1954 Chrysler New Yorker

Today we look at an absolutely gorgeous example of a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker four-door sedan at motorcar portfolio in Canton Ohio this example is actually for sale. This one is powered Chrysler’s Legendary hemi V-8.
If you Live in the Western PA eastern Ohio panhandle of West Virginia region and you would like your car featured on channel drop me a line. Either leave me a comment in the comment section the Facebook page isn’t ready yet I might have to convert it into a group.. Drop me a comment in the comment section or you can email me
[e-mail]
Also what cars would you like to see featured on the channel put in the common section below =) 

[@paulwieben4948]

I'm in paradise !! I still have a fabulous 1954 lmperial 2dr Newport I purchased in October 1968 . It is equipped with every option that was offered including factory Airtemp air-conditioning and chrome wire wheels . Looks exactly like the one in the add . Dark green body with light green top and matching two tone green leather interior . The car is very quiet and fast and it rides smooth as silk . I rebuilt everything when I bought it , and the air has worked perfect with no need to add to the F22 since completed in 1971. I'm now 86 and really sorry that I won't have another 50+ to enjoy cruising in this fabulous , rare automobile . I can only pray that the next owner continues with loving care . It will last forever !!. Ps Chrysler was light-years ahead and immediately successful when it offered Airtemp . The 85 story Chrysler bldg was the first fully ac office building in the world in 1930 , and Chrysler did it !! They named it "Airtemp" !! Then railroads approached Chrysler asking if they could air condition Pullman cars , and Chrysler replied "sure" and that got the ball rolling , so when it came to automobiles , Chrysler waited until pressure was applied by GM , Packard , Ford and a couple others to offer AC . So in late 53 when they introduced Airtemp , it was not only the best , but was also a climate controlled unit with a V4 compressor rated 1-1/4 ton cooling . I set my temp at 68° and when I turn it on it cools the car in about 45 seconds and levels out very quickly. Also Chrysler installed a special freon control valve in the rear mounted cooling unit which eliminated the need for removing compressor drive belts over winter months or when not used for periods of time . All other mfg required removal and that meant compressor seals would dry out and leak and would require recharging in spring . As I mentioned , mine has held its original charge since 1971 . Hope I didn't bore anyone , but I'm a real old car buff -- lol !!

[@What.its.like.]

Just curious are you close or around Pennsylvania area I’m located in Western Pennsylvania.. your car sounds totally cool thank you so much for all the inside taking the time to add all of that information I really appreciate it =)

[@sableminer8133]

Yeah thanks for sharing, old timer. I luv the community of this channel and appreciating these old classics. To see young ones still interested shows it's a time- honored tradition! Air temp Rules!

[@paulwieben4948]

@@What.its.like. hello again ! To answer your question , I'm in a suberb of Buffalo NY . Also add I have an original 74 Imperial like new . Fact : first American sedan with 4w disc brakes . Question : first American car to offer 4w disc brakes , and when ? 1949 Imperial .

[@johndunbar7504]

I've owned a 1953 Imperial for 25 years and have to announce that it is the best car I've ever owned in my entire 80 yr. old life. They had a reputation for quality of design and construction and have remarkable endurance, as is mentioned in this video. This car is indestructible. All I did was change the spark plugs and coil and did a minor tune up and in over those years the car has never broken down or failed to start. With 70,000 miles and all those years, it runs as smooth and quiet as the day it left the factory. Nothing like this is built by any car manufacturer these days.

[@What.its.like.]

=) I have to cover the imperials this channel is Relatively new, we barely scratched the surface of cars I’d like to cover

[@mauriceappleyard8269]

I enjoyed your video of the 1954 NEW YORKER . It is very similar to my 1953 NEW YORKER. The main difference being the transmission and the carburetor. The 53 has a semi automatic, the 54 a powerflite . The 53 a 2 barrel carburetor. The 54 a 4 barrel carburetor. MAURIE APPLEYARD. AUSTRALIA.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

70K miles is barely 'broken in' for most cars...

[@johndunbar7504]

@@BuzzLOLOL Not for modern cars. I have many friends with new crap cans and they are in the repair shop with less milage than that.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@johndunbar7504 - Yeah, they have too many millions of unneeded things that can go wrong now... and rack up tens of thousands in repair bills for difficult to repair things...

[@jerrycallender9927]

I grew up with these Chrysler cars.. I remember Mama buying a 1950 Coronet Deluxe, butter cream yellow with chocolate mohair upholstery and wool carpets. It was like crawling into a butterscotch sundae. Next was a 1952 Chrysler Imperial Town Sedan, 1954 New Yorker Deluxe 2-door and 1955 DeSoto Coronado

[@What.its.like.]

