Behind the Wheel: Chrysler Windsor Coupe celebrates the past, creates new memories

METRO DETROIT — When Don Starlin was in the market to buy a classic automobile, he initially thought about going with a muscle car.

“I wanted to go fast,” the Clawson resident said.

But he changed his mind after he saw an advertisement for a 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe for sale at a local shop.

“With all the chrome, I kind of fell in love with it,” he said.

According to the website metrommp.com, the 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe “captivated onlookers with its sleek, rounded body and fluid lines that hinted at the aerodynamic designs of the future. Its chrome-trimmed grille and proud hood ornament were symbols of post-war luxury. The technological advancements were equally impressive, with features like fluid drive semi-automatic transmission and luxurious ‘chair-height’ seats.”

Starlin, 72, has been enjoying his Chrysler Windsor for several years now. He’s also researched the coupe’s history with a data book he picked up at a car show. The guide was published in 1949 and is very similar to the Kelley Blue Book of today. Starlin’s Windsor comes with a six cylinder engine and padded dashboard that was considered a safety feature at the time it was manufactured.    

“They didn’t make too many of these,” he said of the two-door look. “Everybody wanted four doors back in ’49.”

One thing Starlin doesn’t worry about is getting a speeding ticket because the car doesn’t go very fast. And something still up for debate is the official color of the car. The data book says it could be one of three blue hues: ensign, ocean or mist.

Starlin has made several updates to the car to keep it in tip-top shape. One noticeable piece is the addition of a sun visor on the front window.

“This changed the whole character of the car and makes it gangster,” he said.

He also upgraded the inside.

“When I first got the car, the interior was not too impressive,” Starlin said.

So, Starlin installed carpeting to the interior, had the seats reupholstered and added seat belts. While the Windsor does not have air conditioning, the vintage vehicle stays cool through an air duct that sucks in air and blows it into the cab. The Chrysler Windsor has one more special touch. On the gear shift is a shiny door knob that was from the home in which his mother-in-law once lived.

On a recent sunny Tuesday morning, Starlin’s childhood friend, Tim Walkaus, 72, of Berkley, stopped by. The pair have been friends since attending Norup Junior High School in Oak Park.

“We probably met in a backyard riding a motorcycle,” Walkaus said.

Bonding over cars was always a pastime. When Starlin, for instance, bought his Windsor Coupe, he drove it home on a trailer with Walkaus following him. That’s when Walkaus spotted the initials “DS” on the license plate from 1949, which are Starlin’s initials.

“That was kind of cool,” Walkaus said. “Destiny, I guess.”

“You’re part of this thing,” Starlin told his buddy. “You’ve helped me work on it so many times.”

When in high school, Starlin drove around in a 1965 Plymouth Belvedere while Walkaus had a 1969 Dodge Dart.

“We always had Plymouths. My dad was a Chrysler draftsman in Highland Park,” Starlin said. “Back then, it didn’t cost much to buy a used car. I picked up many a car for $50.”

Cruising Woodward Avenue was the game of sport. The Totem Pole drive-in restaurant and Big Boy were regular hangouts.

“You’d have $3 in your pocket and you’d get three quarters of a tank of gas,” Starlin said. “That was Friday night, Saturday night, if not more.”

Their days and nights of riding up and down Woodward eventually came to an end, though, when they were both called to serve their country during the Vietnam War.

“The service was the demise of both of our muscle cars,” Walkaus said, he in the Army and Starlin in the Navy.

Decades later, the pair are enjoying classic car shows and cruising again. Walkaus has a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire, and Starlin is a regular at many local car shows, including the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in Shelby Township, the annual Berkley CruiseFest, and the Thursday night cruise nights at the Big Boy located at 200 W. Maple Road in Troy.

Paying homage to the 1960 song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini,” Starlin sometimes decorates the front engine with a yellow-and-white polka dot bikini top. The Chrysler Windsor is always a conversation piece guaranteed to stir up memories.

“It’s surprising how many people have cars tucked away in their garages. Everybody’s got a story,” Starlin said. “A lot of people like to take photos of the dashboard. When I go to a car show, if I see a little kid, I let them get in it.”

Starlin’s Windsor has won 15 trophies, including first place in the 2011 Bud Light Mount Clemens Car Show and the sponsor’s choice in the Clawson car show in 2017. He has given some of the awards to his grandchildren.