Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptionally straight
and rust free and great daily driving survivor of this very rare
and original Mopar - a southern California 1956 Chrysler Imperial
South Hampton 2 Door Hardtop with its original 354c.i. FirePower
280HP 4BBl V8 engine and factory options including very rarely
ordered factory air conditioning ($567), PowerFlite automatic
transmission, leather amp; broadcloth interior, electric clock, 4
way power seat, power steering, power brakes, power windows, full
floor carpeting, full wheel covers, front amp; rear pull down
armrests and with added options of heater amp; defroster ($78), and
MusicMaster AM radio (101)! One of very few such remaining examples
and a top-of-the-line model for the Chrysler Corporation.This
particular car has always been owned since new by only obviously
very careful and mature owners and it is a car which has seemingly
always been garaged as it is both a rust and accident free true
survivor! The car boasts its original 354/280HP 4 barrel V8 engine
which is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely
magnificent and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently
- must be driven to be fully appreciated - does not miss a beat and
purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange
road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver
that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The
PowerFlite transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the
car is an absolute pleasure to drive! The car has obviously always
been well maintained and all the options work as they should and
the car boasts its original spare wheel and jack in the truck and
very rare factory air conditioning seldom ordered in 1956 cars due
to its exorbitant cost!This particular example has all recent
service history showing that at no time was any expense spared in
this car's preventive maintenance including:Carburetor
rebuildRadiator recoredRear Brake shoes replacedFuel tank
replacedBrake master cylinder replacedNew shocks, tie rod ends,
king pin kitRebuild steering gear boxRewire all window
wiringRechrome bumpersRemanufactured fuel pumpReplace water pumpNew
generatorNew weatherstrippingNew tiresChrysler's best car was spun
off as a separate make and division beginning with the 1955 models
and what a terrific car it was! Chrysler now had 5 divisions with a
line up of cars to match GM in every market level with the Imperial
as it's top-of-the-line model directly aimed at Cadillac and
Lincoln. Styled by Virgil Exner along the lines of his 1954 Parade
Phaeton show cars.A big split eggcrate grille with parking and turn
signal lamps integrated atop the front bumper and the new
streamlined Imperial hood ornament was used up front with
distinctive gunsight tailights adorning the rear and sculpted
flowing bodylines with fully radiused rear wheel openings appearing
in between with the distinctive freestanding chrome trimmed
tailights atop the rear fenders. A wraparound 'Super Scenic'
windshield made it's first appearance and power was supplied by
Chrysler's Hemi V8 to ensure the car's heritage as a true and rare
milestone car and in 1956 a newly enlarged 354 CID V8 engine
powered the very lightly restyled 1956 model.The Hemi V8 received
its first major upgrade this year in the form of more displacement
and increased compression ratio. The new engine was 354 cubic
inches and horsepower was up 30 to 280 @ 4600 rpm. The Powerflite
transmission returned for one more season in the Imperial but now
featured the pushbutton shift control from a pod mounted on the
instrument panel instead of the previous years one year only
'Finger Tip' shift lever located on the instrument panel. The base
Imperial line also gained a 12 volt electrical system this year
that helped support the growing number of standard electrical
features now common in all luxury cars.At the front the cars were
nearly identical to the 1955 with all the big changes were at the
rear of the car. It began with the chassis and wheelbase of the
base Imperial being stretched 3" at the rear. This allowed for
longer rear quarters with slightly redesigned full length bodyside
trim which wrapped around the larger tailfins. Also rear bumpers
were redesigned to better integrate into the body and new rear
quarters.The Imperial model of the mid 50's and early 60's sold
well and remained a strong contender with Cadillac and Lincoln, the
two other luxury marques of its day. The 1963 mild face lift design
was reminiscent of Virgil Exner's earlier designs and especially
the Lincoln Continental which he had styled for Ford. By 1964 the
Imperial was completely 'Continental' in character with its
fenderline traced in brightwork like the big Lincolns and about the
only left over in the design being the familiar hood ornament. Even
the dash panel was completely redesigned.With very few remaining
Imperials of this caliber left, this is an extremely unusual
opportunity to own a great daily driving example of this first year
and rare and very desirable and collectible 1956 Chrysler Imperial
354 V8 2 Door South Hampton Hardtop and fully loaded with factory
options including ultra rare factory air conditioning (at a cost of
$567 in 1956 equivalent to over $5,400 in 2020 according to the CPi
inflation calculator!) in very fine daily driving condition for any
classic American car or Mopar or indeed 'Imperialist' enthusiast to
enjoy or collect today!