The other option is you could build something like this and live in it. Youd save alot of money to buy the car you really want
Most people forget that the 4 doors were the more expensive models. They were made to have a comfortable ride for the family. I decided to go a different route with mine. Disc brake conversion, putting in a slant 6 with a 904 trans. I know most would put in a V8. The 6 has more HP than the original and the 904 trans is a vast improvement over the fluid drive. New wiring harness changing over to 12 volt. 9 1/4 differential. I am going to recover the seats and redo headliner and door panels. I am undecided on repainting or patina. You own it, make it you're s. I'm going for a safe and comfortable ride. More of an around town car than a highway cruiser.
Thanks for that photochop!! I was wondering how it would look with the sedan window moved forward. I think if I end up doing any major cutting I will go that route. Seems easier than a 3 window conversion, less to make from scratch.
That photo chop would be hard to do because if you did a bird's eye view from above, you would see how the center of the car bows out more than at the windshield and the rear of the car.
Goldmountain is correct about the width of the roof being wider in the center, so the cut/seam line in the roof will not be where it is on the door. But that's OK, you'll just have to figure out the amount of length you need to take out of the roof and line up the cuts so when the two halves come together, the drip rails are equally spaced. Do that, then make the door fit the hole that's left. It would be a huge job, but I'd love to see someone tackle it. Sure, it'd be easier to find a coupe of the same era, but that doesn't need to be the point of customizing. Sometimes it's just for the challenge.
It's a very clean straight rust free car. I do like them, just not the sedans as much. I have two other pre-war 4 door Mopars, so if I do sink any time into building it I'd rather build it into a coupe. I paid s**** price for the car plus a wrecked parts car, and nobody wanted to show up to give me 500 bucks for it when I tried to sell it. So I figure screw it, I'll keep it and **** around with it in between wrenching on my other cars. I already own my "dream cars" and they are all fairly stock looking, so I'd like to try and build something that looks more radical with this one. The nose is kinda cool, the rest of the proportions just have yet to look very appealing to me. I'll probably drop it a few inches, paint it black, and swap the motor for something that's a little easier to get parts for, then go from there. It will be a cruiser, possibly year-round daily driver, if I do build it. I really like the idea of a 5 window but I will have to do a lot of staring and measuring to make sure I can get it accomplished correctly. Thanks for the ideas fellas, please keep 'em coming if you've got any more!
Forgive my slightly blurry pictures, I don't have the steady hand or spare time to make these really clean, but you get the idea. Here's a WAY easier version that retains the roof entirely, basically just doing a 2 door sedan conversion by extending the doors. I've done many 2 door sedan conversions (using donor doors and B posts), this one you wouldn't want to use a 2 door sedan donor because they have a straight pillar and this would give you an angled door pillar, which I think is quite nice looking. This would probably take 1/4 of the labor hours as the shortened roof coupe version would. Reminds me of the Chevy Fleetline fastbacks, which are very good looking cars. Now let's just lower it, a bit more in back since this example sits high in the rear. Better. Now lets increase the difficulty a whole ****load by chopping the already 2 door converted body. This is a slightly angled chop, a bit more in back than in front. Compared to the coupe version, now we're probably approaching the same amount of effort, although here at least you can still retain the original trunklid. Lots of welding but do-able without any donor parts. Chops on a sloping body like this are tricky, you might have to sink the trunk in between the rear fenders like the Fleetline guys do. I think I like this version more than the coupe. Plus you can buy a coupe if you really want one, but this would be a totally new thing that doesn't exist elsewhere. Even the factory 2 door sedans don't look like this. Just for comparison (so you don't have to flip between pages to compare), this is the 4 door starting point. Look how slick the above version looks compared to this bulbous thing. Lots of metalwork, but no donor parts needed.
The coupe would be unique as the rear side windows are smaller and much nicer than the production coupe. So either way it would be one of a kind. That 2 door conversion looks slick, I like the chop. I definitely want to slant the door posts. Seems like I basically need to decide if I want to build a deck lid from scratch or not. Thanks for taking the time to show the photoshops!
Nice little bustle on that chopped one. Good job squablow. If you shortened the roof a bit more, to get just a bit more bustle, you could possibly - w/a good enuf bs-back-story, claim it to Chry "victoria" . Although it'd be probably closer to a close-coupled coupe. Since you have the cars you want, this 1-of-none would make a very interesting project. I like it. You won't see yourself anytime soon. Suppose you could also make it look factory, & maybe modded underneath - "hotrodded it before we knew how rare it is... " . Marcus...
***uming this is just a little wider than the Plym/Dodges are, a rear sump 318/360 out of a van or pick up should drop in nicely. Add a rear axle from a 65-67 (or so) C body & a disc brake conversion & you should be good to go.
I am purchasing one of the '48 Windsors this spring. It's nice and straight and don't see any rust. Decent interior, though the colors are rather ugly. It's supposed to be a driver and I plan to drive it. Those things always impressed me with their killer grill. These cars had features that were ahead of their time for 1948. I think I will scuff it and clear coat it and just have fun.
2 door 48 Windsors aren't worth much more than 4 door 48 Windsors. At least it won't lose much value if you cut it up and it doesn't ever go back together.... have fun!
Cut the top off, cap and weld the doors shut, do a Carson top, or do the inside in bedliner and marine stuff, drill drain holes in the floor, have fun. Take those 10 foot long front fenders, and make fadeaways. Do something different to the front end. Do all that, and draw a crowd.
Make it easy, leave front doors, close of the rear, strip the interior and make it like a nomad parts hauler. Drop a LS in it and take it anywhere, haul anything back from the swap.
Regardless of whether you want to “do something with it” what would it take , as it sits, to just be a safe, legal driver? How about some pics of what you’re working with?
those are the neatest looking cars to come out of that era imo, id fix it up and drive it if its possible, if its really far gone, id get her running and stopping, then see what i want to do with it after.
Was my father's, 1948 Chrysler Windsor 4 door sedan, 78 Pontiac 400, turbo 400, limited slip 2:56, 78 trans am WS6 front clip with close ratio steering box; canyon crawler, with lots of power. 25 mpg on hwy.
That is a great Chrysler, perfect look. It would be welcome at any gathering I’ve ever been to with my cars. You can only look at so many 55-57 Chevrolets, 32 Ford’s and 60-70’s Muscle cars. I walk away from anything with a LS now. I would walk up to any Mopar or other late 40’s sedan like it. It a high cl*** Zoot Suiter for sure. Plus you could get a chauffeur suit and cap to rent it and you out for wedding drive always…
Not a Hotrod or Custom but after a complete brake job with disc up front , new wiring , and complete fuel system overhaul it hit the road last June and has been a lot of fun ever since . It took alot of this and that along with many tweaks and adjustments but it’s out after sitting away for 17 years and it feels good . It’s a complete and solid stocker that is all I have time for right now. The only thing I will say regarding your Chrysler is try not to bite off more than you can chew and what is good for me may not be for you . Have fun and get to work.
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