1930 Chrysler Series 77 Phaeton
Walter P. Chrysler’s ambitious gamble for 1930 came with an unprecedented guarantee: a cruising speed of 70 mph and a top speed of 77 mph.
This confidence was justified when two Series 77 Roadsters competed at Belgium’s Spa race circuit, with one finishing fifth behind three Alfas and a Bugatti.
The Series 77 offered an impressive array of ten different body styles, from the practical Business Coupe to the elegant Dual-Cowl Phaeton. Distinctive styling included concave moldings on open models, parking lamps mounted on the front corner pillars, and pennon-style hood louvers (later changed to vertical). Built on a substantial 125-inch wheelbase, the cars rode on 18-inch wooden spoke wheels.
Power came from a 219-cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine producing 75 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Advanced features included four-wheel hydraulic brakes and double-drop frame construction.
Priced between $1,625 and $1,825, the Series 77 successfully positioned itself as a premium alternative to Ford while remaining more accessible than Cadillac or Buick offerings.
Source
