O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle Feb 5

Thanks for posting this - Chrysler has an interesting history. It will always be remembered for the original Hemi engines, as well as the famous (or infamous) Airflows of the mid-1930's. I always thought the '56 Chrysler was a nice styling job, with clean lines. On the other hand, I always sort of wanted a '57 DeSoto as an example of wretched excess - it was attractive in its own weird, baroque fashion.

Here are a few Chrysler products from my collection:

Four Airflows: Two 1935's by Rextoys, 1934 by Brooklin, 1934 by Durham. The change in the grille between 1934 and 1935 was an attempt by Chrysler to soften the visual impact of the radical styling. I prefer the original "waterfall" style grille. 

Two more 1935's, by IXO and Rextoys.

Three 1946-48 Chryslers. These were made by Solido and Eligor (I think). The car on the right is a resin body kit assembled by a previous owner.

A pair of Town and Country convertibles. Solido or Eligor on the left; Franklin Mint on the right.

A '55 Imperial by USA Models, a '56 300B by Precision, and a '55 300 by Brooklin. I don't know why Chrysler kept the '55 grille on the '56 300 while changing it on all the other Chrysler models.

A Hudson Hornet and an early 50's DeSoto, both by Franklin Mint

'41 Plymouth, plus a REO and a '41 Ford. 

Nice Collection.
I had a ’56 Imperial, I wish I had kept it. It was a stunning car. I have that USA Models ’55 in my collection.A buddy of mine had a ’36 Chrysler Airflow, its engineering was 10 or more years ahead of every one else. He sold it to by a Town & Country convertible.
White box makes a Imperial Airflow Limo. I also have one in my collection.

Hello,

The biography of Walter Chrysler is very interesting. He followed his father into working for the railroad and was promoted to be the tester of new steam engines, etc. He solved several problems on an ALCO locomotive and was asked to come to Pittsburgh to be a plant manager. He then built his own auto from a kit and asked to be a vice president of an auto manufacturer. When auto companies were going out of business in the 20s and 30s he created his own company. The rest is history of the American automobile industry.

I have that Brooklin 1935 Plymouth model, in red, and a Chrysler Airflow, which last sold in such small numbers I wonder if I should even have the one on my layout.  Consumer Reports in their first recommendation for auto shopping, recommended the 1935 Plymouth.  Like Packard, I always think their sidevalve engines were behind the power curve, until 1955, although, with hydraulic brakes since the mid twenties, they were ahead on the chassis.   It was not that Nash, Cadillac (with early 1930's OHV V-12's and V-16's, Chevrolet (of course) and others had not given notice.  I was with a relative who wanted an "antique car", and we looked at a 1924, I think, four cylinder Chrysler coupe with hydraulic brakes, and, as in the case of another, more practical, 1940 Chevrolet, (both cars with for-sale signs in midwest car shows), we could not find the owner.  A low mileage 1940 Pontiac six was found, instead. 

I had read, in some auto mag, probably,  that Walter P. bought a Winton auto while working for, the U.P., I think?, took it completely apart, put it back together, it ran, and he decided he could build an automobile.  He set out to do it.  I would trust a well-researched biography, though.

Those 55 Chryslers and Imperials are among my favorites. My Dad and Grandfather both swore by Chrysler's engineering in the late 40's and early 50's.  I have a pretty model of a black 56 Chrysler and will post a photo if I can find it...

colorado hirailer posted:

I have that Brooklin 1935 Plymouth model, in red, and a Chrysler Airflow, which last sold in such small numbers I wonder if I should even have the one on my layout.  Consumer Reports in their first recommendation for auto shopping, recommended the 1935 Plymouth.  Like Packard, I always think their sidevalve engines were behind the power curve, until 1955, although, with hydraulic brakes since the mid twenties, they were ahead on the chassis.   It was not that Nash, Cadillac (with early 1930's OHV V-12's and V-16's, Chevrolet (of course) and others had not given notice.  I was with a relative who wanted an "antique car", and we looked at a 1924, I think, four cylinder Chrysler coupe with hydraulic brakes, and, as in the case of another, more practical, 1940 Chevrolet, (both cars with for-sale signs in midwest car shows), we could not find the owner.  A low mileage 1940 Pontiac six was found, instead. 

I had read, in some auto mag, probably,  that Walter P. bought a Winton auto while working for, the U.P., I think?, took it completely apart, put it back together, it ran, and he decided he could build an automobile.  He set out to do it.  I would trust a well-researched biography, though.

Many automakers stayed with side valve engines because they were quieter. Plymouth and Dodge used  flathead sixes through the 1959 model year

Love your collections, Richard and Bob!  I really can't contribute much to the forum because I see cars that I own among those in your photos.  Basically, I've never tried to build a car collection but rather have a nice variety of cars, all as scenery on my 1950 era train layout.  As I once mentioned, my "bunch" of cars (as opposed to the word:  Collection) are largely cheap cast reproductions that were available, over the years, at prices under ten bucks apiece.  It was only a few years ago that I discovered that placing a few higher priced cars in with the common ones, really improved the variety and thus the believability of the scene.  So among my 200+ cars and t rucks, there are perhaps 20 that cost over $50, two that cost over $100, and they look "right" to me in my mind, along side the cheaper, more common cars.

I'm going to try my hand at weathering a few cars and trucks, to try to make the scenes look more natural.  I already have most of my steam engines, a few diesels and a bunch of freight cars that are weathered.  So why not do the same thing on the motor vehicles?

Paul Fischer