Wow those are all really awesome cars which one did you like the most I want to hit de Soto so bad they are hard to come by here

[@jerrycallender9927]

@@What.its.like. Are you in Canton? I think the De Soto....imagine kicking a wheel going into passing gear at 45 mph. My 1st new car was a 1964 Chrysler convertible, and there were New Yorkers, 1973 and 1978, and Imperials, 1966 and 1975, thru the years.

[@What.its.like.]

Canton is about 1.5 hours from me but go to Ohio a lot.. =)

[@jerrycallender9927]

@@What.its.like. I'm in Tucson with a 2003 Rodeo Sport and Mama's 1991 Park Avenue - looking for a Packard

[@joealbert7773]

In 67 or 68 I bought a 54 New Yorker Deluxe from the district director of local our Internal Revenue Service. I gave $40.00 for it. The body was in good shape, but it needed an exhaust system, tires, and brakes. I drove it back and forth to college and I did get as high as 15 mpg. However, I was young and drove fast, that meant that 10 - 11 mpg was more the norm. The old car was really fast from about 10 mph on. It pulled like a freight train.

[@What.its.like.]

=) awesome story I drove my friends 52 Saratoga and it was unbelievable how it rode if one was to be blind folded it felt like a late 80s Lincoln in both acceleration and road feel both just float down the road

[@eduardoquirino8131]

During those days, if you could afford a $4,000 Chrysler, you wouldn't mind the gasoline consumption considering how well built and comfortable it rode. My grandfather ordered a '53 Crown Imperial Limousine a year before he retired. It was his dream car, only 111 built and cost $7,500 +. He even ordered the Kelsey Hayes rims which made the car sporty. It was unique as it had thin chrome fins above the rear tail lights. It is on display in the Presidential car museum in Quezon City, Philippines.

[@johnmaki3046]

My Dad bought a '54 Chrysler Windsor DeLuxe as a "sorta" replacement for OUR AWESOME 1959 DeSoto! The Chrysler had a "Spitfire" 6 cyl. (GREAT!) POWER STEERING (rare!) and was A DREAM RIDE! This was a $55.00 (YES!) WELL USED CAR IN 1969! I HONESTLY LOVED THIS GREAT CAR!

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome story which did you like better de Soto or Chrysler that year de Soto was huge... long nice tail fins I love de sotos one will be on the channel soon =)

[@johnmaki3046]

@@What.its.like. I made a "boo-boo"! My Dad's DeSoto was a '50 (no fins at all) but it was an AWESOME CAR! In my opinion, THE BEST CAR EVER!

[@christopherkraft1327]

This mid fifties Chrysler New Yorker is really nice. Chryslers were known for being big quality cars!!! Thanks for sharing this fun video!!! 👍

[@glennso47]

Not anymore though.

[@What.its.like.]

To be fair Chrysler is in the same company that it once was

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for enjoying this video =)

[@glennso47]

@@What.its.like. Years ago Chrysler wasn’t a division of Fiat best known for some of the worst cars on the road. Have you ever heard of the expression “FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tony” ? 🫢

[@What.its.like.]

Fiat doesn’t own Chrysler anymore it’s owned by a Dutch company Stellantis

[@brucegilbert7243]

Back in 1954, no one worried about gas mileage, but if you couldn't wear your hat in a car, that was a deal breaker.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@BoxerMustangLoverAndChristian]

I love the 1954 Chrysler New Yorker, because the name “New Yorker” reminds of New York, where the Bronx (Birthplace of Little Mac) is.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@jimbobaggans1564]

My dad had a 54 New Yorker Deluxe. It rode as good or better than the Cadillac of the same year. The Fire Power engine had a plenty of power. My dad loved it but I liked it even more.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@billolsen4360]

5:43 That long wheelbase 54 New Yorker WAS a long one. Allowed for two jump seats behind the front seat to make her an 8-passenger limousine. 7:20 I went to look at a private party 55 Chrysler 300 once at age 20. Hemi idled rough like a Hemi Cuda, but was a rust bucket, refugee from many Pennsylvania winters. The seller said all he could get out of her was 9 miles per gallon!! At that age, I had to pass it by...was anticipated lots of expense to restore its bodywork. 11:36 Buddy, I do believe that some BMW stylist stole the idea for the brand's signature rear side window design from the early 50's Chryslers; that little kick back made it overseas way back when.

[@What.its.like.]

