1926 Chrysler Model E-80

The Chrysler Corporation was officially founded in 1925 after Walter P. Chrysler accepted the job of re-organizing the ailing Maxwell Motor Company. Flush with cash from his buyout from Buick, he decided to build his own automobile under the Chrysler Corporation banner. His six-cylinder Model B was designed by Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton, and Carl Breer and backed by Chrysler and his Wall Street partners. The six-cylinder engine had a high-compression cylinder head, a cast-iron block, seven main bearings, solid valve lifters, and a Ball & Ball carburetor.

For 1926, Chrysler offered both four- and six-cylinder models, with the base Model F-58 using the smaller engine and a continuation of the Maxwell but with a new, rounded radiator shear. The six-cylinder engine was installed in both the Model G-70 and the Model E-80, with the G-70 having 68 horsepower while the E-80 produced 92 horsepower at 3,000 RPM. The G-70 engine displaced 218.6 cubic inches while the E-80 had a 288 cubic-inch size. All engines used a three-speed transmission with a conventional clutch, shaft drive, and wood-spoke wheels. The early F-58 Models received mechanical rear-wheel brakes, while the six-cylinder models had four-wheel hydraulic brakes.

The Model E-80 Six was the highest-priced vehicle in the Chrysler lineup, with body styles that included a roadster, phaeton, coupe, sedan, Imperial Sedan, and Limousine. Prices ranged from $2,650 and rose to $3,700. These were significantly more expensive than the lower-priced G-70 which had prices that ranged from $1,400 to $2,100.

The Model E-80 had a longer wheelbase, unique styling, a larger and more powerful engine, and more luxury amenities than the lower G-70. While the G-70 production was over 72,000 units, 9,114 examples of the E-80 were produced in 1926.

The Chrysler automobiles were well-engineered and wore attractive bodies. Period advertising focused on the 4.7:1 compression ratio and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. At the time, most other manufacturers offered an inferior and less efficient 4:1 compression ratio and two-wheel mechanical brakes. Other Chrysler features included the seven-bearing crankshaft, full pressure lubrication system, the first replaceable oil filter, and carburetor air cleaner.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020