You Can Own Harry Truman’s Chrysler New Yorker
Harry Truman’s 1955 Chrysler New Yorker is for sale—would you buy this historic ride?
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Would you want to own a car a former president once drove? If you answered yes, you’re in luck, because Harry Truman’s 1955 Chrysler New Yorker is for sale.
This
truly unique classic car
is on the market for $83,500, and was driven by Truman himself almost daily while in and after he left office. While the new owner of the Truman Chrysler
would get a piece of history in their garage, there is just one catch—it doesn’t drive anymore. Harry Truman’s Chrysler is for sale
Harry Truman’s 1955 Chrysler New Yorker is for sale at a price of $83,500. The car, which is being sold by Classic Auto Mall, will be auctioned off. While the price tag isn’t on the highest end of the classic car range, it is significantly more than the price of any other 1955 Chrysler New Yorker.
The Chrysler New Yorker was manufactured from 1940 until 1986, and was the brand’s flagship model. Therefore today, there are tons of these classics floating around the market.
Autoevolution
reports that a non-running 1955 Chrysler New Yorker (that wasn’t driven by Truman) sold for only $7,700. Clearly, the presidential vehicle has some market value.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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The Chrysler has been completely restored
One of the best things about Truman’s Chrysler is that both the interior and exterior have been completely restored, which is music to most classic car collectors’ ears.
Car and Driver
reports that the 1955 New Yorker is painted black with chrome accents and trims throughout. The seller of the car states that the steel panels on the exterior are rust-free, although there is some minor cracking as a result of an earlier restoration. On top of that, the car has white sidewall tires, and is equipped with a 331-cubic-inch Hemi V8 engine with two-speed Powerflite automatic transmission. Of course, the engine doesn't run, but the potential is still nice.
On the interior, potential buyers can find tan leather, cloth, and the same chrome that’s featured on the exterior of the car. The swinging doors smoothly open and close, and classic car lovers will be happy to learn there is a dashboard full of classic 1950s analogs, buttons, and shifts. For most classic car collectors, the interior and exterior restoration probably makes up for the lack of a working engine.
A bit of car history to go
Harry Truman used the 1955 Chrysler New Yorker as his daily driver both in and out of the office, so there are definitely some historic moments involving the former president’s ride.
Classic Auto Mall, the car’s seller, reports that Truman took his wife, Bess, on a famous 19-day road trip in the Chrysler. The couple drove from Missouri to visit the East Coast and back, all without any Secret Service protection or media tracking them down.
That road trip became the subject of the book Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip, which was published in 2011. Although, the book does report that the rumors about the road trip aren’t as accurate as we might think.
Additionally, Truman also drove his New Yorker to his daughter’s wedding in 1956. With all these presidential memories made inside Truman’s 1955 Chrysler New Yorker, would you consider buying it?
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