I have a friend who had a 52 Saratoga with the hemi and he just sold it that’s all he was getting was 9 super smooth riding cars maybe one of the top ten best rigging cars of the 50s

[@billolsen4360]

@@What.its.like. I'm sorry I was so poor at 20yo that I had to let the 300 go, but hopefully some rich person eventually snatched it up & she's now restored.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

A 1954 New Yorker is what President Truman and Mrs, Truman drove across country after he left office. They stopped in a lot of small towns where some folks knew who they were and some didn't.. Mrs. Truman said it was one of her greatest trips anywhere! Chrysler provided the car specifically for this trip and President Truman provided the fun and the state-by-state commentary.

[@What.its.like.]

That’s awesome information thank you so much for sharing =)

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

@@What.its.like. You're very welcome. Thank YOU for these awesome videos!

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@NickTwisp80]

@@What.its.like. According to Matthew Allegro's book, "Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure," the vehicle they drove was a 1953 Chrysler, not a 1954. It was purchased by Truman soon after his presidency ended on Jan. 20, 1953. Purchase price is unknown but alleged to be $1.00. The trip was not really "cross-country," as they drove from Independence, Missouri to Washington DC and then on to New York City.

[@billolsen4360]

@@NickTwisp80 Have an old Life magazine picture of Harry Truman in front of his Presidential Library under construction and he's at the wheel of a 1957 or 58 Dodge coupe, lookin' really snazzy with those pointy fins in the rear.

[@markw208]

77.6 inches wide, WOW. Many of those 40’s and 50’s and even 60’s cars had much more room than today’s cars. Actual room for 3 people front or rear.

[@What.its.like.]

That car was huge inside, very spacious back seat and to think they made a longer version

[@markw208]

@@What.its.like. , 4,300 and counting + 👍. I am sure younger generations don’t realize how much room there was in older cars. Or that you sat pretty much upright, like in a chair at a formal dining room table. The seat cushion is higher off the floor and the seat back was almost vertical. As you mentioned several times there is plenty of head room. If you watch older movies you will see that it was common for people to wear a hat 👒 while in the car. In modern cars the seating position is lower and the seat back is usually angled back. Even some new SUV’s and trucks have a lower seating position. I wish you would show the engine compartment in every video. You can see the engine, generator, fan, etc. and all the way to the ground below. Modern engine compartments can have pretty plastic covers and hose routings but they are, by design, crammed.

[@What.its.like.]

I didn’t get to show the engine compartment there was too many cars around me I have ADD i’ve never been diagnosed but I’m pretty sure I have it. Just staying focused was hard and then they told me they had a back room and I was like REALLY because everybody knows all the good stuff is in the back room that’s where the continental was there is another car that’s going to be featured that was in the back room. The driving position wasn’t bad in that car.. I have a couple more videos in the pipeline so to speak once I’m done with those and start shooting newer material I’m going to show getting in and out of those cars moving forward if I can because that’s one of the biggest things to buy a car and nobody shows it. I went to the Cleveland auto show back in February new cars don’t do well on my channel so I decided to there’s enough coverage of new cars KZbin doesn’t need another review channel for new cars KZbin needs a channel that shows Classic Cars as far as I know there isn’t a single channel that goes into depth like this channel does. The biggest reason I made this channel I’m going to see it in the next video once everybody takes care of these cars are gone that information is gone forever the Internet has the information but there’s a lot of miss information out there it’s a very fine line. Plus it gives you guys the opportunity to share your experiences what was good about the car what was bad about the car I personally love it when people chime in and they give information that’s exactly what I wanted this to be =) I made a Facebook it’s a page but I’m probably gonna have to convert it into a group so we could build a car community of people if people are close to one another they could help each other out that was the ultimate goal of the channel, Plus I can’t be the only millennial that likes these cars. They look great museums but it’s not the same thing as being used driving down the road. I went to a car show last year Father’s Day huge car show I’m gonna tape it this year make it into a video Packard senior Packard circa 1930 pulled in was driving behind me I could not take my eyes off of that thing it was amazing I wanted to talk to the owner but he was never around that was the biggest show I went to last year. Also saw someone with a 1960 rambler cross country wagon that he bought at a yard sale for $3k and I was like do they have anymore cause I’ll go buy the rest of them

[@markw208]

@@What.its.like. , Go with the flow. You are on the right track. I think people do want to talk about their experiences. Asking people for their feedback is 😎👍

[@billolsen4360]

Our family's 1965 Chevy Bel Air had a huge back seat, allowing enough room between my sister and me to actually keep us from fighting on most long trips.

[@sableminer8133]

I loved these elegant machines! The old adverts are so period when car ads were art! Beautiful, chromey era! I think one of the tag lines in those days were "Big Beautiful Brutes"

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree I personally love the ads from 30s 40s and 50s

[@sableminer8133]

@@What.its.like. No wait it was "The Mighty Chryslers" Back when ads had jingles and really catchy. I'm sitting here reading the threads, it's amazing to know these reader's stories!

