1948 Chrysler New Yorker Highlander

Imported into the United Kingdom in 2020, this wonderful Chrysler New Yorker Highlander Convertible takes the standard cars luxurious trim and adds a touch of Highland flare courtesy of red McPhergus tartan (or Highlander Plaid, in Chrysler-speak) upholstery.

Finished in black and boasting an electrically operated convertible roof, the original owner’s son arranged for it to be professionally restored in the US in 1989/90 at a reputed cost of $75,000, although that was clearly money well spent as it won several concours d’elegance awards from 1993 through to 2006.

‘MXS 987’ also has the desirable semi-automatic ‘Fluid Drive’ manual transmission, which uses the clutch only to engage a gear when the car is at a standstill, the rest of the changes being prompted by lifting the accelerator pedal momentarily. High Range is used in ordinary driving, with Low Range being reserved for those times when a snappier getaway is required or there’s a steep hill to conquer.

Still in the hands of its first and only UK keeper, it has managed to retain its original valve radio and twin three-speed heaters, and has seatbelts for all the passengers.

Having covered only around 14,000 miles since being restored and only being sold because he’s relocating to live in London, it is just starting “to develop an attractive patina” and we are told that “everything works as it should.”

Our vendor tells us that they won Best Chrysler award at the annual All American Automobile Club Rally of the Giants at Blenheim Palace in 2021, along with a second award for Best Car, and several awards at local car club meetings subsequently, notably a win at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire in 2022, where it made a great impression on its first appearance there too.

Black is a helluva colour to pull off even on a brand-new car, so to expect it to work well on a car that’s more than three-quarters of a century old – and was restored 35 years ago – would be absurd.

And yet, this one carries it off with aplomb. Our in-house human microscope starts his assessment of the New Yorker by saying “it presents beautifully and must be seen!”, which is about as excited as we have ever seen him.

His enthusiasm is absolutely justified though because this is a car that not only has presence, it has style, too; where many American cars rely on sheer acreage to make an impression, the New Yorker does so with a rare elegance.

Of course, given the scale of the investment in restoring it and its subsequent concours wins, you’d have every right to expect tight and consistent shutlines, flawless panel alignment, and mm-precise trim (sorry, that should read, “to within a few thou”), all of which you get.

But it’s the shine that reels you in. Genuinely mirror-like in its intensity, what’s even more impressive is the shine is uninterrupted by the sort of wear ‘n’ tear you’d have every right to expect. No dents, no dinks, no scuffs.

The good news continues as the tan folding roof goes up and down at the touch of a button, and the fabric is free of rips, tears, or other damage. It’s got its full complement of poppers too, and is even fitted with a proper glass rear screen.

The American Classic whitewall tyres on the 15-inch steel wheels have plenty of tread left on them, although they are date-stamped 2015.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The chromework, including the hubcaps on those wheels, is as impressive in its condition as it is extensive in its application. “Excellent” was the very word our man used, a term he restricts himself to using no more than once a year. (Fun fact: In 2018 he didn’t use it at all.)

Other charming features include some of the nicest badges of any period and yellow foglamps, which are never a bad thing.

The rest of the lamp lenses are all good, and the rear lights have been professionally upgraded to use 6-volt LEDs, which are far brighter than the original bulbs.

Even the small stuff like the rubber seal around the fuel filler neck, which is still soft and pliable rather than hard and cracked, gives important clues to the car’s wider condition.

Nonetheless, our man has a reputation to maintain and did manage to find a few trivial things to write down, although it is worth noting that he handed his notes over with a broad smile: “There is a noticeable chip to the bottom of the boot lid, and a couple of stonechips have been touched in on both front wings along the bonnet shut line. There are also a couple of tiny chips on the bottom of the driver’s door, a small bubble in the paint at the bottom of the passenger’s door, and a few more tiny bubbles on the offside rear wing.”

Our man’s good humour continues with his assessment of the interior: “the interior is lovely, with no more than the odd wear mark.”

And he’s absolutely correct, and where the coachwork is somewhat restrained, the designers let loose a little inside, with the McPhergus tartan fabric and matching red leather upholstery vying for your attention with the expansive and perfectly judged chrome details.

Why not let your eyes wander through the photos before you read anymore because our photographer has played a blinder in showcasing them – but rest assured, it’s every bit as gorgeous in real life as it is on your screen.

And in great shape. The seats, for example, are plump and as close to flawless as you’ll find on a car that’s been driven, albeit not very far since they were recovered.

The dashboard switches, with their elegant typeface, are not only in a fabulous condition but Chrysler even took care to position them so you can see their reflection in the chrome above them.

The instruments feature a different, but equally attractive, typeface and they’re complemented by an Art Deco clock that sits to the right of the equally impressive valve radio and speaker.

The column stalk terminates with a clear knob, the steering wheel is pencil-thin, the door cards are immaculate, and the carpets look like they have barely been touched.

Rear-seat passengers get their own delightful little reading lamps, and all the seatbelts are red, as is the tonneau cover that conceals the hood when it is down.

The original valve radio pumps out the sort of warm sound audiophiles spend thousands trying to recreate, and the ‘Comfort Master’ heaters add a different warmth. (The design of the front seats means your passenger can slide across and snuggle up, so there’s a third source of warmth on offer. #justsaying)

Speaking of originality, the glovebox still contains the instructions on how to break-in your new Chrysler; how cool is that?

The inner headlining is clean and free of damage too, and the rear section can be unzipped to allow a little air while still providing protection from the weather.

To say the 135bhp, 5.3-litre straight-eight engine is understressed would be understatement. It suits the car’s nature perfectly though – the seller tells us it makes you feel like “the King of the Road” when you’re underway – and as you can see it fires up cleanly and idles smoothly and quietly.

It also shows excellent oil pressure and revs as well as you’d expect of an engine christened ‘Spitfire’.

The engine bay is as beautifully restored and as clean as the rest of the car. There’s plenty of space to work under there too, and we can’t see anyone finding fault with it, no matter how pernickety.

As for the underside, it looks to be as well-preserved as it is solidly constructed. Featuring the sort of engineering Brunel would recognise, maintenance, should it become necessary, would be straightforward.

Oh, and the Chrysler comes with several boxes of spares, some of which are said to be very hard to find; please see the photos for details.

We believe the original owner was a doctor in Seattle who put 81,000 miles on it. It passed to his sone in 1989, and he wasted no time in commissioning a two-year, $75,000 restoration to factory specification.

The Chrysler doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, as it is exempt, but has been regularly looked after by a well respected garage. The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and there are plenty of invoices on file for service items in the past five years.

The history file also includes paperwork from America including a photo album of its restoration, a handwritten maintenance log, and a thick wad of old invoices. The latter run to dozens of pages, and it would be well worth going through them to appreciate just how thorough the restoration was.

It also comes with the handbook, a Chrysler ‘booklet of facts’, a workshop manual, and handwritten instructions on how to start it, raise and lower the hood, and use the semi-automatic Fluid Drive gearbox.

Only a thousand of these cars were ever built, and records in 1993 suggest that only a dozen remained in the United States at that point, and we doubt that number will have increased since.

Which makes it as rare as it is elegant. And desirable. Very, very desirable. We can get a bit blasé about even the finest motor cars, but this one has caused quite a stir in the office.

And part of that excitement is its value, because we find it hard to believe it’s probably only going to cost you £30,000 to £35,000 to be able to drive this slice of fried gold home.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.