“Long before I had the space or the wherewithal to collect the real thing, I enjoyed feeding my automotive fantasies through the pages of the Langworth book Chrysler and Imperial: The Postwar Years,” recalls Roger Irland. “While I enjoyed browsing cover to cover, I was always captivated by the factory photos of the 1960 Chryslers. I mean, who wouldn't love boomerang taillights on a fin that soars off toward the horizon?” He’s since taken his passion for vintage vehicles to the ranks of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). In fact, Roger has held several key committee assignments as an AACA National Director. As the outgoing vice president of legislation, he co-hosted a seminar entitled "Keeping Tabs on Hobby-Related Legislation" in February.

Roger admits that while he’d most love to find a Chrysler New Yorker convertible, he’s also a fan of station wagons. In fact, station wagons are the most numerous of all body styles in his current fleet. “What a wagon the Town and Country is!” he says. “The New Yorker was the most expensive wagon on the market for 1960. It’s also the first year for unit body construction as well as the hardtop wagon body style at Chrysler. It's rare as well—only 623 of the three-seat wagons were built. Powered by a 350 horsepower 413 cid engine backed by the push-button operated Torqueflite, it has plenty of smooth get up and go.” According to the car’s sales brochure, “Count on a cargo of pleasure in these New Yorker wagons…The car of your life for the time of your life!”

Roger intended to find out if Chrysler’s marketing pitch was true. Located in Moberly, Missouri, his friend found this car in a Kansas City paper while there on business. “I followed up on the ad and decided to buy it after looking over the pictures the owner sent. I asked to take it for a drive after seeing that it looked as good as it did in the pictures. I drove the car home to Phoenix, Arizona—the first stop was my favorite muffler shop to get the exhaust restored to a proper, refined note. The long wheelbase and Torsion-Aire suspension make for a very comfortable and sure-footed ride on a cross country trip. The paperwork I got with the car indicated the original owner was a church in Oregon.”

Many thanks for all your dedication to our hobby, Roger! May you continue having “the time of your life” with your beautiful Mopar.