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree it’s my favorite aspect of this channel that I never even thought about I absolutely love reading the stories.

[@hunterfalkenberg2837]

My Grandfather told me all about his old Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe, drove it all over california in the 1960s. Apparently everytime he filled the tank he had to put in a quart of oil, I was baffled but he said they sold cans of about 3 quarts of oil at almost every gas station at the time so I suppose it wasn't and issue

[@rayrussell6258]

Brake light location so far left makes me think it is an indicator for emergency brake on, but maybe it has multi-function.

[@danielulz1640]

Parking brake engaged light only. Powerflite did not have a Park position, so parking brake use was required and the light was to remind you to release it.

[@eduardoquirino8131]

Auto historians say that the 53 and 54 Imperials were old fashioned and not attractive but looking at the biggest selling car of 53 and 54 Chevrolet Bel Air, it looks like the Imperial.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

Awesome!

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@brandbryce]

Growing up our 'old car'' was a 63 New Yorker, which I loved. It's amazing to see how much the design changed in the next 10 years.

[@What.its.like.]

I found a Chrysler 300 that I really want to feature 57 I have to call them today =) they have a bunch of packards too

[@jamesmcinnis208]

Where did your old car grow up?

[@billolsen4360]

@@What.its.like. WOW! Best of luck, Jay!

[@billolsen4360]

63 Chryslers were very handsome units. Even the 4-doors looked trim and sleek which is not always so.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@billolsen4360 I learned how to drive a unit when I was 16.

[@antonfarquar8799]

I had the last year for the New Yorker Deluxe 1955 - It was loaded out complete with factory air and leather interior . The weaknesses of Chrysler in those years were 2 - 1. A 6 volt electrical system and 2. a power steering glitch which would cause a loss of power assist when turning to the right . I actually got pretty decent gas mileage with it. You had to be careful with the door handles - not to pull too hard or they would snap off . The bodies thru 1954 were manufactured by Briggs body company and were very well made - Chrysler ended up buying Briggs Body when the Briggs family was forced to sell it in order to pay inheritance taxes at the death of Walter Briggs in 1952. The paint on my 1955 was a dark metal flake green and was just beautiful - it had a signal seeking radio electric antenna and the gear shift lever was mounted inside the dash board - which made a come back in the first year Honda Element.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information I never knew Briggs did the bodies for Chrysler during that time I knew of fisher with Chevy fleetwood Cadillac Henney, Dietrich packard Thank you so much for sharing =)

[@antonfarquar8799]

@@What.its.like. Briggs also made the bodies for all the post war Packards and when Chrysler bought Briggs forced Packard to make their own and was one of the contributing factors in Packard's demise.

[@Blimpie1000]

I recall these cars from the earlier (pre Rock and Roll ) 1950s. Think Patti Page and all. The '55s and '56 were flashier, but the 1957s were incredible until they rusted away as you watched. These were solid cars. I recall a friend (in 1959) having a '49 New Yorker- it was like a new car. Very solid and pretty fast even with, I think Fluid Drive (which I never understood). I love the high seating and great legroom. May be as good as 1950-53 Buick and Cadillac 62 four door cars. Great review.

[@wessmith7408]

To think I am old enough to have actually have driven a few of these. Let me tell you FLUID drive was the bomb. Chrysler invented fluid drive back in the late 30's. By the 40's all there cars were almost all fluid drive. See Olds for the 1940 year introduced Hydric Drive. Several other cars had tried the fluid drive in some form or fashion. It took Chrysler to really prefect this and it was good. It really was as great as an automatic. You could put it in gear and let the clutch out and keep your foot on the break. All it took was understanding how it worked. It was so great you could take off in 3rd gear and you actually had a dynaflow transmission. Once you reached 25 or 30 you would go to moving. Image having a Chrysler 300 with a Dynaflow transmission. There isn't a lot on these cars I don't know. They were simple to work on without 100 feet of vacuum hose or a computer. LOL

