It was a beautiful sunny day in southern California – very warm for November in the 80′s and 90′s. David wanted to visit the world’s oldest operating McDonald’s franchise in Downey, CA and drive there in the 1948 Chrysler New Yorker that he co-owns with his dad.
We arrived there safely (you never know with an old – uh, classic – car what might happen) and had our lunch (David had a burger and I had some chicken nuggets) on site, joined by lots of pigeons who seemed unafraid of people. I can see why the Italians called these birds “rats with wings” now. Anyway, we had a good time and here’s the video.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Gill,
Thanks for the great comments. This video has received quite a few comments from people reminiscing about earlier years when they had a similar car the first time. I love driving it even if my wife and mother don’t like riding in it! I guess it is a guy thing.
I can’t believe you got that up to 100 mph in fourth gear. On my freeway test at about 70 mph I felt it had room to go, but didn’t want to push it anymore since it is over 60 years old. Maybe I’ll test again this summer.
You’re right, it is a true American classic. She’s a real head-turner where ever I take it.
I also enjoyed the video. It took me back to my first car which I got in the summer of 1959. It was a 1949 Chrysler First Series New Yorker (C-39N), with less than 20,000 miles. It was black with Scottish Highlander plaid interior, sun visor, suicide rear doors and big white sidewall tires. Not the usual kid’s car, but being dumb and stupid, my buddies and I treated it like a hot rod. Give it a mile or two to warm up and it would run over 100 mph and eat gasoline even faster. You are right about the “Fluid Drive” transmission, you could chose to use the clutch or not. Of course, I usually chose to use the low gear when starting as we nicknamed it, “The Draggin Waggon.” One day our bus broke down on the way to football practice, so we went back and got the Waggen and loaded the entire 22 member team, with uniform on, inside it for the trip to the field. My buddies were good about chipping in for gas money as it only got about 8 to 10 mpg and tire always needed replacing as it was hard to keep in alignment. Some of that probably had to do with my living in southern Wyoming and using it as a pick-up truck half of the time. Unfortunately, by the end of high school and a thousand good times, that beautiful automobile was wore out. Little did I realize at the time, what an American Classic I had and wasn’t smart enough to take care of it. Hindsight is truly 20/20.
Hey Egbert,
Thanks for the nice comments. We had a lot of fun filming it and you’re right, it probably was a luxury vehicle in its day.
-David O.
Hey guys,
Great video! Really enjoyed your commentary on the history of the NewYorker; really enjoyed the air conditioning unit! Who knew a luxury like that was available back then!