1924 Chrysler Model B-70

Walter P. Chrysler officially founded the Chrysler Corporation in 1925 following an attempt to re-organize the ailing Maxwell Motor Company. An all-new model was well underway, as Mr. Chrysler had plans to construct a mass-market car that offered higher quality than the commonly seen Ford's yet more affordable than other marques such as Buick and Cadillac. The first Chryslers actually appeared the year before the company was made official.

The Chrysler Model B-70, the first car to bear the Chrysler name, was designed by Fred M. Zeder, Owen R. Skelton, and Carl Breer. It made its public debut at the 1924 New York Automobile Show at the Hotel Commodore and was powered by a high-compression six-cylinder engine with Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes. The Chrysler had advanced engineering features that were uncommon and unprecedented in a car in its mid-level price class. The '70' portion of its name was in reference to its comfortably achievable top speed.

The Chrysler Model B-70 was offered in a range of nine different body styles and prices that ranged from the low $1,00s to the high $3,000s. The coupe was priced at $1,195, a four-door tourer at $1,335, a phaeton at $1,400, a roadster at $1,525, a sedan at $1,625, a two-door brougham at $1,800, and Imperial Sedan at $1,900, a Crown Imperial Sedan at $2,195, and the Town Car at $3,725.

The styling of the Model B was conventional and clean, with classic lines and flowing fenders. It had drum headlights, vertical hood louvers, step-type fenders, and a double beltline molding on the closed body styles. Early production examples had split windshields on the open cars. The radiator had a double-winged radiator cap with the Chrysler Viking helmet logo located at the upper center. The wheelbase measured 112.75-inches which was similar to the 109-inches of the Buick Model 24 Four (but less than the six-cylinder Buicks of 120- and 128-inches), more than the Chevrolet's 103-inch wheelbase and Ford's 100-inch platform, and much less than the Cadillac's 132-inch wheelbase.

Known as the Model 70, Model B, and the 'Chrysler Six,' the company focused much of the advertising on its 4.7:1 compression ratio and the four-wheel hydraulic braking system. At the time, most other manufacturers offered an inferior and less efficient 4:1 compression ratio and two-wheel mechanical brakes. The L-head inline-6 had a 201 cubic-inch displacement, solid valve lifters, a Ricardo-type cylinder head, a Ball & Ball carburetor, seven main bearings, and delivered 68 horsepower at 3,000 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed manual transmission with a conventional clutch and floor shift controls. It rode on steel disc wheels on the touring body style and wood-spoke wheels on the other body styles. The list of optional equipment included spare tires, trunk rack, step plates, accessory radiator cap, side curtains, outside rearview mirror, wind wings, and double bar bumpers.

During its inaugural year, the Chrysler - which replaced the Maxwell, had over 32,000 examples produced and a total of 19,960 units were registered during the calendar year.

The Chrysler's innovations and many speed records and hill climb victories helped boost the popularity and notoriety even further. Ralph de Palma drove a Chrysler to an overall victory at the 1924 Mt. Wilson Hill Climb, and several 1000-mile outright speed records. Malcolm Campbell won the '100 Short' at Brooklands (in Europe) in 1924 in an aerodynamic-bodied '70.' The Chrysler Model 70 also notably became the first-ever American car to compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

by Dan Vaughan

Phaeton

The Chrysler Model B, the first car to bear the Chrysler name, was designed by Fred M. Zeder, Owen R. Skelton, and Carl Breer. It made its public debut at the 1924 New York Automobile Show. Powering the new Chrysler was a high-compression six-cylinder engine and Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes. They featured advanced engineering features that were unprecedented in a car in its mid-level price class.

This Phaeton is one of five prototypes completed before Chrysler production began in the former Chalmers plant on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. This example has been owned by the company since its creation.

The car has a wheelbase that measures 112.8 inches and measures 170-inches in length. There is an L-head six-cylinder engine that displaces 201.5 cubic inches and produces nearly 70 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual gearbox with a conventional clutch.

by Dan Vaughan

Phaeton

This Chrysler Phaeton was the deluxe version of the standard five-passenger touring car. The touring car came only in black, while the phaeton was painted Marine Blue with black fenders.

Roadster
Chassis number: 19074
Engine number: 43162

The Chrysler Corporation was officially founded in 1925 although an all-new model was already well underway. Walter P. Chrysler had plans of producing a higher quality car than the Ford but more affordable than Cadillacs and Buicks. The first Chryslers actually appeared the year before the company was made official. In 1924, production of the Model 70 began, although it was dubbed the 'Chrysler Six' for its high-compression six-cylinder engine. The Model 70 was in reference to its top speed. The Model 70 was given many never-before-seen engineering feats. The Model 70 featured a seven-bearing crankshaft, carburetor air cleaner, full-pressure lubrication system, and the first replaceable oil filter. It had a 4.7:1 compression ratio and there were hydraulic brakes at all four corners. At the time, most other manufacturers offered a 4:1 compression ratio and two-wheel mechanical brakes.

In 1924, Chrysler offered nine body styles. They set many speed records and hill climb victories. These included several drives by Ralph de Palma, including overall victory at the 1924 Mt. Wilson Hill Climb, and several 1000-mile outright speed records. The Chryslers were also brought overseas and raced, with Land Speed Record holder Malcolm Campbell winning the '100 Short' at Brooklands in 1925 in an aerodynamic-bodied '70'. The Model 70 was also the first-ever American car to compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

This particular Model 70 Roadster was purchased in northern Washington State in 1998 by Martin Swig. The early history is not known, however, it is quite possible that it was delivered new to Washington, as the car wears a 1924 Washington license plate that was on the car at the time of Swig's purchase. The car was bought by Swig out of an estate collection. It is believed that it was in the previous ownership for decades, possibly since the 1960s. At some point, the car was repainted in a period color scheme. It has the correct wood-spoke wheels, nickel radiator, and ornamental winged radiator cap. Swig reupholstered the original bench seat, however, he left the original upholstery on the door panels. The odometer currently shows fewer than 36,000 miles which reflects the original mileage.

by Dan Vaughan

The Chrysler Corporation has been in existence since the early 1920's with its first vehicle offered for mass production being the Model B-70. It was introduced to the public at the New York Auto Show held at the city's Hotel Commodore. The vehicle was very versatile with nine body styles being offered that ranged from $2725 through $3225. The vehicles were offered in a variety of two- and four-door configurations with seating that could accommodate up to five passengers. Mounted under the hood was a six-cylinder L-head engine that displaced just over 200 cubic inches and produced nearly 70 horsepower. The engine was mated to a three-speed manual gearbox with floor shift controls, shaft drive, and a conventional clutch. Braking was by four-wheel hydraulics. All body styles rode on a 112.75-inch wheelbase and had a length of 160 inches.

The response was positive, with nearly 80,000 examples of both the Chrysler and the Maxwells sold. As such, little was changed in the following year.

The Series 70 would remain in production until 1931. It had withstood the onset of the Great Depression and by the early 1930s, was feeling its age. A new look had been introduced for Chrysler in the early 1930s, though little changed on the Series 70. For 1931, the list of models included the Series CJ with its six-cylinder engine, the CD and CG with eight cylinders, and the CM which was also known as the 'New SEries Six'. The Series 66 and Series 70 had both been carried over from the prior year with few changes.

by Dan Vaughan