1957 Chris-Craft 19-Foot Capri and Custom-Built Trailer

Description

For more than a century after its founding by Christopher Columbus Smith in 1874, Chris-Craft was known for building beautiful, high-quality boats in a multitude of sizes. Under the leadership of Smith’s son, Jay Smith, who took the helm in 1927, Chris-Craft became known as the world’s largest builder of mahogany powerboats. By the late 1950s, the Michigan-based company offered more than 100 different models, ranging in length from 17 feet to 65 feet. Among those hand-built, wooden beauties was the Capri, which replaced the ever-popular Riviera line in 1955. Offered through 1958, Chris-Craft proudly claimed the Capri was “Styled for fun — powered to go!”  

The shapely, 19 foot, closed-bow runabout featured a wraparound windshield, two-tone blond and red mahogany construction, two rows of comfortable seating, and a Chris-Craft KFL 236.6 cu-in six-cylinder engine that offered “flashing speeds up to 38 mph.” Many consider the late-1950s Capri as the last of the traditional runabouts.

This Capri was restored in 2005-2006, revarnished in 2014, and has been continuously maintained by Mayea Boat Works of Algonac, Michigan (birthplace of Chris-Craft). The restorative work included a no-soak 5200 replacement bottom, wood refinishing, refurbished chrome, and correct replacement upholstery.

Highlights 

• Documented by the Chris-Craft Museum and The Mariners Museum, this Capri is one of only 786 built between 1955 and 1958 

• Matching numbers original Chris-Craft KFL 236.6-cu-in six-cylinder engine generating 131 horsepower 

• Auto-Lite Shunt Generator 

• Refinished mahogany 

• 5200 no-soak bottom 

• Original stock wheel 

• Original dashboard gauges: 

  • Speedometer 

  • Fuel  

  • Temperature 

  • Oil pressure 

  • Amperes 

• Original chrome navigation light housings 

• Original Chris-Craft badges 

• Original bright work has been refurbished 

• Reupholstered interior in period-correct Tango Red and White 

• Seats reupholstered with the correct colors and patterns 

• Original hull plate (CP-19-760) 

• This Chris-Craft Capri is being offered with 103 engine hours, however the true engine usage is unknown

 Features 

• Third-generation post-war “blonde deck” runabout 

• Traditional right-hand drive 

• Horn 

• Seats six 

• Power is sent to a single, central-mounted propeller via direct-drive unit 

• American flag on stern 

• Chris-Craft flag on bow 

• Fully licensed in Michigan through 31 March 2025 

 Included 

• Digital copy of the original build sheet from the Chris-Craft Museum 

• Photo book showing original restoration 

• Maintenance records and receipts 

• Custom-built trailer (Serial No. MI7803A171R072222) with wiring redone and new lights installed in 2023  

• Boat cover 

 Ownership History

This 1957 Chris-Craft 19-foot Capri has had only three owners in the nearly seven decades since it was hand built in Algonac, Michigan, the birthplace and home to Chris-Craft for more than a century. The previous (second) caretaker lived in Clinton Township, Michigan, and moored and stored the boat in Algonac. 

Additional Notes 

The title lists this Capri as a 1957 model year, however, according to Chris-Craft Museum logbooks, the boat is a 1958.

A Broad Arrow Group Consignment Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle.

Contact: Craig Zimmerman Phone: 586.707.5811‬ email: cszimmerman@hagerty.com