1950 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country Newport

1950 was the final year for Chrysler's wood-paneled Town and Country. They had been introduced just after World War II and were immediately successful. The wood portions of the cars were completely handcrafted and assembled. This labor-intensive process was time-consuming and had Chrysler struggling to keep up with demand. Also, due to the extra costs associated with this type of assembly, it is believed that Chrysler did not make a profit on these cars.

One of the last body styles to be offered on the Town and Country was the Newport. There were only 700 constructed before production ceased. These two-door vehicles had a steel hardtop with wood trim throughout the doors and continued to the rear of the vehicle. Under the bonnet was an eight-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed column shift gearbox. The big performance features of these cars were the disc brakes. Chrysler was one of the first marques to use disc brakes, even beating Jaguar and their LeMans C-Types by over two years.

This 1950 Chrysler Imperial Newport Town & Country was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000. It is powered by an eight-cylinder 324 cubic-inch engine capable of producing 135 horsepower. There is a three-speed gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. The elegant body rests comfortably on a 131.5-inch wheelbase. It is finished in two-tone black with a white interior. This is a completely original, never restored, never registered example that has traveled less than 5,000 miles since new.

It is believed that 77 remain in modern times, with this being one of the best examples. At the auction, the car's features, originality, style, and mechanical superiority were acknowledged as bidding was driven to $167,750 and the vehicle found its next owner.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2007