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Fluid drive was a manual 3 speed transmission, but the clutch also incorporated a fluid coupling so you could engage the clutch but the car didn't move much or at all until you revved the engine/released the brakes... GM Hydramatics also used a fluid drive (but no clutch pedal)... Fluid drives were 1:1... same torque came out as went in... they had a drive turbine and a driven turbine... oil coupled them together... The big advance was when a 3rd turbine called a 'stator' was added into the middle of the fluid coupling turning it into a 'torque converter' !!! Output torque was 2 - 2.4 times input torque! Which made it easier launching a vehicle off the line from a standing start... it was also why vehicles would begin to spin the rear tires off the line simply by flooring the gas pedal... engine torque may be multiplied 20 times by the time it reached the rear axles/tires! Enough torque to lift a vehicle straight up! The stator is so named because it can only spin in one direction (unless internal sprag clutch is broken)... in other words, 'stationary' if pushed the other way... it's stationary taking off when multiplying torque, then spins with the converter at higher engine RPMs as the converter goes back to 1:1 torque output... The stator turns a fluid drive into a torque converter like a fulcrum turns a 'stick' into a force multiplying 'lever'... Archimedes said give me a long enough lever and I'll lift the planet... Borg Warner may have invented the stator/torque converter and hold the first patent... Chrysler, Ford, Hudson, and Chevy may have been among first to widely offer it in early 1950's 2 speed automatics to replace 1st gear ratios... GM in mid 1960's after phasing out 4 speed Hydramatic for 3 speed Hydramatic with torque converter...

[@danielulz1640]

@@BuzzLOLOL I thought fluid drive had four speeds.

[@derrickrees8895]

@@danielulz1640 Most did . Low range 1 and 3 ( Lever position high ), high range 2 and 4 .( Lever position low ) You could drive like a '3 on the tree' by taking off in 2 ( lever low )-3 (lever high)-4 (lever low) Your speed determined which gear was engaged . Below the minimum (about 10 mph for low range and 20 mph for high range ) the car would free wheel until the gas was pressed . Mostly you left the lever in low ( town ) or high ( Hiway ) range . Take off in the lower ratio , lift off and change automatically to the higher gear . Kickdown would shift back to lower gear if within the safe range . Freewheel would almost allow a stop but the clutch was needed at the last moment .

[@wessmith7408]

@@BuzzLOLOL That was a hell of breakdown. I know that most used second for around town driving. You could use 3rd but what I remember the start off was on the slow side till you reached at least 25. My grandmother had a 50 Plymouth of which I would drive on the farm. It was very nice because you didn't have to worry about the clutch and gas. Very nice explanation. I do know that Chrysler was forced to have quote unquote an automatic transmission like the rest. What they had was great.

[@wessmith7408]

Again, your video is EXCELLENT. So you will know, Olds I believe was first to have a light telling the parking brake was on. With that Cadillac, Buick & Pontiac followed suite. The first Olds was I believe 1948 or 49 - the era of the Rocket. In my estimation I have always felt that Olds & Buick were far ahead of Cadillac. THANK YOU FOR A FINE VIDEO!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that information =) and the positive vibes I have a couple more in the Pipeline before shooting some more I think I’ll going to show getting in and out of these cars no one shows that and that’s a huge factor in buying one =)

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Olds was the technology division... if new technology worked OK, Cadillac got it the next year... like the 1939 Olds fabulous 4 speed Hydramatic automatic transmission... Buick had a lot of expensive weird impractical inefficient stuff...

[@marvinhedgecock8833]

MY SHOP TEACHER HAD A 1952 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER AND HE G0T 14 MPG MARVIN FROM UTAH

[@What.its.like.]

14 mpg in an early hemi is impressive

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

Another "feature" of Chryslers of that period was that the wheel studs on the left side had left-hand threads. The theory was that it would keep the lug nuts from working loose on that side if they had right-hand threads. Also, K. T. Keller would not approve the design of a car unless he could get in and out while wearing his Homborg hat.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information thank you so much for sharing =)

[@sableminer8133]

Yeah I think it was incorrectly implied old Keller designed these cars. He couldn't be bothered, and had a huge design staff in those days!

[@discerningmind]

Brake Waring Light. My 1948 Chrysler has a flashing brake warning light. This is not for a failure in the brake system but a reminder that the parking brake is on. In my car they didn't have a dedicated light for this as in the '54 model here. In my car, on the lowest part of the dashboard are two white courtesy lights, one at each end near the doors. The one on the passenger side acts as a courtesy light, and the one on the driver's side is the brake warning that flashes when the parking brake is set. So Chrysler's brake warning light goes back to at least 1948, however, the 1946 to early 1949 Chrysler's were all the same car, as they didn't have a new car until mid-year 1949. But since the1946 cars from all the manufacturer's were basically warmed-over 1942 models, it's feasible that the Chrysler brake warning light could date back as far as 1942 or earlier when that car's design was first used, I believe being the 1939 model.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information thank you for sharing all of that I really appreciate it =)

[@discerningmind]

@@What.its.like. You're welcome.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@abesKIA]

The parking brake on the Powerflight was as essential as the ignition key, as there was no parking pal (no P on the shift gate)- the car would roll in any gear position, so the brake had to be set every time you left the car. Making the light a necessity. The "Parking Brake" wasn't at the wheels like a modern car, but was essentially a locking clamp on the tail-shaft to prevent the wheels from turning.

