The Chrysler Wayfarer pickup is so rare it’s a surprise to a lot of people that it actually exists
- This Chrysler Wayfarer is so rare you may not have even heard of it
- It’s one of only 1,205 ever made
- The vehicle was only sold in Australia – but this one ended up in the US
Published on Mar 09, 2025 at 10:53 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Mar 04, 2025 at 4:30 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This 1959 Chrysler Wayfarer pickup truck is so rare that there’s a good chance you didn’t even know it existed – and it could be the only example in the US.
The Wayfarer was built by Chrysler Australia from 1958 to 1961.
The vintage vehicle is the utility vehicle – or ute – version of the slightly more well-known but still pretty rare and unusual Chrysler Royal.
Although part of the Chrysler Royal line-up, the Wayfarer was not marketed as such and was sold simply as the Chrysler Wayfarer.
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Only 1,205 Chrysler Wayfarer pickups were ever produced
There are few things more exciting than stumbling across a long-forgotten or super-rare hidden gem – such as this 94-year-old REO Flying Cloud that was stashed in a barn in the US, or this 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 r-code that is one of only 57 ever made.
Austin, from the Obsolete Automotive YouTube channel, is a huge fan of these vehicles and is the proud owner of the exceptionally rare Australian-built 1959 Chrysler Wayfarer.
The Chrysler Royal was a four-door sedan, with a line-up that also included the Plainsman station wagon, and the Wayfarer coupe utility vehicle.
Across its four years of production, Chrysler Australia built just 1,205 Wayfarers – meaning the one Austin owns is likely one of just a few hundred built that year.
While that alone makes it a very rare find, it becomes even more unusual when you consider that the pickup wasn’t sold in the US.
This 1959 example could be the only one in the whole of the US
The Chrysler Wayfarer was made for the Australian market, so seeing one in a garage in the US becomes even more impressive.
In fact, the Wayfarer belonging to Austin is quite likely the only one in the whole of the country. And it doesn’t get much more rare than that.
The Chrysler Royal was a four-door sedan, with a line-up that also included the Plainsman station wagon, and the Wayfarer coupe utility vehicle.
In a clip shared to his channel, Austin explained that he bought the classic vehicle from its previous owner in Wyoming.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t have much information on when or why it was shipped to the US from Australia, but a name scratched onto the back of the vehicle’s hubcap revealed it had once been in Wudinna, in South Australia.
Despite its age, the pickup has clearly been well-cared for by its previous owners.
It still runs and drives, although it will need some restoration to get it back up to road-worthy status.
Fortunately, Austin is more than happy to take on the project.
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
