Lot details
Registration No: SV 4360
Chassis No: YE8055
Mot Expiry: Dec 2012

Having rescued Willys from their financial woes but failed in his attempt to wrest control of the firm from John Willys, Walter Chrysler obtained a controlling stake in the ailing Maxwell Motor Company. By 1925 he had dropped the Maxwell name, rebranded the business as the Chrysler Corporation and created a triumvirate of notably gifted engineers in Breer, Skelton and Zeder. The launch of their new Series 50, 60, 70 and Imperial 80 models soon followed. Their numerical designations reputedly reflected the top speeds of which each variant was capable and therefore related to the size of engine fitted. The range was intended to provide customers with well-engineered cars at an affordable price and were, in many ways, ahead of their time - even featuring hydraulic braking on all four wheels. The approach was successful, with the company shooting to fourth place in the burgeoning American car market by 1927, as a result of some 192,083 sales.

The splendid-looking right-hand drive Series 60 Four-Door Open Tourer offered was manufactured in 1927 and features Pale Green over Black bodywork and Black leather upholstery. It is reportedly powered by a six-cylinder engine of 2955cc mated to a three-speed manual gearbox. It is understood to have been imported from New Zealand some 20 years ago, where it had apparently undergone an extensive restoration. It retains many period features, including the wooden artillery wheels. It was recently equipped with a new battery, while the brake master cylinder was overhauled and the front brakes relined. The vendor describes the bodywork as "good/clean", the paintwork as "clean with no evident damage", the interior trim as "good" and the engine and gearbox as "serviceable". This charming vintage tourer is being sold complete with full weather equipment and tonneau, original driver's instruction manual, photos of the engine work in New Zealand and an MOT into December.