Chrysler Kew Four-door Sedan

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The Kew and the Wimbledon were essentially British versions of American cars assembled at Chrysler’s factory near the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew.

Chryslers would be imported in kit form from Michigan, assembled at Kew, converted to right-hand drive, and often fitted with smaller six-cylinder engines deemed more appropriate to the British market than a giant, throbbing V8 (shame!). This enabled Chrysler to avoid the excessive import duties payable on completed vehicles.

They were further Anglicised by renaming them after London suburbs, so the Plymouth PC became a Kew (2.8-litre) or Wimbledon (3.3-litre), the DeSoto a Richmond or Kingston and the Airflow a Croydon. Initially the Plymouth was going to keep its name until Chrysler’s market research revealed that the town was not well thought of in Britain, being associated with drunken sailors. Don’t know where they got that idea from…

First registered in February 1938, this particular Kew has had just three owners from new, according to the V5C, with the second keeping it from 1988 until 2005 when the current vendor acquired it in much the same state it is in today. He was intending to restore the car and fit it with a V8 engine but has now decided that, with around 10 other old cars still clamouring for his attention, he will probably never get round to it and would prefer it to go to a keen new owner with more enthusiasm for the task.

Appearing to be in sound condition throughout and largely complete apart from the right-hand side running board, it is not currently fitted with an engine but there is a straight-six that came with the car on a pallet which may or may not be the correct type for the model. Supplied with a V5C and an original owner’s handbook, it also retains its original London number, EXA 333, which is transferable.

A straightforward restoration project that could be returned to its former glory without too much effort, it has wonderful Forties looks and would make an ideal vehicle for the Goodwood Revival - or a really cool hot rod with a roof chop and a pokey V8...