Pandemic or not, Jay Leno continues to produce videos from the garage on his own, which as a result includes a bit more footage of him moving away from the tripods now, in the name of seamless continuity. This week, it was time for his 1939 four-door Chrysler Royal, which used to belong to the six-time Emmy Award winner Tonight’s show host Johnny Carson, having been bought new by his father in Nebraska. In 1982, NBC bought the car again as a gift to Carson, who then left it to Jay Leno in his will. Bottom line, that’s the celebrity connection for this particular Royal ’39 green, but find one with a less colorful storyline and you shouldn’t be disappointed still.
This is because in 1939, one could get quite a car from Chrysler for a little over a thousand dollars. Over 100 horsepower with an extremely low-maintenance 4.1-liter in-line six-cylinder engine, three-axle with overdrive for those long trips, all sorts of cabin and trunk space, suicide doors, and plush extras like chrome mirrors, a radio and dual horns.
When Leno was ready to drive, parents often chose these pre-war Chryslers as the first cheap cars for their teens, and after a snowstorm, everyone won.
As Europe was preparing for war some 80 years ago, Chrysler offered not only a reliable six-cylinder powertrain and a good heater, but also what they called “airflow style” along with more brilliant details and Art touches. Deco than you would expect. for the money. With bias-ply tires and adequately speed-limiting drum brakes, the 1939 Royal took full advantage of its molded plastic instrument panel, metal trims disguised by a wood-grain pattern layer and a steering wheel Oversized calming ivory finish of course.
Today, a Chrysler Royal is not yet going to break the bank as long as it is an American classic that it can proudly drive for years to come. Not bad for a 1939 model.
