1941 Chrysler Series 30 Eight

The disparity caused by the Great Depression forced many automakers out of business. Chrysler survived the lean years of the early 1930s, and by the mid-1930s had introduced its Airflow models which were met with limited sales. Despite its advanced styling, its untested production methods had been unsuccessful in attracting customers. Move conventional models were quickly rushed into production, emerging in the late 1930s, and helped re-establish the company in the slowly recovering market and carried them through the immediate post-war years. 1940 brought all-new styling and an expanded New Yorker line with a convertible for the first time and the Highlander model was introduced for the customer who wanted a touch of sporting feel.

For 1941, the Chrysler models covered an unusually broad spectrum of the luxury and near-luxury market, with a lineup that included modest sixes to semi-custom eights. The company was the tenth best seller in the model year and the eighth-largest producer of American cars in the calendar year. This success was attributed to careful engineering, attractive subtle styling, value, and thoughtful features.

The 1941 Chrysler vehicles had a steeply raked vee'd windshield, a sharply pointed hood, a grille blended into the sculpted lines of the body, and bright moldings traversing the beltline and chrome parking lights atop the front fenders. The straight-eight-cylinder engine powering the Saratoga and New Yorker, now called the Spitfire, delivered 137 horsepower and excellent performance.

The eight-cylinder (Series 30) included the Saratoga, New Yorker, and New Yorker Highlander.

The top-of-the-line 1941 Chrysler model was the Crown Imperial line that included a Special Town Sedan priced at $1,760, a six- and eight-passenger sedan priced at $2,595 and $2,695 respectively, and a limousine at $2,795.

The Saratoga line was priced at $1,245 to $1,350 with body styles that included a coupe, club coupe, luxury brougham, sedan, and town sedan. Nine bare chassis were built along with a single Town & Country Station wagon on the eight-cylinder platform.

Body styles on the New Yorker mirrored the Saratoga and were available with the 'Highlander' interior package. Prices ranged from $1,330 for the coupe and rose to $1,550 for the convertible, representing Chrysler's most elite, sporting open model for 1941, and just 1,295 convertibles were made on the eight-cylinder line

Standard features included hydraulic brakes, dual taillights, dual wipers, dual sun visors, Fluid Drive, and Solar Spark ignition.

Chrysler's major model groups for 1941 included the Royal Six, Windsor, Highlander, Saratoga, New Yorker, and Crown Imperial with prices that ranged from $1,000 to $3,000, providing its prospective customers with a wide range of power and trim choices. The proven reliability and performance of Chrysler's straight-eight engines enhanced the marque's allure. Following model names like Windsor, Highlander, and Royal, the Spitfire name for the engine was a nod to the bravery of the Royal Air Force's Supermarine Spitfires then fighting the Battle of Britain.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020