1951 CHRYSLER - GENERAL: For 1951, the Royal line was dropped from the Chrysler fold and the Windsor became the low-priced series. A revision of the 1950 Chrysler line was accomplished with only minor changes, however the look was changed to a great extent. The grille lost the costly egg-crate styling look. Parking lamps were now located directly below the headlamps within the top grille molding. The top grille molding also wrapped completely around the front end and ran rearward to the middle of the front door.

The three-piece rear window now wrapped around the rear roof area, emulating the style and theme of the 1950 Newport hardtop.  Rear styling duplicated the 1950 Chrysler look, with the exception of a new bumper design. Interiors remained little changed and the dash panel continued its padded design similar to the 1949-50 cars.

The big news for 1951 was the introduction of the new Hemi-head V-8 engine and the demise of the L-head 8, introduced in 1934. The hemispherical combustion chamber V-8 was the only engine produced in America with this revolutionary design and its 180 horsepower rating was the top for any V-8 produced that year - and with only a 2-barrel carburetor and single exhaust! Regarding the venerable L-Head 6, its days were numbered, to be replaced by a larger six in 1952 and then in 1955 by a "Poly" head V8. 

1951 WINDSOR SERIES C51 (6-CYL): The Windsor was now the lowest-priced Chrysler and for the most part, replaced the Royal in the linup. "Windsor" nameplates were located on the front fenders, above the trim moldings. Town & Country station wagons were a part of the Windsor Series. A 2-door Sedan, 4-door Sedan, Station Wagon and Ambulance were offered, along with the long wheelbase 4-door sedan. Standard equipment was as had been in place for the 1950 Royal line. Fluid Drive was optional in this series.

1951 WINDSOR DELUXE C51-2 (6-CYL): The Windsor DeLuxe this top-of-the-line six was slotted as was last year's Windsor. It was identified externally by the use of  "Windsor DeLuxe" as a nameplate on the front fender, above the wheelhouse opening. The Prestomatic Fluid Drive transmission was standard on this model. 

The Traveler model was continued in this series, with the same features as the 1950 Traveler, including the fold down rear seat, however, the roof luggage rack now became an optional feature.

1951 SARATOGA SERIES C55 - 8-CYLINDER: The Saratoga took a new path for 1951. It combined a Windsor series chassis with the new Hemi V-8 engine. Its wheelbase was a full six inches shorter than the New Yorker, at 125.5", and weight was about 250 lbs. less. The Saratoga was a late addition to the line and was introduced to the public more than three months after other 1951 Chryslers. As such, the Saratoga has a separate sales brochure.

"Saratoga" nameplates were located on the front fenders and a new "V" ornament graced the hood and deck lid. The Prestomatic Fluid Drive transmission was standard equipment. The Saratoga could also be had on the 139.5" long wheelbase, making a V-8 powered Limo available. A Town & Country wagon was a part of this series and was the first of this nameplate with V-8 power - also on the 125.5" short wheelbase.

1951 NEW YORKER SERIES C52 - 8-CYLINDER: The New Yorker was the first Chrysler to use a V-8 engine, since the Saratoga did not arrive until January 1951. Wheelbase was longer than the Windsor or Saratoga models by six inches at 131.5". The V-8 powered New Yorker was identified by large "V" ornaments on the hood and deck lid. "New Yorker" nameplates were placed on the front fenders.

As on other 1951 Chryslers, styling changes were for the most part in the area in front of the cowl. Side trim on the rear fender began above the stone shield, then dipped abruptly before continuing, horizontally, to the rear. Town & Country rear fenders matched those of the Windsor and Saratoga in design. The dash panel continued its padded design and remained similar to the 1949 type.

The new Hemi V-8 was called the "Firepower" engine. Also new was power steering, which was an industry first. Oriflow shock absorbers were now available. A Town & Country wagon set on the 131.5" wheelbase was introduced in January and only 250 were sold.