[@discerningmind]

@@abesKIA Thank you for sharing. It's the best people that are willing to do that. I've written about the parking braking system as well as Fluid-Drive extensively in my commentaries for other videos. Here I stayed focused on the brake warning light. However, I'd say it makes sense that the flashing brake warning light dates back as far as the first Fluid-Drive cars. But I don't know how far Chrysler Corp., carried that flashing brake light into the future.

[@johnellis2347]

Pretty good for a young guy. Major errors. The 54 hemi was all new block which they kept thru last yr 58. The old block had half bell housing on rear designed for fluid drive 4 speed semi automatic. Had safety clutch you used only to put in gear. The fluid drive came in two model reg without torque converter and fluid torque with converter. You could tell which one it had by selection plate said fluid torque if so. The non version was the 8 to11 mpg and other and ,54 on 14 to 16 mpg. Only Mopar and Buick had torque converters back then Also 54 deluxe had dual exhausts which helped with extra hp plus ,4 Barrell.. also notice padded dash which came out in 50 first cars to have one. In 54 Imperial got its own 6 inch box frame instead of 5" for other Chryslers. Also larger bolt pattern with timken roller bearings as other Chryslers but size of 1 ton truck and larger axles. In 55 Chrysler dropped the 6 and had 301 cu 2 barrell polysphere heads in windsor, but the bigger new Yorker with the hemi got better mileage. I've had numerous of these. The 55 was more aerodynamic and got 15 mpg @ 85mph which was the standard speed we drove at out west in Nevada Montana Wyoming Idaho. No traffic and some states had no speed laws. A well maintained hemi would run 500k between overhauls. As a mechanic back then and a car collector later on we routinely had to overhaul all other non mopars from 60 to 90 k. Even Cadillac. This is because Walter Chrysler's engineers developed a process called "super finish" in 1930 for engine parts that gave the long life. According to yellow cab of New York in an article they wrote in a classic car mag in 78 they ran those big old long wheelbase toothy DeSoto 6 cyl engines 600k and the bodies 1.5 mil. Chrysler developed a rust problem in 57 when GM off loaded steel from the blast areas in Japan that had all carbon burned out it and rusted fast. Chrysler didn't find this out till half through 58. Also GM made sure the UAW union struck Chrysler in 58 really hurting them since they had spent 100mil for the "Forward look" in 55 and another 100 mil for 57 models. There's some history for you guys

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that added information and insight

[@sableminer8133]

Wow that's awesome. GM & Ford could be some mafia mofos, no? That's amazing the connection to Japan!

[@glennso47]

I think GM cars were the only makes that had crank operated front vent windows. How come the automatic transmission didn’t have a PARK setting? It just has R N D L settings.m🤔

[@What.its.like.]

I love early innovation everybody did it differently, I figured adding that part into the show to show different drive modes and where they put them it’s very interesting

[@brandbryce]

Early automatics did not have Park. You used the emergency brake.

[@glennso47]

@@brandbryce I never heard of that. Thanks. When I was a little kid, my parents never had a car with automatic transmission. With the manual transmission you applied the parking brake and then left the transmission in reverse. At least that’s how my dad did it. 🤷‍♂️

[@What.its.like.]

I leave my truck in second gear it hasn’t disappeared yet, I put it in third once. I was in the store and it was parked on a slight hill I saw it moving when I was in line at the store had to run out and stop it.

[@billolsen4360]

@@brandbryce Lots of people would leave "Park-less" automatic transmissions in reverse instead of using the emergency brake as long the car was left level it was often safe. I think the GM Hydramatic was the first with Park

[@michaelbenardo5695]

The New Yorker DeLuxe is 2nd fiddle. The Imperial was not an option, it was a bigger more expensive car.

[@What.its.like.]

Advertisement depict imperial by itself but that’s not the case he didn’t become their own Brand until 1955 it’s labeled Chrysler imperial 1955 it’s just imperial advertising are confusing

[@michaelbenardo5695]

@@What.its.like. You referred to the Imperial as an "option". It never was. Aside from 50 1949 cars, it was always larger than the New Yorker, so even before 1955, it was not an "option", it was a specific model.

[@MrGlenferd]

My uncle had 3 1953s. Two with hemeis. The best one was a new Yorker.said he got 6 to 8 miles per gallon. Tried to give me those cars for years but my dad didn't think I should have such an old car. That was around 1970. We both wish I had taken them. To me the 53 had a much nicer dash then the 54.

[@Sedan57Chevy]

I really love the first postwar redesigns and their immediate descendants such as this. Styling from 1948-1954 moved fairly quickly, but was also an era where a lot of engineering was taking place and being used to sell the cars as much as styling. By 55, even the low prices makes had stand out, drop dead gorgeous styling that was unique and distinct. Compare this high level Chrysler to a 54 Chevy and there are going to be some similarities in design that would disappear the next year. Love how dynamic car styling was from post ww2-the mid 70s.

