Walter P. Chrysler Museum

by J. J. Scott

I think every youngster reads a biography that sticks with him or her. For me it was the story of Walter P. Chrysler. Over the years I forgot why I was impressed so when I visiting Detroit I made a point to visit the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, which is only 30 miles north of downtown Detroit.

It didn’t take long for me to recall why I was impressed. The son of a Union Pacific Railroad engineer, Walter Chrysler was fascinated by machinery from an early age. He turned down a chance to go to college to become an apprentice machinist. Hardworking, intelligent, and determined to master every aspect of his craft, Chrysler was able to move into positions of greater responsibility, emerging in 1910 as superintendent for the Chicago Great Western Railroad. Chrysler knew he had little chance of moving into the top echelons of the corporate structure, and so in 1910 he took a position as works manager of the American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh. He worked at other automotive companies gaining a reputation as a miracle worker for ailing auto companies.

In 1920 the Maxwell Motor Company hired Chrysler to work his magic on the company.  With the help of three talented engineers, they saved the company by developing some engineering firsts and new designs. Chrysler is credited with saying, “I would not touch the Maxwell with a ten foot pole… what I would not touch was later on revealed to be the greatest opportunity of my life.” In 1924, Walter Chrysler launched the well-received Chrysler, a 6-cylinder automobile designed to provide customers with a well-engineered car at an affordable price. The original 1924 Chrysler included a carburetor air filter, high compression engine, full pressure lubrication, and an oil filter, at a time when most autos came without these features. Among the innovations were the first practical mass-produced four-wheel hydraulic brakes, a system nearly completely engineered by Chrysler, and rubber engine mounts to reduce vibration. Chrysler also developed a road wheel with a ridged rim, designed to keep a deflated tire from flying off the wheel. This safety wheel was eventually adopted by the auto industry worldwide. In 1925, the Maxwell Motor Company was renamed the Chrysler Corporation.

The three floors of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum displays more than 70 antique, custom and concept vehicles, interspersed with interactive displays and exhibits that tell the story of the Chrysler Corporation.  On display are a 1924 four-door Phaeton and the slick Viper that debuted in 1989. The vintage collection includes DeSoto, Hudson, Nash, Rambler and Willys-Overland.
The impact of reading the book was such that I have owned several Chryslers over the years.  If only there was a Walter P. Chrysler to work his magic on the company today. Or maybe there is. Will Sergio Marchionne, Fiat’s CEO, be able to do for Chrysler what Walter P. Chrysler did for the ailing Maxwell Company. For more information check www.chryslerheritage.com.