1959 Chrysler Town & Country

- 8 Passenger 'Spectator' Wagon - Wagon

383ci V8

Automatic

M571101930

Clear

Gasoline

1959 Chrysler Windsor "Spectator" Wagon Rare, 1 of 751 made Long term ownership Well preserved example Up for bids is this fantastic 1959 Chrysler wagon, an 8-passenger Windsor.  This car was sold new in Tacoma Washington and has had just 2 owners.  The 2nd owner bought the wagon from a Chrysler dealership in 1962 and it stayed in the Tacoma area for the next 50 years.  Thankfully this 2nd owner wasn't just anybody, he was a trained Mopar mechanic that owned a repair shop.  To say that this car has been well maintained is an understatement, this wagon has received a lifetime of care.  Over the years, this Chrysler took family road trips down to Disneyland about 5 times during the early 60s until the mid 70s.  The wagon is still excellent on the road, but the mechanic who cared for it so well is now in his 90s and has started to pare down his fleet.  Always garaged, this car is a testament to one man's pride of ownership, expert care, and the solid construction of America's post-war automobiles.   Click to enlarge any of the photos below, a link to a slideshow of all the enlarged images is available to view at the bottom of the page. Incredibly, the car still wears most of its original paint.  The tailgate and passenger side fender have been repainted, otherwise the paint is all original.  I was told that the repaint was because of some scratches and wear that developed over the years, not because of any real damage.  Finished in two-tone Aqua Mist and Ivory White, this wagon definitely looks the part of 50's Americana.   The paint quality throughout is very good, with excellent gloss and a smooth finish.  Expect to find a fair amount of dings and chips scattered about, but for 54 year old paint it looks pretty nice.  Tires are brand new American Classic radials from Coker, they have about 20 miles on them. The panel fit on this wagon is excellent, the doors click closed perfectly with the lightest touch.  If you've ever tried to hang a door you'll appreciate these. All of the trim on the car is original, some of it shows light dents and damage.  The bumpers have never been rechromed, they have a few scuffs but for the most part look great for their age. The rear signal lenses are in terrific condition, the fronts have some spidering.  All lights and signals work.  The grill is straight and true, the anodized finish on this and other trim parts on the car still look good.  The car's chromed trim is in good shape, showing only minor pitting in spots. 992 6-passenger Windsor wagons were made in 1959, and only 751 8-passenger versions.  These received the special "Spectator" badging that signified the car's rear facing third seat, as well as rubber step plates on the bumper. All of the glass is original PPG Herculite, even the windshield.  There's one small chip in the center of the windshield, and the back window has some deep scratches. The rest of the glass is very good.  All of the car's weatherstripping is original and still in good shape. The interior is all original and still hanging in there after 54 years.  The seats have a few split seams, the dash has shrunken up a bit.  Despite its wear, the interior has an honest feel to it, in line with the condition of the rest of the car.  The flooring is vinyl, those mats you see in the front are actually integrated into the flooring as one piece.  The car has seat belts for 3 up front and 3 in the back.  The front seat adjustment is powered and works correctly.  Beneath the back seat is where the jacking equipment is stored.  Here I found an old doily from one of the trips to Disneyland, probably went under an ice bucket at the hotel? Here's a shot of the "way back", still popular with kids even today.  These seats fold flat to create an impressive amount of cargo capacity. All door panels and weatherstripping pieces are in nice condition. The fiberboard headliner is excellent.  Rear light works when the door is opened. The steering wheel is in beautiful condition with no splits or cracks.  All of the car's instrumentation works except for the clock.  No electrical glitches here - the wipers work, the horn works, lights, signals, etc.  The heater and fan work correctly and put out a nice amount of heat.  The vacuum operated vent control setting works correctly.  The radio's tuning knob isn't working, but if you slowly press a pre-set button the dial will move.  Takes a little practice but I've been able to tune in most any station this way. The glove box contains some vintage road trip items and a '59 Chrysler brochure.  Beneath the glove box is where the swing-away "Auto Butler" is stored.  The gauges have a nice glow at night. The 'Golden Lion' 383 runs excellent.  It has a super smooth, super balanced idle and plenty of power on tap.  The car runs cool, shows good oil pressure, doesn't smoke and is not a leaker.  Power steering and power brakes make driving this car a pleasure.  The car rides down the road straight, brakes straight, and handles reasonably well for the big barge that it is. The car's maintainence history is basically recorded on the driver's side A-pillar.  Wheel bearings, rear diff service, trans service, U-joints, brakes, tune up, etc were all hand written by the man who performed the work himself.  All of the car's wiring is in good original condition.  Soon after purchase, a WICO electronic ignition was installed, pretty high tech for 1963, and a desirable piece of vintage speed equipment today.  It's still working perfectly, the original coil and points were left in case it should ever malfunction, but going on 50 years now, I think it's probably good. Lots of nice original details throughout the engine bay. The undercarriage reflects the care this wagon was given, still solid, tight and ready for the next 50 years of motoring. Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images. About the Reserve Price: Out of fairness to all bidders, the reserve is held in confidence, please just bid at the level that you are comfortable paying.  This auction ends Monday, January 21st at 10 AM Pacific Time , 12 Noon Central , 1 PM Eastern, 6 PM GMT. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.  I would like a $500 deposit via paypal within 2 days.  Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.  Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.  License plate is for illustrative purposes only.  Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws.  By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.  I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week.  You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.  Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics.  I have a wholesale account with a transport booking service and can help you find a reasonable shipping rate.   Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo CFR / Rinkens California Shipping Thanks for looking!