Original 1924 Chrysler Six Debuts at the New York Auto Show
31 March 1999
Original 1924 Chrysler Six Debuts at the New York Auto Show NEW YORK, March 30 -- Seventy five years after being
initially denied entrance to the New York Auto Show, Walter P. Chrysler's
original 1924 Chrysler Six finally makes its debut on the show floor on March
30, 1999. In an event to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Chrysler
brand, DaimlerChrysler recreated the press introduction of the
very first Chrysler car, originally held at the Hotel Commodore in New York.
New York Auto Show regulations at the time allowed only production
vehicles, and the 1924 Chrysler Six was still in prototype form. Although the
American Automobile Chamber of Commerce ultimately allowed the car to be
shown, Walter P. Chrysler had already realized the potential of media exposure
by showing it at the Commodore in midtown Manhattan. "Walter P. Chrysler's
foresight and uncompromising insistence on building the most advanced and
exciting car possible established the Chrysler brand's reputation from the
very beginning," said A.C. (Bud) Liebler, Senior Vice President, Marketing -
DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "Today, those original principles remain as core
values to the brand and remain an integral part of our product creation
process, with the latest example being the all-new Chrysler PT Cruiser."
Engineering the Chrysler Six
Walter P. Chrysler commissioned the talented engineering consulting trio
-- Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton and Carl Breer -- to develop a car that would
establish a new standard. Through general guidelines defined by Walter P.
Chrysler, the original Chrysler Six was to be a light vehicle, roomy for five
people and economical to own and operate, as well as a model of durability and
performance.
Featuring a wheelbase of about 110 inches and an approximate weight of
2,600 pounds, the Chrysler Six would be positioned squarely in the path of the
most popular Buick model of the day. Powered by a robust, high-compression
six-cylinder engine, the Chrysler Six was capable of sustaining more that 60
miles per hour -- a performance figure only attained by a few high-priced cars
at the time.
Chrysler Brand Retains Original Principles
Seventy five years later, the Chrysler brand remains focused on providing
premium products that deliver expressive, leading-edge design, fine-tuned
athletic performance, and relevant technology that benefits the customer. "We
continue to build on our reputation of design leadership and innovative
engineering to define in contemporary terms what the Chrysler brand is all
about," said Martin R. Levine, Vice President, Chrysler/Plymouth/Jeep(R)
Division - DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "While every Chrysler brand vehicle
embodies our passion for cutting-edge design and solid engineering, we're also
committed to providing our customers relevant technology and premium features
that make them the class-leaders in their respective segments."
At the time Walter P. Chrysler unveiled the Chrysler Six, the automotive
industry was just blooming and automakers were vying for their portion of the
new market. Seventy-five years later, the Chrysler brand is among the oldest
American brands sold in North America and worldwide. "Just as Walter P.
Chrysler challenged the convention of the auto industry of his time with new
product innovations, we too must change the industry dynamics by anticipating
the needs of our customers and providing products before they ask for them,"
said Liebler. "The Chrysler PT Cruiser is the latest example of this
strategy. This vehicle will take the Chrysler brand into the next 75 years
with a unique combination of design and function."
