1953 Chrysler D'Elegance - AllCarIndex

NEW YORK -- Chrysler Corporation today announced a classic in American automotive styling D'Elegance, a fresh and original prototype two-passenger sports coupe. It will go on public display for the first time at the Auto-Lite Easter Parade of Stars auto show in the Waldorf-Astoria on Saturday, April 4 through April 9.

D'Elegance is a functional automobile, as are the other Chrysler "idea cars", the K-310, the C-200 and the Chrysler "Special", which are setting a new American theme in passenger car design.

"The rule in developing D'Elegance, as well as the rule followed in developing the other three 'idea cars', was to allow Chrysler stylists and engineers complete freedom in their ideas so long as their ideas could be translated into a soundly engineered automobile," said Mr. A. vanderZee, vice-president in charge of sales, Chrysler Corporation . "No decision has been reached to build it for sale at the present time. However, D'Elegance involves no materials that could not be used in volume production. Its Chrysler FirePower V-5 engine operates on standard fuels.

"D'Elegance is creative engineering at its most imaginative, and yet practical, best," D'Elegance embodies the continuing search by Chrysler stylists and designers to blend the continental feeling for simple unity along with the American demand for a vehicle which will travel great distances comfortably over varied terrain in the shortest possible time, according to Mr. vanderZee.

Most continental designs are not concerned with comfort, transportation, or luggage capacity, he pointed out. Maneuverability and elan are their primary consideration, D'Elegance attempts to incorporate all of these essentials for desirable American transportation.

Behind the front seat of D'Elegance is a fully carpeted and black leather lined luggage compartment which contains four Hatching bags of the same black and natural yellow English leather as the interior's upholstery. On either side of the luggage space are two package compartments, each with fully chromed, roll-back metal spring-loaded covers.

The black and natural yellow leather interior is a stunning complement to the spring coral exterior.

The classic racing radiator grille and the sweeping line of D'Elegance are accentuated by its simple and unadorned design. The low, recessed headlights and the flat, downward-sloping long hood line are in the best European classic tradition.

A fresh style note is struck by an embossed ridge which commences at the rear of the front wheel opening and extends straight backward across the door as a speed line, and then sweeps upward to form the contour of the rear fender.

Wheels and fenders are clearly defined. The fully-chromed 17-inch wire wheels are emphasized by chromed moldings around the openings of the fenders.

The tire cover on the rear deck of D'Elegance introduces a new idea. By pushing buttons located inside the doors at the rear compartment, the driver or passenger can automatically lift the cover and the spare tire with it. The spare tire is then automatically moved rearward and downward until it comes to rest behind the rear bumper for easy removal.

Engine and Chassis Features

The engine is a standard Chrysler FirePower. A few modifications have been made to accommodate the lower hood line. They include a shorter aluminum carburetor with a modified and offset air cleaner and silencer — the power steering oil reservoir has been relocated on the back wail of the engine compartment. Because of the forward location of the radiator, there are a large fan shroud and a newly-designed water hose.

The chassis has a standard 1953 Chrysler New Yorker 125½-inch frame which has been modified for the shorter, 115-inch wheelbase of the car. The propeller shaft is correspondingly shortened. Wheel suspension, both front and rear, is of standard Chrysler design. Independent suspension with coil springs is used in front and wide, low-frequency, tapered-leaf springs are used at the rear. Oriflow shock absorbers are fitted. The transmission is the Chrysler fluid-torque design. Brakes are the self-energizing Chrysler disc-type. Tires are size 17 x 7.60.

The car stands only 54½ inches from the road to the highest point of its top; its overall length is 214 inches; the wheelbase, 115 inches. The tread, or distance between the wheels, is 60 inches in the front and 63 inches at the rear. It is equipped with Chrysler's full-time power steering and power brakes.

Instruments and Interior

Seats and paneling are of hand-sewn black and yellow English leather. The carpeting is a soft wool pile material with natural leather binding on the edges. The interior top lining has a natural yellow cloth panel to match the leather elsewhere. The seats are of the modified bucket type on deep springs and air foam cushioning. The instrument panel, which is enameled in the same color as the natural leather, contains six instruments: a 120 mph speedometer, fuel gauge, oil pressure indicator, ammeter, temperature gauge and clock.

source: Chrysler via www.chuckstoyland.com

According to Jack Crain, Chrysler Design Studio Chief, the new Chrysler Chronos show car "really owes to the 1953 Chrysler D;Elegance cocnept vehicle." One of Virgil Exner's series of "dream cars" of the 1950s, the D'Elegance was 3-passenger sport coupe built on a shortened New Yorker chassis, featuring advanced body design, with a metallic, red exterior, and using teh famous Hemi engine for power. One of its most interesting features is a hydraulically operated spare wheel and tire extractor, which used an electro-hydraulic mechanism to raise the spare for easy removal from its mounting. Other convenience features included luggage covered in the same black and yellowhand-sewn leather of the seats and door panels that fit into a carpeted compartment behind the seats, a fold-up armrest in the seat cushion, and a black leather-covered intrument panel. The "gun sight" are similar to those later used for the Imperial. The car was featured in Chrysler's "New Worlds in Motion" travelling design show.

source: Chrysler Design Institute - www.chrysler.com/design