[@What.its.like.]

When I was looking at the advertisement for the Chrysler I could definitely see some Chevy styleline styling in there it’s cool to see you in every generation with the styling fad was now it’s no grills

[@Modeltnick]

Powerflite Transmission was great. They could be rebuilt in the car.

[@What.its.like.]

I don’t know that thank you so much for sharing that

[@Modeltnick]

@@What.its.like. Most welcome! The ‘54 New Yorker was always one of my favorite cars. Your friend’s car had a Fluidmatic semi automatic transmission which probably wasn’t driven correctly. Most people don’t know how to operate them according to the book.

[@billhyde2303]

I think it only told you when the parking brake was on.

[@raymondrasco3388]

My had a NY deluxe sadden a d puppy run over 155 mph. It had a duel point distributer and had way more than 250hp.

[@raymondrasco3388]

My dad had

[@What.its.like.]

That car sounds epic =)

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Not fuel efficient was not an issue on a car the caliber of the Chrysler, or even the DeSoto.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Chryslers had a parking brake light way before this.

[@kirbywaite1586]

How can you say the New Yorker was "playing 4th or 5th fiddle" when the only model above it was the Imperial?

[@What.its.like.]

Windsor Windsor deluxe New Yorker New Yorker deluxe and then at least two imperial trims on top of it. I could find how many levels Chrysler offered in imperial trim if two trim levels on top plays fourth fiddle because it’s just a standard New Yorker it’s not a deluxe

[@kirbywaite1586]

@@What.its.like. Those are just trim levels, not model designations.

[@What.its.like.]

Yes that’s where it sits in the field in the trim levels it’s in the middle of the road

[@joeseeking3572]

The plain NY was still 'expensive' though - 4dr sedan was the same price as a 54 Buick Roadmaster sedan - a much more modern design, both in looks and drivetrain. Yes, the Chrysler had a hemi, but in standard New Yorker form it was 195 hp (Deluxe offered 235 and an industry high). The Buick V8 in Roadmaster form gave 200, with a fully automatic transmission, albeit Dynaflow. For years Chrysler pricing strategy was a mystery - always higher than competition. They claimed 'engineering' but in reality more likely because they could not spread cost over smaller number of units. That said, they were very well built - should have been - the basic body was 6 years old.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for adding that information =)

[@peloi111]

Chrysler models early to mid 50s looked sooooooo boring... what a total contrast to their wild late 50s models! General Motors ruled the 50s, but if you put an 58 impala next to a 58 Furious... you can see General Motors were shaking at the knees during the "fin wars". I think that year was the beginning of the end. Cadillac gave the final blow in 59, marking the end with flying colors... it took Chrysler a few more years to realize the party was over, but some spectacular and weird designs came out those years, which we can only appreciate in retrospect. You should see my 1/24 model collection 😉

[@What.its.like.]

Just think if vigil exner Never stepped in a Chrysler things would be really different

[@joshuas8258]

It looks so plain compared to the gorgeous 1955 Chryslers

[@mikeyboyd2441]

I got one

[@What.its.like.]

What do you like the most about it what do you like the least

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

Was there also an issue with the Hemi where you couldn't bore out the cylinders because it would affect the cylinder heads? I could be wrong on that on, but I heard someone say it.

[@What.its.like.]

I think your right thin wall but not sure if it was this engine or later version

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

@@What.its.like. I am not sure either. I think they got around this by putting on some wicked intake manifolds.

[@glennso47]

If you were getting 8-10 miles per gallon in the 1950s it didn’t matter much due to the low cost of fuel.

[@What.its.like.]

My friends Saratoga was the nicest riding and driving 50s car I ever drove it had a super weird transmission it used a clutch but was an automatic The selector was where the selector was on the 54 Chrysler if one wanted to select reverse have to use clutch. The interior was very pushy gave the feeling of floating done the road and would put you back in seat under hard acceleration