MODEL/ENGINE I.D. DATA:

• Windsor serial numbers. Detroit built cars used serial numbers from 70081001 to 70094148. Los Angeles built cars used serial numbers 65007001 to 65008808. Motor numbers ranged from C51-1001 to C51-84487 and were interspersed with Windsor DeLuxe numbers, sequentially as engines were built.
• Windsor Deluxe serial numbers. Windsor DeLuxes built in Detroit were numbered from 70891001 to 70952163. Los Angeles built cars were numbered from 67026001 to 67033209. Motor numbers ranged from C51-1001 to C51-84487 and were interspersed with Windsor numbers, sequentially as engines were built.
• Saratoga serial numbers. Detroit built cars serial numbers were from 76500001 to 76511983. Los Angeles built cars serial numbers were from 66500001 to 66501672. Motor numbers began with C51-8-1001 and went up. They were interspersed with New Yorker numbers, sequentially as engines were built.
• New Yorker serial numbers. Serial numbers for the New Yorkers were from 7165001 to 7199806. New Yorkers were only manufactured in Detroit. Motor numbers began with C51-8-1001 and went up. They were interspersed with Saratoga numbers, sequentially as engines were built.

All serial numbers were located on the left front door hinge post. Windsor I-6 motor numbers were found on the left side of the engine block below the cylinder head between the first and second cylinders. Saratoga and New Yorker Hemi V-8 engine numbers were located at the front of the engine block, between the heads, under the water outlet elbow.  All Series- no code numbers were provided for identification of body/style type.

BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS:

• 01 Black
  
• 05 Haze Blue
  
• 06 Ecuador Blue
  
• 07 Newport Blue
  
• 20 Foam Green
  
• 21 Juniper Green
  
• 22 Continental Green
  
• 35 Quebec Gray
  
• 36 Stone Gray
  
• 37 Gunmetal Gray
  
• 45 Arizona Beige
  
• 46 Buckskin Tan
  
• 47 Indian Brown
  
• 60 Crown Maroon
  
• 61 Holiday Red
  
• 65 Belvidere Ivory

CHRYSLER ENGINES:

• Windsor and Windsor DeLuxe Series Engine. L-head six-cylinder. Cast iron block. Displacement: 250.6 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.438" x 4.5". Compression ratio: 7.00:1. Horsepower: 116 @ 3600 RPM. Torque: 214 ft. lbs. @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid lifters. Carburetor: Standard shift - Standard shift - Ball and Ball Model Ball and BallEX1R or EX2R. Fluid Drive  M-6 transmission - Ball and Ball model E9A1.
  
  
• Saratoga and New Yorker Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81" x 3.63". Horsepower: 180 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 312 ft. lbs. @ 2000 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Compression ratio: 7.5:1. Carburetors: Early: Carter 2-barrel WCD 830S, 830SA. 830SB or 931SC. Late: Carter 2-barrel WCD 931S, 931SA, 931SB or 931SC.

CHASSIS:

• Wheelbase: Windsor, Windsor DeLuxe and Saratoga: Long wheelbase models - 139.5" Others - 125.5".  New Yorker: Wheelbase: 131.5".
• Overall length: Windsor: 202.5"; Windsor DeLuxe and Saratoga: 207.8"; Long wheelbase cars: 222.1" ; New Yorker:  214.0125".
• Tires: Windsor, Windsor DeLuxe, Saratoga, long wheelbase cars and Station Wagon: 8.20 x 15, Windsor, Windsor DeLuxe and Saratoga short wheelbase cars: 7.60 x 15. New Yorker: 8.20 x 15. White walls available at extra cost.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS:

• Windsor. Three-speed manual transmission standard with Fluid Drive optional.
• Windsor DeLuxe, Saratoga and New Yorker. Fluid Drive hydraulically operated M-5 transmission standard.

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS:

• Electric windows lifts
• Exhaust deflector.
  
• Fluid-Torque Drive (Prestomatic).
  
• Fog lamps. 
• Heater. 
• Locking gas cap. 
• Outside rear view mirror.
• Power steering. 
• Radio. 
• Sun visor. 
• Vanity mirror.
• White side wall tires.
• Windshield washer
   

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Dealer introduction of 1951 Chryslers was scheduled for October 9, 1950. 65,684 V-8 powered Chryslers were built this year as well as 2,536 Town & Country Wagons

PRODUCTION: The 1951 Chrysler production totaled 80,942. See the attached chart for the detailed model breakout.