By Warren Madsen
Built in 1948 by Chrysler as the “Windsor” range-topping model, the Traveler series totaled only a handful of cars. The exact number is unknown but it is believed that only twelve exist today. While Chrysler owns 9 of the remaining cars, its Steve and Kathy Pedone who may own the nicest one of them all.
“Every year I get a letter from a guy at Chrysler asking if I’m ready to sell it…” Steve tells me as he opens the suicide doors. “And he knows I never could, but I guess he’s just doing his job,” he says with a grin. Bought by Steve’s mother as a surprise gift for his father returning from the navy, it has been handed down from father to son completely original and unrestored. And “completely” may be a bit of an understatement. Were talking the original clutch and brakes here. The interior is perfect and complete. The two-tone cream on brown paint hasn’t been touched. The headlights and glass tail lights are the originals. The original water bag hangs off the grille. There’s even the original hula girl dancing doll and model of the Traveler displayed in the rear window. Not some replica or replacement but the original. This is not your everyday classic. This is a very rare and exceptional piece of American automotive history. This car remains unrestored because “it can only be original once,” Steve accurately points out.
The Traveler came loaded. There were no options, it just came with everything available to Chrysler and showcased their latest gadgets including a steering column mounted cigarette holder/lighter/dispenser and a lens like “traffic light finder” mounted above the a/m radio. The marble looking material on the dash is made of an early plastic with asbestos coloring and the wood grain on the doors proves to be tastefully painted metal. All details of the interior are unique and functional. Even the most simple levers and knobs set through out the cabin attract your attention.
To start the car, after turning the key, a sturdy metal button located down and left of the steering wheel must be pushed to bring the 250 cubic inch Spitfire flathead 6 to life. Sucking fuel down a single barrel carb, it makes 115 horse power and relays it to the rear wheels through a power-robbing Fluid Drive transmission. Steve readily admits, “Zero to sixty takes a half hour, but once you get going it’s no problem.”
The Traveler was the car a family would jump in and head off on the classic American road trip or to take that drive to the beach. Not the car a teenager would sneak out of the garage to go drag race, but as a boulevard cruiser you could do worse. Suicide doors open to reveal couch-like bench seats. Extra baggage is stored on the laminated wooden roof rack originally produced by Cris Craft Company. The car actually included a set of luggage containing a camera, binoculars, and a pair of wooden skis all of which are all still in original condition. These items aren’t on the car today but for certain events Steve will even put the original tires back on the car in place of the much safer modern radials it currently wears.
This car is rare to the point where a google search finds almost nothing and this particular ’48 was pictured for an automotive encyclopedia as the only reference to the ghostly Traveler model. “I love seeing older people walk up to the car and get that glimmer in their eye. I just love its uniqueness.” Steve says.
The odometer reads an insignificant 44k miles but Steve doesn’t shy away from using this car as it was intended. Not even Hwy 17 discourages him from taking the trip from his home in Sunnyvale to Santa Cruz for the day. He’s just another deservedly proud owner who thinks “trailers are for boats!” Which is lucky for us.
*Originally published for Good Times 10/05*
