Chrysler Series Six Roadster, Red, for sale in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, for $44,900.

For energetic performance and exceptional road manners, it’s hard to beat an early Chrysler, and it’s no surprise that owners of these cars are quite passionate about them.

After his falling out with Billy Durant, Walter P. Chrysler started a company manufacturing cars that bore his own name. Embracing cutting-edge technology, early Chrysler vehicles were often years ahead of their Detroit counterparts, offering innovations like full pressure lubrication, hydraulic brakes, and in the case of the 1930 Series Six (also known as the CJ), a mechanical fuel pump to replace the industry-standard vacuum tank. The Series Six also introduced the rugged, reliable 196 cubic inch inline-six engine with four main bearings, which would form the foundation of six-cylinder Mopars for nearly twenty years, eventually growing to 217 cubic inches and more than 100 horsepower.

We are proud to offer this lovely Chrysler Series Six roadster, which is perhaps the most desirable body style of all 1930 Chryslers and one of only 1660 built that year. With its six wooden artillery wheels and handsome color combination, it gives the impression of a much more expensive, upscale car, and its driving manners are outstanding thanks to the energetic six-cylinder engine and impressive hydraulic braking system. The restoration was completed some years ago, but it has been only lightly used since, primarily for local shows. With handsome Crown Maroon paint and black fenders, it looks both sporty and elegant, and the finish remains in very good condition with no notable scratches or nicks. Chrome and stainless trim was restored with the rest of the car, and shows some age but remains completely presentable. The hood ornament is an NOS piece that was purchased at a cost of over $400 more than a decade ago. Other desirable accessories include a trunk rack, dual taillights, and those lovely etched windwings.

Black leather was the standard choice in Chrysler open cars of 1930, and it works beautifully with the Crown Maroon. There are only lights signs of use throughout the interior, and the front seat remains firm and comfortable. A full set of carpets is unusual for an open vehicle, but it gives this Chrysler a luxurious feel inside, with a fitted heel pad and surround for the shifter and emergency brake. A chrome instrument panel offers a fully functional set of gauges, including fuel level, oil pressure, and an ammeter, but since a temperature gauges was oddly absent, a modern mechanical temperature gauge has been fitted below the dash. Map pockets in both doors offer handy and useful storage, and this car also sports an aftermarket turn signal system for safe touring. In back, the rumble seat is virtually unused, with more beautiful black leather and plenty of legroom, along with some additional storage in a side pouch. Overhead, a beautifully restored set of oak bows hold a handsome tan canvas top that fits extremely well.

For energetic performance and exceptional road manners, it’s hard to beat an early Chrysler, and it’s no surprise that owners of these cars are quite passionate about them. The 196 cubic inch inline-six under the hood was an all-new design for the Series Six, which was a late addition to the 1930 lineup. With Chrysler’s soon-to-be-famous silver head, it offers impressive torque and pulls cleanly from very low speeds. Four main bearings and rubber engine mounts ensure smoothness and durability, while a standard mechanical fuel pump was at least five years ahead of many of its contemporaries. The original Carter updraft carburetor remains in place, fitted with an unusual period-correct air filter. It shows signs of having been driven, but excellent maintenance has kept it in first-rate mechanical condition. The original six-volt electrical system remains, and the start spins the engine with vigor, and it quickly settles into a comfortable idle. On the road, few of this car’s contemporaries could keep up with its performance, and the engine’s durability would become legendary over the next two decades. A three-speed manual transmission offers easy shifting, although Chrysler had not yet adopted synchromesh, so double-clutching is still required.

Although the Series Six was Chrysler’s reaction to the growing effects of the Great Depression, they remained excellent vehicles with state-of-the-art engineering. Compared to vehicles like, say, the Model A Ford or even the six-cylinder Chevrolet, it is vastly more sophisticated, with better speed, impressive braking, and great handling that makes it feel like a far newer vehicle. Combined with the lightweight and sporty roadster body, it’s a great tour vehicle that has already proven itself over the past several years. A beautiful, fully-sorted car with no needs, ready to enjoy immediately.