After I got my driver’s license in 1984, one of my favorite things to do was exploring country roads. I would get out my Hagstrom maps and look for interesting places I had never been to, and then drive these rural roads just to see what was there. The fascinating part is that you never knew what you would discover along the way. There might be dense woods, peaceful farms, abandoned houses, quaint bridges–and of course, old cars from the ’40s to the ’60s scattered here and there. So when I saw these photos of a 1957 Chrysler for sale near Reading PA, I said “Ah, yes–that’s just the sort of discovery that would have made me pull over for a closer look!”
Growing up in the center of northern New Jersey, to me Pennsylvania was this kind of “magic kingdom”. Once you crossed that bridge over the Delaware, there was a whole different atmosphere. Fireworks and strike-anywhere matches were legal, but you had to pump your own gas. In many ways it was like going back in time–back to the way New Jersey used to look before suburban sprawl and urban blight had taken over. There were quaint stone cottages, roadside antique stores, cute villages, the Amish–if you like scenic beauty and old-fashioned things, PA is the place to go.
Reading is a remarkable city. I’ve been to the Pagoda and viewed the city from the peak of this tall mountain. It looks like a scale-model of itself, like an HO model railroad layout. The streets are hilly, and there are blocks of Victorian rowhouses up and down the hills–towers, turrets, porches, stained glass…
Time seems to move slower in Reading, and a lot of wonderful things have been preserved. So it doesn’t surprise me too much that I should discover a rust-free, 24,000 mile ’57 Chrysler for sale close by.
Seller’s description
1957 Chrysler Windsor: Original, unmolested survivor, just out of long term storage. Only 24,000 actual miles with original, numbers matching drive train! Power steering, brakes, and seat, torqueflite automatic transmission, AM radio. Original upholstery is very good, with wear only on seat cushion where driver sits. Door panels, headliner, carpet, and dash are like new! Steering wheel is in perfect condition with no cracking. Instruments, radio, dash finish, and interior bright work is like new. All glass is in perfect shape. Exterior bright work, bumpers, grill, etc are excellent. The trunk looks new. The 354 Cl Poly Head engine starts right up. The transmission shifts right into gear. All lights and accessories work as they should. The car yard drives well, but needs brake work from sitting. Car is rust free, which says a lot for an original, unrestored 57 Chrysler! See less
Asking price: $10,750.
This series of photographs really resonated with me–it was just like something you would see along some rural back road back in the ’70s to mid-’80s (and sometimes, occasionally, even today).
Yes, the setting is perfect–a gravel driveway, partially mown grass, trees and fences in the background, a slight feeling of desolation. I faintly hear the birds singing. By the time I came along, cars like this ’57 Chrysler were almost all gone–so seeing an actual, weathered, real-life example would be exciting for me: an intriguing artifact from the lost antedeluvian past when cars were so boldly and strikingly designed, and are now seen no more.
Aha! I remember those very familiar 1980s orange-on-blue Pennsylvania license plates. Talk about authenticity–it’s like I’m back in the ’80s on one of my road trips.
“Windsor” in elaborate script. The bright metal spear trim extending up to the leading edge of the front door was optional …
It was shown on this dealer postcard. However…
…I’ve seen pictures of 1957 Windsors with no decorative side trim. Not all 1957 Windsors had the spear molding. (Chrome spears were standard on the more expensive Saratoga and New Yorker.)
If I pulled over to check this car out, of course I would open the door to peek inside. Looks like the same lovely green color as the California car. Sadly, a lot of these vinyl padded dashboards were never meant to last 70 years. They tend to get warpy over time.
Original upholstery and trim is mostly intact, except for the place where the driver sits. I’d like to think that the damaged area could be covered in a discreet way.
Rest of the interior looks pretty darn good in my opinion, including the driver’s door panel. Notice this is a tri-tone in three shades of blue/green.
Engine looks rusty and dusty but supposedly still runs. (354 cubic inch Poly V-8, 285HP).
Trunk looks pretty clean. Is that the original spare?
So there it is–your own personal 4-door Batmobile. If I were in the market, I would consider buying it. I think the problems it has can be dealt with. I would probably do a repaint with a black body and white roof. Or you could paint it in that same matching green.
In 2021 I bought another (mostly) rust-free “Forward Look” Mopar sedan. It was a 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix in dull gray, which I had repainted aqua blue with a white roof. Everybody thinks my car looks beautiful and I get a lot of compliments on it. The story of its transformation is posted here.
So Pennsylvania is full of hidden treasures. As we head back home, here are some pictures I took in 1992 of another charming Pennsylvania city, Easton, which is situated on the western shore of the Delaware River across from New Jersey. You can see what would now be considered some “Curbside Classics” parked here and there. This is 35mm color film, not digital:
Wherever you live, it might be a good idea to take a little trip “off the beaten path” every once in a while. You never know what you might find!
Further CC reading:
CC For Sale: 1957 Chrysler Windsor Hardtop–Peak Forward Look? by Stephen Pellegrino
We used to do the same thing, head from northern nj to PA back in the 80’s and early 90’s. Would love to go out to the water gap, then down 611 to Easton. There was a 57 Chevy with a ‘not for sale’ sign on it in mt bethel plus numerous other vehicles along the way. Everything from old bread trucks to ancient model t’s half buried in a yard. Good times for sure!
Interestingly optioned/non-optioned……power seat, but not clock!!!
The Chrysler is quite restrained for a 57 Exner styling job. I like it, the chrome spear is just the right amount of side adornment.
$10k is a bit much, but the prospect of not having to do bags of welding is compelling. Repaint the top white, polish the rest, fix what needs fixing and drive it.
We drove through Reading once on a trip to Philadelphia, don’t know if it was just the road we picked but we thought it rather sketchy. It certainly didn’t look like your photos.