1953 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Questions

[LuckyDevil]

Okay, I have learned quite a bit since hanging out with you guys but I am about to buy a 53 Windsor Deluxe for a real good price and I have a few questions. Are they hard to get parts for? I know when I did my Plymouths brakes it was a little difficult but not impossible to find parts. Also, he said it had a fluid drive transmission in it. What does that mean? How do you drive it? He said you can just put it in drive and go, but it has a clutch pedal? He also said it can be shifted like a standard. So I am kinda confused as far as that all goes. Also, is the spitfire motor like a high output motor, or is it just a fancy name for another flathead?

It's kind of a cool find though, because that car has been sitting in the same place since I saw it first 15 years ago, riding my bicycle through our neighborhood. I finally asked if he wanted to sell it and he said YES. So, here are a few pics to cure your curiousities.

[Dodgeb4ya]

All I like about it is the Engine! 265,265,265 $$$$$$$

[greg g]

Lotsa discussion about the permutations of fluid drive, and the various transmissions bolted behind them. That's right the fluid drive is not the transmission it the connection between the engine and the tranny. A search here, All Par and the imperial club website will give you all you want to know about fluid drive.

The Spitfire on the engine is marketing eye candy.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/fluidrive.html

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/m6.html

[BobT-47P15]

On the fluid drive cars I have owned in the past, you could shift them like a regular

three speed standard......or leave them in high gear and not shift. Or, shift up to

second gear to take off, only shifting once. You just step on

the brake and they stop, but the fluid clutch slips and the car keeps running. The

takeoff was generally pretty slow in high gear.

There have been other variations of semi automatic and automatic

transmissions by Chrysler Corp during the 1950s. So it can get a bit

confusing.

Looks like a pretty decent old car. That split rear window is pretty cool.

From the interior picture, it looks like maybe a regular three speed manual shift.....I

couldn't see any shift indicator on top of the steering column.

Edited October 24, 2009 by BobT-47P15

[pflaming]

I love the padded dash. Who started that and when? The old Chryslers are cool.

[Dodgeb4ya]

I love the padded dash. Who started that and when? The old Chryslers are cool.

Chrysler started the padded dashes in 1949. All models had it.

Bob