1954 Chrysler Cars Fact Sheet

Chrysler
Falters

 

Chrysler was facing competition from Lincoln, Mercury, Cadillac, and Buick, all who now featured more powerful OHV V8 power plants across the line and no ancient L-Head 6 cylinder units as in the Windsor line – an engine that dated back to the 30s and that was considered anemic in the public eye.

 

General Year Information

The low-end Windsor series was dropped, leaving only the Windsor Deluxe. The line now consisted of Windsor DeLuxe, the New Yorker and New Yorker DeLuxe.

This year, the only facelifts consisted of changes to the grille, trim and tail lamps. The front grille trim no longer wrapped around the front of the fenders. The dash, while resembling the earlier 1949-1953 Chryslers, was restyled. One-piece rear windows were now used on all body styles.

It would be the last year for the long wheelbase 139.5-inch chassis. Styling, however, was essentially six years old and sales plummeted more than 40 percent.

Chrysler opened its Chelsea Proving Grounds in 1954 and Chrysler test drivers running the Hemi V-8 teamed with Tony Bettenhausen to complete a 24-hour endurance run of 2,836 miles averaging 118.18 M.P.H.

 

Models Offered

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WINDSOR DELUXE SERIES 62:

Gone was the low-line Windsor series, which was now combined with Windsor DeLuxe Series. The Windsor DeLuxe grille center bar was abbreviated at both ends, which differentiated it from the up-scale New Yorker’s, also without the famous “V” on the nose.

The six-cylinder was in its last year as an engine in a Chrysler. The Club Coupe was also at the end of its run as a Chrysler Body style.

NEW YORKER SERIES C63-1: A slight facelift of the 1953 model made, paralleling the changes in the Windsor DeLuxe Series in body and trim. “New Yorker” nameplates were moved to the rear fenders, but the “V” insignia remained on the hood and deck lid.

The big news was that the Hemi benefited from new cylinder heads. The New Yorker line continued to use the 2-barrel carburetor, however the model ‘s horsepower jumped to 195.

NEW YORKER DELUXE SERIES C63-2: This top-of-the-line Chrysler used more chrome trim than other series in 1954. The grille center bar was bow shaped and dipped at both ends to parallel the upper grille design. The front fender stone shield was unique to the New Yorker DeLuxe while the rear fender stone shield had a horizontal trim piece in the middle, matching the trim on the front fender shield, Hub cap design was unique to the New Yorker DeLuxe and consisted of a very flat, spinner-like design in gold color that matched the exterior insignia.

An upgrade was made to the Hemi, now fitted with new heads, a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts – and standard on this New Yorker DeLuxe line. Horsepower jumped to 235, overshadowing its luxury competitors Cadillac and Lincoln. Surprisingly, in a year of plummeting Chrysler sales, the New Yorker DeLuxe outsold its 1953 counterpart by nearly 25 percent. Horsepower. it seems, did sell cars in 1954.   

Engines

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Windsor Series Engine. L-head six-cylinder. Cast iron block. 264.5 cubic inches. Bore and stroke: 3.438 x 4.75 inches. Compression ratio: 7.0:1. Horsepower: 119 @ 3600 RPM. Torque: 218 ft. lbs. @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Mechanical lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 236°, Exhaust 236°, Overlap Unk°, Lift (Intake) 0.365″ (Exhaust) 0.365″. Carburetor: Standard shift – Ball and Ball E9C1. Fluid Drive or PowerFlite transmissions: Ball and Ball E9B1.

New Yorker Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Double rockers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81″ x 3.63″. Compression Ratio: 7.5:1. Horsepower: 195 @ 4400 RPM. Torque: 320 ft. lbs. @ 2000 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 252°, Exhaust 244°, Overlap Unk°, Lift (Intake) 0.378″ (Exhaust) 0.361″. Carburetor: Carter WCD 2-barrel 2039SA.

New Yorker Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Double rockers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81″ x 3.63″. Compression Ratio: 7.5:1. Horsepower: 235 @ 4400 RPM. Torque: 330 ft. lbs. @ 2600 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 252°, Exhaust 244°, Overlap Unk°, Lift (Intake) 0.378″ (Exhaust) 0.361″. Carburetor: Carter WCFB 4-barrel 2041S.

Chassis Features

    • Wheelbase: Windsor and New Yorker long wheelbase models – 139.5″ All Others – 125.5″.
    • Overall length: Long wheelbase cars: 226.75. All Others: 215.50″.
    • Tires: Long wheelbase cars – 8.20 x 15, Short wheelbase cars – All Windsors 7.60 x 15, All New Yorkers 8.00 x 15. Long wheelbase cars – 8.20 x 15, Short wheelbase cars – All Windsors 7.60 x 15, All  Station Wagons: 8.20 x 15. White walls available at extra cost.

Power Train Options

    • Windsor DeLuxe. Three-speed manual transmission standard with Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission optional.
    • New Yorker and New Yorker DeLuxe. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard.

Significant Options

    • Electric Window Lifts.
    • Fog lights.
    • Heater ($79).
    • Highlander trim ($63).
    • Map light (standard in Newport and Convertible).
    • New Yorker leather trim ($121).
    • Outside rear view mirror.
    • Power brakes.
    • Power steering ($130).
    • Power windows ($125).
    • Powerflite automatic Transmission on Windsor ($175).
    • Radio ($101).
    • Rear seat radio speaker.
    • Solex tinted glass ($20).
    • Spot lamps.
    • Two-tone paint.
    • White sidewall tires.
    • Windshield washers.

Body Paint Color Codes

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1954 Chrysler

  5 Alpine Blue
  6 Flagship Blue
  7 Commodore Blue
  8 Glacier Blue
  9 Turquoise Blue
  10 Peacock Blue (Green)
  11 Seabreeze Blue
  15 Mint Green
  16 Sea Island Green
  30 West Point Gray
  31 Ascot Gray
  40 Pebble Beige
  41 Topaz Tan
  42 Cordovan Brown
  43 Tahitian Tan
  50 Torch Red
  55 Canary Yellow
  151 Valley Green
  301 Canyon Gray
  89L Scarlet Red
  89U Snow Crest
  90U Steelhaze Gray
  91L Gold
  93L Royal Crest Blue
  93U Bahama Blue
  95U Floral Green
  96U Royal Palm Green

 

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