White TV Shows were "The Texaco Star Theatre", "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts", "The Philco Television Playhouse", "Captain Video" and "The Lone Ranger". By 1949, American's were purchasing an amazing 100,000 TV Sets per week! This would be the First Year for The Emmy Awards, while Ester Williams (and her outrageous gams -aka "Legs:") would star in the Movie "Neptunes Daughter", as Betty Grable (America's # 1 Leading Lady and Pin-Up Girl ) would bomb at the Box-Office starring in the movie "Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend" (even the title sucked). On the Music Front: RCA would release the first 45 rpm record in a cross-promotion with Emerson Record Players. It offered a 45 disc and record player for only $39.95. Perry Como would land the Most Played with NINE Top Singles including: "Some Enchanted Evening", "Forever and Ever" and "Bali Hai". By years-end, Cowboy Gene Autrey would release "Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer", selling over 2 million copies in one month. However, you might better remember Frankie Lane singing "That Lucky Old Sun", or Vaugh Monroe's Hit Tune called ""Riders In The Sky".

If you were just a kid in 1949- you might recall "Peter Hodgson"....who???? He placed a blob of boric acid and silicon oil in a package and marketed it as "Silly Putty". Not even the Army could figure out a use for this strange, stretchable, bouncing substance until it was released as a kid's toy. Hodgson packaged and sold 140,000,000 globs, at $1 each, to become a instant millionaire. Amazing isn't it (?) that kids would stick a blob of boric acid in their mouth, ride bicycles after dark, cross the streets by themselves, fall out of trees without suing the neighbor- and we all survived !! During Good Old 1949 over 340,000 miles of U.S. Highway improvements were made. In fact, it was considered each and every American's DUTY to take advantage of them so, Detroit geared up for everyone to 'hit the road'. Plymouth hailed it's improved "Pillow Ride", Hudson it's new "Step Down Ride" (it had a flat floor - aka: no transmission hump with step-down construction) and Studebaker it's "Next Look" Campaign. Oldsmobile touted "Futuramatic" Body Styles and Performance through it's new V8 and even offered a see-through hood, now seen as a Major Collector's Item. It was a 'Tough Year" but, American's rose to the Task and finished at the Top...... once again.