Vehicle Description
Offered here is one of the most underrated and rare classic cars
available. In 1955, to compete with the higher trimmed GM Cadillac
and Ford Lincoln, Chrysler released their own luxury
"manufacturer." Up to 1954, these cars were called Chrysler
Imperials but for 1955, they dropped the Chrysler altogether and
the carline was simply called "Imperial." For all intents and
purposes, it is a Chrysler C-300, the first HEMI-powered car that
swept the NASCAR podium, dressed up with more chrome and more
features. The most iconic being the "gunsight" taillights mounted
on top of the rear fenders. Only 3,418 were made - talk about
rare.
We are pleased to present this beautiful 1955 Imperial Newport
2-Door Hardtop for consideration. This car was originally purchased
in 1955 by a high school student in St. Petersburg, Florida. That
student held onto the car for 74 years until he decided to put it
up for sale in 2012, when our client acquired it from an RM
Auction. The first owner had completely restored the interior to
original specifications, which included leather upholstery, but
left the factory correct Rhapsody Blue Metallic paint untouched.
The paint has now been restored to original specifications and this
rust-free car stands tall. Minus some pitting on the exterior
chrome, the car remains in excellent condition. Be sure to check
out all the photos on our website, especially the engine bay and
undercarriage.
The car is powered by the original 331ci/250hp 4bbl HEMI V8 mated
to the factory Chrysler two-speed PowerFlite automatic
transmission. The car fires on command and runs extremely well -
like steering a 4,500lb cloud down the road. Power steering and
power brakes were standard. Power windows, power seats, and factory
AC were an upgraded option. The car also featured the first ever
signal-seeking all-transistor radio. It is a remarkable car that
was Chrysler's top model at the time. Cutting-edge features and
incredible curb appeal. You won't find many this clean at this
price point. Be sure to check out all the photos and video on our
main website: Garage Kept Motors. There's also a cool Imperial Club
website that has a ton of information: imperialclub.org
Call if interested or e-mail with any questions. Thank you for
looking.
VIN Decoder:
C - Make: Chrysler
55 - Model Year: 1955
9528 - Sequential Build Number
Data Tag Decoder:
Model 56 - Imperial
Paint 06 - Rhapsody Blue Metallic
Trim 33 - Blue and White