Cranberry Classic: 1950 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible – Sold?

October 6, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

The most expensive convertible Chrysler offered for 1950 was not an Imperial; the 1950 Chrysler New Yorker convertible exemplified by this all burgundy driver-quality example originally listed in September 2022 on Craigslist in Lakewood, Colorado (Denver) took that honor. 1950 was also the last year of the L-Head inline eight before Chrysler introduced its first Firepower Hemi V8 in 1951.  The seller reports their 1950 Chrysler New Yorker convertible is a driver-quality example that “is ready to cruise around town or to your next car show.”

Currently offered for $28,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for third-generation Chrysler New Yorkers produced between 1949 and 1954. By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the convertible featured here. However, this guide does not show any recent sales of similar convertibles, which confirms the seller’s comment about how rare these cars were even when new.

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #4 “Fair” estimate of $18,200 and its #3 “Good” appraisal of $31,200.

The 1949 New Yorker used Chrysler Corporation’s new postwar body also shared by Dodge and DeSoto with ponton, three-box styling. The engine continued to be the 323.5 cubic inch straight eight coupled to Fluid Drive and the Presto-Matic four-speed semi-automatic. Body styles were reduced to club coupe, four-door sedan, and convertible. The New Yorker’s wheelbase increased by four inches over the prior generation.

Chrysler introduced a new two-door hardtop body style for 1950 called the Newport and the Special Club coupe. New upgrades included foam rubber padding on the dashboard for safety.  The New Yorker was the more deluxe of the regular eight-cylinder Chryslers while the Saratoga was repositioned as lower in the hierarchy offering the straight eight with plainer trim with cloth upholstery available in several colors, the 135 horsepower Spitfire straight-eight engine and a roomy interior featuring “chair height” seats. The “Presto-Matic” fluid drive transmission had two forward ranges, each with two speeds. In normal driving, the high range was engaged using the clutch. The car could then be driven without using the clutch (unless reverse or low range was required); at any speed above 13 mph, the driver released the accelerator and the transmission shifted into the higher gear of the range with a slight “clunk”. When the car came to a stop, the lower gear was again engaged.

The MyMopar.com YouTube Channel features this interesting 1950 Chrysler salesperson training video showing how to sell New Yorkers to potential buyers cross-shopping Buicks:

This 1950 Chrysler New Yorker convertible appears to be a nice driver-quality example you can either drive and enjoy as is or, as the seller mentions, treat it to a full restoration. Luckily these top-of-the-line Mopars remain valuable enough that a reasonable-cost restoration could keep the restorer close to break even.

Here’s the seller’s description:

Restore or drive as-is: What would you do with this driver-quality 1950 Chrysler New Yorker convertible?  Please comment below and let us know!