The Chrysler Series 70 represents the company during one of the most ambitious periods of its early development.

Only a few years after the Chrysler marque was established, the Series 70 offered buyers a combination of six-cylinder performance, modern engineering and attractive styling at a price below the traditional luxury marques.

This Roadster shows the more sporting side of the range, with compact open bodywork and a strong emphasis on performance.

Chrysler's Rapid Rise

Chrysler entered the American market in the mid-1920s and expanded with remarkable speed.

The company quickly built a reputation for offering advanced engineering in cars that were competitively priced. Features that might have been associated with more expensive automobiles were increasingly offered to mainstream buyers.

The Series 70 was part of that strategy and helped strengthen Chrysler's position in the market.

A Strong Six-Cylinder Engine

Power came from a 218.6 cubic inch, approximately 3.6-litre, L-head six-cylinder engine.

Producing around 68 horsepower, the engine gave the Series 70 respectable performance for a car of its class.

The six-cylinder layout also provided smoother power delivery than many smaller four-cylinder cars of the period.

Power was delivered through a three-speed manual gearbox.

Four-Wheel Hydraulic Brakes

One of the Series 70's most important technical features was its use of four-wheel hydraulic brakes.

At a time when many manufacturers still relied on mechanical rods and linkages, hydraulic brakes offered more even braking effort at all four wheels.

Chrysler had adopted hydraulic braking early and used it as part of the company's reputation for practical engineering innovation.

For motorists of the 1920s, this was an important safety and performance advantage.

The Roadster Body

The Roadster was one of the more sporting body styles offered in the Series 70 range.

Its open two-seat layout gave the car a lighter and more personal character than the larger sedans and touring cars available on the same basic chassis.

A folding hood provided some weather protection, while the compact body made the car visually more athletic.

For buyers who valued style and performance over maximum passenger capacity, the Roadster offered an appealing alternative.

Built for the Changing Roads of the 1920s

By the late 1920s, roads were steadily improving and motorists were travelling faster and further than ever before.

Cars therefore needed stronger engines, more effective brakes and greater reliability.

The Series 70 reflected these changing expectations. Its six-cylinder engine and hydraulic brakes made it better suited to higher-speed touring than many earlier cars.

This combination of performance and modern engineering helped Chrysler attract buyers away from more established manufacturers.

A Model Before the Series 72

The Series 70 belonged to the generation immediately before the better-known Series 72.

The later Series 72 used a larger engine and went on to achieve international attention through competition at the 1928 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Series 70, however, is important in its own right. It helped establish the mechanical and performance reputation on which those later Chrysler models would build.

This Car

Built in 1927, this Chrysler Series 70 Roadster represents the company at a time of rapid growth and innovation.

Its 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes gave it a combination of performance and modernity that helped Chrysler stand out in a crowded American market.

The open Roadster body adds a sporting character to that engineering, making this car a strong example of Chrysler's early approach to combining performance, style and value.