1954 Chrysler New Yorker "La Carrera Panamericana" Race Car

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Launched in 1950 to celebrate the opening of Mexico’s Pan-American Highway, La Carrera Panamericana was a grueling road race that ended in 1955. It returned in 1988 as a vintage-car rally, a seven-day, 2,300-plus-mile event over open Mexican roads for which period cars are heavily modified.

Originally prepared by racing driver Lem Tolliver, this 1954 Chrysler New Yorker debuted at the 2001 La Carrera Panamericana, reportedly winning the Historic Pan-Am class. Under subsequent ownership, it earned podium finishes in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 races and entered the 2012 Chihuahua Express. It was also a featured guest at the 2022 Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance.

The car is powered by a rebuilt first-generation 331ci Hemi V8 rebuilt by The Pit Stop in Brisbane, California in 2013. It features an Isky camshaft, Speedway Hot Rod aluminum cylinder heads, and a Quick Fuel carburetor, paired with a TREMEC TKO five-speed manual transmission with custom gear ratios. The reinforced chassis is fitted with AFCO shocks, Coleman control arms, sway bars, and a Panhard rod.

Safety and competition equipment includes Sparco Pro 2000 seats, OMP harnesses, a FireMaster fire suppression system, a weld-in roll cage, and a 25-gallon FuelSafe fuel cell. A Terratrip rally computer and Auto Meter gauges monitor performance.

The exterior is finished in two-tone gray and red with racing graphics and door artwork honoring Chrysler’s period racing success. The body and paint are reported to be original, apart from a replacement hood and a repainted left front fender.

This street-legal 1954 Chrysler New Yorker “La Carrera Panamericana” race car is now represented at no reserve by a Broad Arrow Specialist with a clean California title in the seller’s name.

Highlights

• Proven La Carrera Panamericana podium finisher

• 331ci “Hemi” V8 with aluminum cylinder heads

• TREMEC TKO five-speed manual transmission

• Full roll cage meeting FIA and La Carrera standards

• Race prepared and street legal

Modifications

• Exterior

  • Two-tone gray and red finish

  • Chrome accents

  • Racing graphics

  • Door graphics illustrating Chrysler’s period racing successes

• Interior

  • Sparco Pro 2000 seats

  • OMP harnesses

  • FireMaster fire suppression system

  • Weld-in roll cage

  • Terratrip rally computer

  • Auto Meter gauges

• Engine

  • 331ci Hemi V8

  • Speedway Hot Rod aluminum cylinder heads

  • JE pistons

  • ISKY cam 280 degrees

  • Nitrite-treated crankshaft

  • Mechanical lifters

  • Adjustable rockers

  • Smith Bros. push rods

  • Edelbrock intake manifold

  • Custom-built exhaust headers

  • 750 QuickFuel carburetor with vacuum secondary

  • MSD ignition and electronic distributor

  • SBC short water pump

  • AFCO aluminum racing radiator

  • Canton Racing Accusump with electric controlled valve kit

  • TREMEC TKO five-speed manual transmission with custom gear ratios

  • Hurst shifter

  • 25-gallon FuelSafe fuel cell

  • Optima battery

• Brakes/Suspension

  • Reinforced chassis

  • Ford 9-inch rear end with floating axles

  • AFCO shocks

  • Coleman control arms

  • Sway bars

  • Panhard rod

  • Front and rear sway bars

  • Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes

  • Speedway Hydro-Electric brake master cylinder

  • Aero steel wheels 15”x7”

Servicing

Servicing reported by the seller includes:

• 2021:

  • Flywheel and clutch replaced

• 2023:

  • Brake system overhaul and new brake lines

  • New clutch master and slave cylinder

  • Alignment

  • Engine oil and transmission fluid change

Known Imperfections

• Photos showing the vehicle’s condition can be found in the gallery

Ownership History

Prepared by racing driver Lem Tolliver, this 1954 Chrysler New Yorker debuted at the 2001 La Carrera Panamericana. Under subsequent ownership, it earned podium finishes in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 La Carrera Panamericana and entered the 2012 Chihuahua Express.

Included Items

• Spare tire and wheel

• Big Red aluminum jack

Additional Information

A Broad Arrow Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the seller of this listing. As such, the purchase transaction will be facilitated by Broad Arrow, including vehicle payment, applicable taxes required to be collected by the seller or Broad Arrow, and title/ownership reassignment. Broad Arrow is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Blake Wingrove Phone: 616.822.8589 Email: bwingrove@hagerty.com