1951 Chrysler New Yorker

Chrysler introduced the New Yorker nameplate in 1940 and it would remain in production through 1996. The 'New York Special' trim level first appeared in 1938 and the 'New Yorker' name debuted in 1939. After World War II, the New Yorker became a separate series and would wear the same basic appearance from 1946 through 1948, characterized by their 'harmonica' grille.

1950 was the final year for the inline eight which began production in 1930 on the 1931 Series CD-8.

Chrysler's new postwar bodies appeared in 1949 and they were shared by Dodge and DeSoto. Its L-head eight-cylinder engine was shared with the Saratoga, displacing 323.5 cubic inches and offering 135 horsepower. It was coupled to Fluid Drive and the Prestomatic four-speed semi-automatic transmissions. A Fluid Torque Drive was also offered with a true torque converter in place of a Fluid Drive. Cars with Fluid Torque Drive came only with Fluid Matic semi-automatic transmission and had a gear selector quadrant on the steering column. Chrysler had built a reputation on solid engineering and its postwar cars capitalized upon this by marketing and advertising components with catchy names. The 1951 cars had Fluidmatic transmissions, Cycle-Bonded brake liners, Safety-Rim wheels, Full-Flow oil filters, Hydra-Guide power steering, Safety-Level ride, and Hydra-Lizer shock absorbers.

The 1951 Chrysler New Yorker continued to be the top-of-the-line Chrysler and the first New Yorker to be powered by a V-8 engine. The overhead-valve Hemi powerplant displaced 331.1 cubic inches, used Carter carburetors, and delivered 180 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The hemispherical combustion chambers improved volumetric efficiency and offered outstanding power output, increasing from 135 hp of the previous engine to 180 hp from essentially the same displacement.

1951 New Yorker body styles included a club coupe, sedan, convertible, Newport, and a Town & Country Wagon. Prices ranged from $3,350 for the club coupe and rose to over $4,000 for the station wagon. Just 251 examples of the 1951 station wagon were sold and its 131.5-inch wheelbase was the longest ever used on a station wagon.

Chrysler proudly displayed a 'V' ornament on the hood and deck lid on all its models equipped with V-8 engines. New Yorkers had its name located on the front fenders. Changes to styling were mostly confined to the area in front of the cowl, with the grille receiving a heavily chromed appearance with a chromed centerpiece. The parking lights were relocated to below the headlamps and a chrome panel segregated the two grille bars on each fender. On the inside, the padded dash panel remained similar to the 1949 design. The Hydra-Guide power steering was a new feature for 1951 and a passenger car first. This feature was so popular that within a few years, every major American car offered a variation on it. The power-assisted steering offered quick and nimble steering ratios with 'one hand' levels of effort.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020