Vehicle Description
1955 Chrysler "C300" 2-dr hardtop
Designer: Virgil Exner
Estimate: $50,000 - $85,000
Chassis Number: 3N551301
Decoded: 3=Chrysler C68-300 Series; N=Detroit assembly plant;
1301=301st �C300 scheduled for production
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Engine: 331 cid "Hemi" V8
2 X 4-barrel Carburetors/300 bhp
2-Speed Power-Flite Automatic Transmission
Power Assisted Four Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
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Odometer: 53,500 miles.
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First Year of Legendary 300's
Outstanding Design and Workmanship
Greatest Performance of the Era
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The Model -Two major achievements took place for Chrysler with the
introduction of the 1955 models. From the outside, Virgil Exner's
"Forward Look" was first realized with an across-the-board
restyling to all lines. For the first time ever, performance was
unbeatable with the new C300 hardtop. Based on the top-line New
Yorker the C300 featured dual carburetors and a specially designed
"batwing" styled air-cleaner. A bold "split-grille" design graced
the front end of all Chrysler's that year, but the "300" badge
up-front told the casual observer this was no luxury land-yacht, it
meant performance in a big way. While the other cars in Chrysler's
lineup represented the "100 million-dollar look", this beauty
featured all the amenities you could want leather seats, plenty of
room and comfort, plus 0-60 MPH times at about 10 seconds, pretty
heady stuff in 1955. With a price tag of just over $4,100
delivered, Chrysler found 1,725 buyers for this limited production
special hardtop.�
The Car - �For 1955, Chrysler 300 customers had a limited selection
of colors to choose from, but red, officially Navajo Orange, was an
often-selected choice, which is the color of the beautiful example
we are proud to offer. With its powerful engine having been
recently tuned up, that mighty Hemi comes to life easily and
produces that throaty exhaust sound that beckons the driver to hit
the open road. Sitting on its four gleaming chrome wire wheels,
this car appears to be pure-stock in every way. Fitted with factory
AM radio, heater-defroster and a clock, one of the most prominent
features is the "stick-through-the-dash" control lever for the
automatic transmission. A simple push of the door lever and you are
inside this well-appointed performance machine. The doors close
tight, and along with the hood and deck-lid, panels line up at or
above factory specs. This car presents a pleasant driving
experience giving the driver the feel of the road and command of
the machine. The 1955 C300 was the start of the performance push in
America, the first of the real horsepower based luxury cruisers.