Chrysler coupe  50
Chrysler CD
Like many other founders of car manufacturing companies, Walter Chrysler showed outstanding enterprise and spirit of initiative. At 45 he was already an important figure in the industry (head of Buick, and deputy vice-president of General Motors). But then his ideas began to clash with those of Durant. Rather than waiting for things to smooth over, he went his own way, and started again from the beginning, by joining Willys-Overland, which was in trouble at the time. After helping to sort out problems at Willys, he joined Maxwell-Chalmers, which was in the same state as Willys had beed before his arrival. The success of this double rescue operation, and his faith in three young engineers, Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton, and Carl Breer, persuaded him to start his own business. A year later, in 1924, he had already produced a vehicle of exceptional quality. It had a 6-cylinder engine with side valves, developing 68 bhp at 3,200 revs, aluminium pistons, and hydraulic expanding brakes on all four wheels (Lockheed)-the first time these had been used on a standard car. It was very successful and 100,000 vehicles were sold in 1925.

Chrysler CD

The Chrysler coupe  50 appeared in 1927, when Walter Chrysler extended his range. It was a two-seater coupe, with wooden wheels, a crankshaft on 3 bearings, thermo-syphon cooling, choke, and disc clutch. The accessories included windshield wiper, electric horn, anti-theft device, removable wheels, and rear-view mirror. The ideal car, therefore, for Chrysler to put up in competition against Ford and General Motors. To cover all sectors of the market, he pushed forward the Dodge and brought out two new models, the De Soto and the Plymouth. All his cars were characterized by certain important innovations, such as the downdraft carburetor and the swing-valve engine.