Despite the humbler name, the original Saratoga actually launched priced above both the Imperial and the New Yorker in Chrysler's own lineup.
Lead trim: Saratoga 323.5 Straight Eight
Chrysler SaratogaC-23 · 1939–1942
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Chrysler Saratoga yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactDespite the humbler name, the original Saratoga actually launched priced above both the Imperial and the New Yorker in Chrysler's own lineup.
The Chrysler Saratoga was introduced in 1939 as a sport luxury model using the Straight Eight engine, one year after the luxurious New Yorker and initially more expensive than it (Chrysler's second most expensive model, above the Imperial and New Yorker but below the C-24 Imperial Custom sedans and limousines), sharing the 125 in wheelbase and the 323.5 cu in (5.3 L) Chrysler Straight-8 with the C-23 Imperial and New Yorker; offered only as a Club Coupe (US$1,495) or four-door sedan (US$1,443) with leather and Bedford cord upholstery, an optional sun roof and an optional high-compression aluminum cylinder head. In 1940 the Series C-26 had a 128.5 in wheelbase as a sedan only in standard and "sport formal" interiors (the latter with a lowerable glass privacy partition), with Fluid Drive offered for the first time with a three-speed manual and Cruise and Climb overdrive; in 1941 it was assigned to the Series C-30 at the bottom of the eight-cylinder range with more body styles, and for 1942 the Series C-36 was again eight-cylinder only. Engines: 298.7 cu in (4.9 L) and 323.5 cu in (5.3 L) Straight Eight; wheelbase 125 in (1938–1939), 128.5 in (1940) and 127.5 in (1941–1942).
Collectors Spotted in the Chrysler Saratoga Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Chrysler Saratoga yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saratoga 298.7 Straight Eight | 1939–1942 | 4.9 L Inline-8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Saratoga 323.5 Straight Eight | 1939–1942 | 5.3 L Inline-8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Europe's Saratoga was no simple badge job: global safety rules forced Chrysler to redesign its headlamps, lights, glass, mirrors, seat belts and even the instrument cluster for export.
After Chrysler killed the Saratoga name in the US, Canada kept it alive — the '61 Canadian Saratoga was really just a US Windsor wearing Saratoga badges.
For 1957-58, what Americans bought as the Saratoga, Canadians bought as the Windsor — while the actual American Windsor wasn't sold in Canada at all.
Paired with Chrysler's new Hemi V8, the 1951 Saratoga's shorter, lighter body made it quicker than the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 — the performance benchmark of its day.
Postwar material shortages meant Chrysler couldn't get real whitewall tires for the Saratoga, so it faked the look with chrome 'beauty rings' on the wheels instead.
Despite the humbler name, the original Saratoga actually launched priced above both the Imperial and the New Yorker in Chrysler's own lineup.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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