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@What.its.like. - As I mentioned above: "Fluid Drive" was a manual 3 speed transmission, but the clutch also incorporated a fluid coupling so you could engage the clutch but the car didn't move much or at all until you revved the engine/released the brakes... Early GM Hydramatics also used a fluid drive (but no clutch pedal)... Fluid drives were 1:1... same torque came out as went in... they had a drive turbine and a driven turbine... oil coupled them together... The big advance was when a 3rd turbine called a 'stator' was added into the middle of the fluid drive turning it into a 'torque converter' !!! Output torque was 2 - 2.4 times input torque! Which made it easier launching a vehicle off the line from a standing start... it was also why vehicles would begin to spin the rear tires off the line simply by flooring the gas pedal... engine torque may be multiplied 20 times by the time it reached the rear axles/tires! Enough torque to lift a vehicle straight up! The stator is so named because it can only spin in one direction (unless internal sprag clutch is broken)... in other words, 'stationary' if pushed the other way... it's stationary taking off when multiplying torque, then spins with the converter at higher RPMs as the converter goes back to 1:1 torque output... The stator turns a fluid drive into a torque converter like a fulcrum turns a 'stick' into a force multiplying 'lever'... Archimedes said give me a long enough lever and I'll lift the planet... Borg Warner may have invented the stator/torque converter and hold the first patent... Chrysler, Ford, Hudson, and Chevy may have been among first to widely offer it in early 1950's 2 speed automatics to replace 1st gear ratios... GM in mid 1960's after phasing out 4 speed Hydramatic for 3 speed Hydramatic with torque converter...

[@sotoraul7100]

I owen a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker, looking for a catalog for parts any recommendations where I can purchase one

[@What.its.like.]

www.ebay.com/b/Exterior-Parts-Accessories-for-1954-Chrysler-New-Yorker/33637/bn_87172954

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Torque on the 54 2 barrel was 320 LBS. FT. 312 LBS. FT was for the 51 - 53.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you for that correction there was lots of different numbers every single site I went to had a different number that’s why I said if you caught it I said two different torque figures. between 180 and 195 hp

[@michaelbenardo5695]

@@What.its.like. 180 and 195 are horsepower figures, not the torque. 312 and 320 are the torque. Horsepower and torque are two different things.

[@richardmorse5307]

As unleaded gas is required in most cars today what fuel is used for these classic cars of the past?

[@What.its.like.]

That’s an awesome question I’m going to try to add some more technical information going forward like what is the average running temperature what is the oil pressure supposed to be stuff like that what is running temperature that information could be a little bit harder but I’d like to add that..

[@johnfitcheard7112]

Leaded gasoline

[@What.its.like.]

When did that stop?

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@What.its.like. - Leaded gas ended in '71 in USA... '71 engines had some redesign to cope...

[@BuzzLOLOL]

A little 2 cycle oil can replace the lead in pre-'71 gasolines... maybe 1 part oil to 200 parts gasoline... synthetic 2 cycle oil doesn't smoke...

[@mxr572]

same time span DeSotos were even better designs.

[@glennso47]

I’ve seen several Dodge trucks with Hemi engines. I understand Chrysler is discontinuing the Hemi this year.

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah Chrysler is discontinuing a bunch of things I have a cousin who’s a manager of a Chrysler store back in the early days of this channel that’s how I got to do some of the newer cars.. I found this great place to do a lot of great cars they took my business card after driving two hours to get there and pretty threw it away right in front of me. It kind of hurt I made this channel because people like me my generation who is the next generation to keep the stuff going I don’t know everything through it, there is lots of misinformation out there and filtering out what is right and what isn’t is a very fine line. The biggest reason I started this channel one I was looking for an international truck and I wanted to know about the truck before I bought it but there isn’t any information there’s videos on international trucks on KZbin, but Every single one of them didn’t explain what the truck was. This is that channel. I just wish I would’ve started sooner.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

About '54 or '55 they made 1,000+ of the 355 HP 354" Hemi Chryslers... 1+ HP per cubic inch...

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information I always thought that was Chevy marketing in 57 283 v8 one hp per cubic inch

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@What.its.like. - It was a Chevy ad... but 1,000+ is enough to count as 'production'...

[@derrickrees8895]

1956 was the first of the '300' cars ...meaning 300 Horsepower . It was exceeded by the 374 " Packard Caribbean at 310 hp .

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@derrickrees8895 - And '56 was the end of Packard, wasn't it? Although they looked good again by '56...

[@peterkarbowski9375]

@@derrickrees8895 1955 was the first "300"

[@glennso47]

What about a video of Hyundai XL. Hyundais first effort at selling cars in the USA.

[@What.its.like.]

I’ll add those to the list =)

[@jamesmcinnis208]

It's spelled "often" but pronounced "offin."

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Not for everyone...

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@Nunofurdambiznez Obviously.

[@billolsen4360]

@@Nunofurdambiznez Not for Henry Higgins

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I thought you were going to drive the car, not just talk about it to people who know nothing about cars.

[@What.its.like.]

I don’t get to drive all of them.. this channel is more of like an information channel as to if you want to buy the vehicle I’d like to show what I look like inside to them about average there’s no point in buying the car if you can’t fit in it.. Sometimes the information is more important than the drive itself =)