Inline 4-Cylinder/Leather Interior/Original Instruments/Wood Spoked Wheels

1928 Chrysler 52 Coupe

Walter P. Chrysler's new car was a sensation at its New York introduction in 1924. A quality six-cylinder vehicle with advanced engineering, it boasted hydraulic brakes, a high-compression engine good for 70 mph, and sold for about the price of a Buick. Nearly 20,000 were sold in the first year. Successive refinement took place in ensuing years, and additional models were introduced, notably the E-series Imperial that competed with Cadillac and Lincoln.

For 1928 this car was labeled the Series 52 that is nicely preserved, and a true driver, and we found it to have a top speed of 36MPH…and on those wood spoked wheels you really don't want to be caught going any faster!

Exterior
Presenting nicely in green with black accent striping, it has black fenders and a black grained leatherette roof which stops at the B pillar and turns to black painted metal shows in very good condition. It has wood running boards attached and a front and rear 2 bar bumper. The wheels which are 20-inch wood spokes have been recently totally restored. A rim and tire only spare hangs from the rear of this car.

Interior
A leather bench seat with broad pleats stretches from door to door. There is a cover on the actual seat part of this bench, but without taking it off we peeked underneath, and from what we could ascertain, it remains in good condition. The same material is on the door panels, and these are peppered with what appear to be original cranks and handles. A green painted metal dash has the original gauges inserted and shows some peeling and cracking of the paint. Headliner is brown and in good condition.

Drivetrain
The engine compartment is clean, but not extensively detailed. It contains a 107.3ci Inline 4-cylinder engine and has a side draft 1-barrel carburetor. A 3-speed manual transmission is on back and this pushes power to a 4.70 rear.

Undercarriage
Some surface rust on the body hangers and lightly covering the usual steel suspects, however this car remains structurally sound, and has a sturdy frame.

Drive-Ability
This car started quickly with the aid of a manual choke, and once warmed up it ran great. We got it up to its top speed of 36MPH, and it tended to want to quickly pull to the right, so we slowed her down. It steers effortlessly and is a nice car that Is great for a scenic cruise.

Clearly this is a car meant to be used and enjoyed. Chrysler's exceptional engineering clearly manifested itself in these early models, which performed well and proved to be very reliable. This example shows well and was enjoyed by its owners.