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Carl Bilter's 1957 Chrysler New Yorker
This is an original, unrestored 1957 Chrysler New Yorker 2-dr hardtop with 34,000 miles from new. It was gifted to me by my parents who bought the car as a retirement present in 1987. As such, it has become a family heirloom. 
Back in 1957 Mom & Dad were excited about the "Forward Look" cars from Chrysler, but they couldn't afford nor did they need a new Chrysler. Fast forward to the 1980's, when I was grown and collecting "old" Chryslers, and my parents decided to get into the hobby. One of the cars I happened to own was a 1957 New Yorker 2-dr hardtop (the "Pink Lady"), and my parents decided they wanted this very model. But my car wasn't nice enough. Thus began a four year search for the "right" car - the one they didn't buy back in '57. But it had to be a special car; the best unrestored factory original example they could find in the Midwest. And it was worth the wait. 
This car was born on February 7, 1957 in paint coded AUA, deep ruby metallic with a jet black top and side spear. It was bought by Speed Lickey and his wife Goldie of Industry, Illinois from Bill Wayland Chrysler-Plymouth in nearby Macomb on February 11, 1957. Speed passed away in January of 1958 at age 62. His wife evidently didn't drive the car or didn't drive it very much. She lived until 1977. The car was maintained by their daughter and husband and remained in a heated barn on their farm from 1961 to 1987 with little use, and evidently none in the winter. Therefore, even though a central Illinois car it is 100% free of rust. Still titled to the original owners, the estate put the car up for sale and it was quickly snatched up by a "tri-five" Chevy collector in nearby Avon, Illinois. He quickly flipped it for a profit in February of 1987. The car was only advertised in Old Cars Weekly, and my Dad was the first caller. > 
Being the middle of winter, we had to wait a couple weeks until the weather moderated to go see the car. Meantime, the seller was flooded with calls including offers to buy the car sight unseen, but the seller was a gentleman and waited for my Dad as he was the first caller. On the unusually warm spring day of March 7, 1987 we looked at the car and bought it on the spot. It had 27,000 miles from new. Most everything was original except the battery and tires. The car still had its original factory thermostat, radiator hoses and corbin clamps. The radiator cap and ignition coil were the factory original units (they still functioned after 55 years of use when finally replaced by me). The paint is factory original except for a partial repaint of the passenger side done decades ago. The entire interior is original. The spare tire is the original factory tire, and holds air well. We drove the car home a couple hundred miles without incident. My parents spent the next 25 years enjoying this car at numerous shows, parades, or just cruising around town.
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