1949 Chrysler Royal Series

1949 was Chrysler's 25th Anniversary and the first year the Chrysler models wore new post-war styling. Two wheelbase sizes were offered on the Royal Series including the 125.5-inch platform that carried Club Coupe, 6-passenger sedan, and 9-passenger bodies. The 125.5-inch wheelbase was four inches longer than the previous years due to moving the rear axle housing farther back. The longer 139.5-inch wheelbase was reserved for the 8-passenger sedan of which 185 examples were built in 1949. The station wagon body style was the first of its type on a Chrysler automobile since 1942.

The 1949 Chrysler Royal Series was powered by an L-head six-cylinder engine with a cast-iron block, four-main bearing engine that delivered 116 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. The engine was backed by a three-speed manual transmission as standard equipment or an option Chrysler's exclusive Fluid Drive semi-automatic unit. The Royal was Chrysler's entry-level model with prices beginning at $2,000 for the Club Coupe, $2,020 for the sedan, and $3,000 for the station wagon. The most popular body style was the sedan which found 13,192 willing buyers.

In the front were an egg-crate grille, shortened overhangs, and taller and boxier bodies. The suspension was comprised of an independent front setup with coil springs, and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Hydraulic drum brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power. The standard wheelbase cars rode on 7.60x15 tires while the longer models and station wagons rested on 8.20 x 15 tires.

The following year, 1950, would be the final use of the Royal name.

by Dan Vaughan

Station Wagon
Chassis number: 70051011

When World War II ended and automobile production resumed, most of the vehicles produced were of pre-War design. Some had slight modifications and it took several years for the automakers to introduce totally new vehicles. For Chrysler, that year was 1949, when they introduced their first postwar all-new styling change. 1949 also marked the company's 25th year in business.

In addition to the styling changes, Chrysler introduced a station wagon, a body style that had not been part of the company's lineup since 1942. In 1949, Chrysler produced just 850 examples of the Royal Station Wagon out of the 124,218 vehicles built by Chrysler. Chevrolet produced a mere 10,171 examples and Ford just 13,412 station wagons. Clearly, this was a small, niche market. They were rare when they were produced, and in modern times, they remain very rare.

Along with the station wagon, the Royal Series also included a club coupe, sedan, and a long-wheelbase sedan with seating for eight. Only 185 examples of the LWB Sedan were produced. The most popular body style of the series was the 4-door sedan, which saw 13,192 examples produced, selling for $2,020 (less options).

This example was purchased by the current owner from a New Hampshire-based collector in the mid-2000s at the AACA Eastern Division meet at Hershey, Pennsylvania. Power is from Chrysler's 'Spitfire Six' which offers 116 horsepower and displaces 251 cubic inches. There is a three-speed Fluid Drive semi-automatic gearbox, though a three-speed manual was standard on all Royals. The wheelbase measures 129.5 inches and there are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

In 2011, this Royal Series station wagon was offered for sale at the St. John auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $55,000 - $70,000 and was offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $57,750 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan