The History of the 1925 Chrysler Six

Print this articleThe 1925 Chrysler Six automobile rose from the ashes of the Maxwell car after the Maxwell Motor Company brought in Walter Chrysler to save the ailing company. Maxwell produced cars with Chalmers and Chrysler shuttered the Chalmers operation in 1923. Two years later, Chrysler cars replaced Maxwell. Chrysler in 1925, as in 2011, was a classy alternative to the blue-collar Ford and Chevrolet cars. The debut Chrysler featured several technological innovations, including a high-compression engine.

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The 1925 Chrysler Six was solely a Chrysler automobile, unlike the four-cylinder version that was a rebadged Maxwell. The 1924 models debuted at the New York Automobile Show. The six-cylinder engine, which Chrysler carried over from 1924, featured a seven-bearing crankshaft, an air cleaner for the carburetor and a disposable oil filter. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes were available in an era when automakers clung to mechanical brakes. It was a medium-priced car and positioned above Dodge when Chrysler purchased Dodge in 1928. The 1925 models received a vibration dampener for a quieter performance.

Rapid Success

Walter Chrysler brought in Carl Breer, Fred Zeder and Owen Skelton to form the automaker’s design team to produce the new Chrysler B Series Six cars. In 1920, Maxwell produced only 34,169 cars. After Chrysler assumed control of managing the company, sales increased to 79,144 in 1924. In 1925, Maxwells remained on sale through May and Chryslers began production in June. For the entire 1925 model year, combined sales of Maxwell, Chrysler Sixes and four-cylinder Chryslers skyrocketed to 132,343 cars. About 32,000 six-cylinder units accounted for 1925 sales.

Models

All 1925 six-cylinder Chryslers were B series cars with a 112.75-inch wheelbase. The automaker produced the Brougham, coupe, Crown Sedan, Imperial Sedan, Phaeton, Roadster, sedan, Touring and Town Car. The four-door Town Car could seat up to five people. It was Chrysler’s most expensive offering at $3,725 ($45,929 in 2010 dollars). The four-door Phaeton was the most inexpensive model, selling for $1,495 ($18,433).

Specs

The Chrysler B Series Six Brougham typified the 1925 models. It featured a vertical L-head six-cylinder engine displacing 201.5 cubic inches. The engines bore measured 3 inches and the stroke was 4.75 inches. It developed 68 brake horsepower. It had a 4.70-to-1 compression ratio. A slightly larger six-cylinder engine displacing 218 cubic inches found its way into some models. Its bore was 3.3 inches and the stroke was 4.75 inches. A three-speed manual transmission matched the engines. The rear axle was a semi-floating type with a spiral bevel differential and 4.6-to-1 rear axle ratio. Its suspension system featured semi-elliptic leaf springs. The car measured 160 inches long. Curbside weight depending on the model ranged from 3,060 to 3,995 pounds. It rode on 30-inch wheels supporting 5.77-inch wide tires.

ReferencesAllpar: Chrysler Cars, 1924–1966Allpar: Bill Watson’s Chronological History of Chrysler Corporation, 1920-1939Carfolio: 1925 Chrysler Six Technical SpecificationsClassic Car Database: 1925 Chrysler B Series, 112 3/4 in. wheelbaseClassic Car Database: 1925 Chrysler B Series BroughamRead Next:

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