1956 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible

Man, what a car that wagon is. You like it? I love it. It needs that 413 to get it around then. Yeah, that's right.

Let's just go back a few years in time. Another New Yorker. Yes. This is a '56 New Yorker Convertible. And what a great looking car and what an extreme bumper.

Yes, these bullet type M caps were the mechanic's nightmare, because they always hit their knees on them. Just whack. Yeah, they just whacked them and did knee jobs. Man, so they're caps, it's one piece. No, I guess, it's one piece, two piece, three, four.

Four pieces. Four pieces to that bumper. Yes. And these has got a lot of wild curves to it. I mean it's...

Yes. I'm sure it's rough on knees but it sure does look cool. You know, absolutely pristine, fabulous restoration. Thank you. Even the white inner fender wheels Would that have been...

Yes, I've studied these cars very much and extensively photographed them from an original car which had a hundred miles on it. And found out how they painted these cars. Originally, the minor color which in this case would be the Desert Rose was painted first. And then since it was smaller area, they masked off the Desert Rose and then they shot the whole car in white. No kidding.

Under the hood, in the fender wheels, everything. Wow. I mean- That's how they painted it. That's a lot of work. That is, yes.

Especially in a production system. Now you know why they don't do that on cars today. They don't do it anymore, there's a reason for that. And those are actual wires or is it a cap? No, those are actual wire wheels and those are the original Motor Wheel Company.

So it's not a Kelsey Hayes or anything? No, everybody thinks they're Kelsey Hayes but the Motor Wheel Company made them for Chrysler. Those are reconditioned original wheels. Man, and what an interior too. Interestingly so totally different than the '61.

Yeah. The '61 has got this really space age, rocket ship feel. This is mid '50s, you know, coming at you. I love the dash, it curls around, dips back, back up over the top and in. There's some sexy curves in there.

Yes, and this is the advent of dashes too. Mid '50s, where they came in with the safety features and dash. And there's different features here. This has a Highway Hi-Fi, a record player, which was the first in-car automobile record player and it was available only from Chrysler. Wow, really cool.

And is this all leather? This is leather and vinyl. The seats are all leather, some of the back is vinyl. Vinyl on the door panels. And still of course, it's got the push button transmitter.

Push button. This was a first year for the push button. Oh really? Yes. And it was a two speed PowerFlite versus the wagon which has a three-speed TorqueFlite.

TorqueFlite. Yeah. I mean, she's just gorgeous. Yeah, thank you. And you know, this is pretty understated for Ex-NA's fins.

Yes, really I consider this the first year of true Ex-NA fins. '55 had similar body lines but this was the full integrated fin, where they called this twin tower tail lights. It actually was sheet metal as opposed to the '55 that had a kinda I call it bolt on, light, with a little chrome piece that came up, and wasn't really the sheet metal. So I consider this the first real fender car. Man, that's a serious...

Yes. Those taillight bumper continuing there. Exactly, twin towers. Twin towers. She's stunning.

And these are pretty wild too. The letters are, you know, kinda artsy. It's not black, it's got a little swoop to it. Absolutely. So what power is this baby?

354 cubic inch Hemi. Oh, I love that engine, Let's go look at that. Let's go. Oh boy and just like the wagon, absolutely perfect. Wow, I mean, wow.

This was my first restoration actually. Really? Yes. And that was about a four and a half year restoration as well. I don't do anything too rapidly.

With the quality of this, I mean, four and a half years isn't that long. Well, this too was taken down and it was a rotisserie restoration. This does have a frame, we took it off the frame down to the last nut and bolt, and rebuilt it back up. She's spectacular and you're spotting some pretty important badges too. Yes, this has gone through Antique Automobile Club of America judging system, and it's one of only half a dozen cars or so that does have the maximum number of awards over the years.

It's received the Walter P. Chrysler Award as well as the Annual Grand National Award which is the equivalent of the best of show at the Grand Nationals for senior cars only. And this was your first restoration? This was, yes. Nice job.

Well, I learned a lot from this restoration. I think you did. I did. Man, I mean, she's just stunning, John. Does she run as well as the wagon runs?

Absolutely, just as well. Let's take this baby out too. Let's do it. All right, here we go. Here we go.

Hey, I like that. Push button, push D, turn on the lights and I'm probably gonna need some wipers here too and all that. You know, we don't usually take these out in the rain, John. No, that's all right. I don't think you usually take them out in the rain either.

Not normally. You know it's a real rarity that we drive cars in even a light shower. So this is a treat. I think cars look good wet. You know, sometimes they do.

You know, it's like a real car then. It has a just very, very '50s looking dash. Yes. The way you got that big wheel out there. You know you're driving a '50s car.

The most rare option on this car is a steering wheel clock. That is wild. Fifteen jewels made in Switzerland by Benrus. This one has a signal single radio too on it. And the Highway Hi-Fi.

Yes, you can lock it and lock your records inside. They're stored underneath. And you pull it out and it's ready to operate. I will turn this, and you have to warm it up. Has a little arm to it, just like the old radios did.

Turn it up. This color scheme is so '50s and it's just so pretty. I thought it was still classy enough to- Uh-huh, oh, it's very classy. Have the black top. Yeah, the black top actually sets these doors.

I love the eyebrow headlights. Eye brows on the lights. I think that's another very nice design detail. Yes, headlight , yeah. Quite a good too.

Yeah, the eagle. Well, this is a treat.