1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe Sedan, C-63-2 🇺🇸

This car was purchased by a family from a new car dealer in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. The family used the car and cared for it long past the time it became an antique. When the car reached antique status, they even began to take it to shows, earning many awards from the Antique Automobile Club of America for its well preserved original features. 

By 1997 or 98 other car projects became the focus and the Chrysler was parked, not really intended to be long term stored, but that is what happened. In 2025, the husband passed away and the car was sold to the NB Center. While the car still retained an amazing degree of originality, the long storage without proper preparation resulted in a ceased engine, requiring a complete rebuild. As of the time of this writing, the car engine was being restored while all the other mechanical systems were being refreshed. The car is expected to be on the road some time in 2026. Look for updates when the car is cleaned and fully serviced. 

Company
Chrysler Corporation

Make
Chrysler

Model
New Yorker Deluxe C-63-2

Body Style
Sedan , 4-door, 6-pass.

Body Manufacture
Chrysler Corporation

Model year
1954

Wheelbase
125.5inches

Length
215.5 inches

Engine
V8, Hemi head, 331.1 cid

Horsepower
235 bhp @ 4400 rpm

Transmission
Powerflite, 2-speed automatic

Original Base Price
$3,433

Brand Production
105,030

This Car Production
26,907

Chrysler was a bit late to the V8 engine party but when they arrived on the scene they did make a big splash. The Hemi V8 first arrived in the New Yorker in 1951, 2 years later than the new Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s. But, the Hemi quickly took the crown for the most horsepower per displacement in the industry. The 331.1 cid Hemi was pumping out 180 horsepower compared to Cadillac’s 160.

By 1954, Chrysler was at the forefront of the horsepower race. The hemi with new cylinder heads and a four-barrel carburetor as installed in the New Yorker Deluxe, now produced 235 horsepower and for the first time, horsepower became a big selling point. While the 1954 New Yorker was the top of the line Chrysler product and it got more trim than any other cars from the brand, all that shiny dressing couldn’t cover the fact that this was a stodgy 6 year old design. Its big selling point was the Hemi engine.

Chrysler's conservative styling and lack of a fresh look along with trimming several models for this year hurt sales. Despite a blip upward in 1953, sales sank nearly 40% in 1954. Yet, the 1954 New Yorker outsold its ‘53 predecessor by about 25%. That was largely attributed to the New Yorker Deluxe and its Hemi engine.

Chrysler styling would start to change in a big way in 1955 as new design chief, Virgil Exner, would start to impact the look of the cars.

Chrysler opened their new proving grounds in Chelsea, Michigan in 1954. To mark the occasion they hired race car driver Tony Bettenhousen to lead a group of factory test drivers on a 24-hour endurance record attempt at the new facility. They covered 2,836 miles at an average of 118.18 miles per hour. This was preceded in 1953 by Bettenhousen and other drivers winning the Samual B. Stevens trophy for Chrysler by driving a stock New Yorker Deluxe around the Indianapolis Speedway for 24-hours at an average speed of 89.89 mph for a distance of 2,157 miles. This broke a record held by Cord since 1937.