1955 Chrysler Cars Fact Sheet

1955 Chrysler Facts, Figures, and Specifications

1955 Chrysler Facts Specifications Information Data

The 1955 Chrysler 300 – the most powerful automobile of the year at 300 horsepower! The 300 had a
much-modified 331 CID Hemi-head V-8 with dual 4-barrel carburetors, high lift mechanical camshaft,
heavy duty suspension, and a most sumptuous interior.

1955 – Chrysler is Back!

The “100 Million Dollar Look” a great redesign by Virgil Exner, brought the buying public an all new Chrysler from stem to stern. And to capitalize on the power of the Hemi V-8, the Chrysler 300 was added to the line. When the dust settled, Chrysler took second place in the high-priced sales field in 1955 – Chrysler was back!

General Year Information – 1955 Chrysler

The “100 Million Dollar Look”, redesign by the new head of styling, Virgil Exner, gave the buying public an all new looking car from stem to stern. The six-cylinder engine was gone from any Chrysler. There were now only two lines: Windsor DeLuxe now with V-8 power and New Yorker DeLuxe – and later the Chrysler 300.

Also, the models were paired down to 2 distinct 2-door hardtops in both lines, a 4-door sedan, Convertible, and Wagon. The lesser-trim 2-door Hardtop was intended to replace the now defunct 2-door Club Coupe. The long wheelbase models were gone, with this model car sent to the Imperial line.

Windshields were now of the wraparound style as were the rear windows on the hardtop and sedan, Tail lamps were integrated into a chrome housing which began at the top of the rear fender and dropped toward the bumper. Backup lamps were affixed to the panel beneath the deck lid. A new, highly touted feature was the dash-mounted shift lever for the Powerflite automatic transmission.

In February of 1955 the Chrysler 300 debuted, while truly a separate line, it carried a New Yorker model number C-68-300.

The Chrysler and Imperial lines for 1955 were introduced November 17, 1954. Chrysler Town and Country station wagons were added to the line on January 5, 1955. The Chrysler 300 was released on February 10, 1955. Chrysler took second place in the high-priced sales field this model year. Chrysler production for 1955 totaled 152,777 – Chrysler was back!

1955 Chrysler Factoids

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Windsor now Used a Polyspherical Head V-8. For the Windsor, the new power plant was a 301 CID V-8, using a de-bored Hemi block with new Polyspherical “Semi-Hemi” cylinder heads. (See the image in the gallery for how a Polyspherical head differs.)  See the Windsor Brochure HERE.

 


In 1955 Chrysler moved the PowerFlite transmission shift lever to the dashboard in a vertical slot with “R” at the top and “L” at the bottom.Moving “R” away from “L” precluded inadvertently shifting into Reverse when selecting Low gear.

The 300 was the most powerful automobile of the year. It used a much modified 331 CID Hemi V-8, Specs: Horsepower: 300 @ 5200 RPM. Torque: 345 ft. lbs. @ 3200 RPM. Mechanical valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 280°, Exhaust 270°, Overlap 60°, Lift (Intake) 0.444″ (Exhaust) 0.435″. Carburetors: Two Carter WCFB Carbs, See the C-300 brochure HERE.

1955 Chrysler Facts – Models Offered

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WINDSOR DELUXE SERIES 67: Windsor now Used a Polyspherical Head V-8. For the Windsor, the new power plant was a 301 CID V-8, using a de-bored Hemi block and new “Polyspherical” semi-hemi cylinder heads. (See the attached image for a description of how a Polyspherical head differs from a Hemispherical head.)

The other big news was that there were now a pair of two-door hardtops in the line. The low-trim version essentially replaced the Club Coupe and was named the “Nassau”. The high-trim version continued as the “Newport”.

Later in the model year another Newport was offered, with slightly modified trim borrowed from the 1955 New Yorker St. Regis model. Depending upon the color ordered, these late versions were named “Green Falcon” or “Blue Heron” and came in 2 and 4-door versions. The 4-door sedans used the same trim package as the 2-door Newport.

Windsor DeLuxe grilles were identical with the upgraded New Yorker, except the Windsor used round parking lamps while the New Yorker had parking lamps that were a part of the upper bumper guard. Lower grille areas behind the bumper were also different on the Windsor DeLuxe. See the images for reference.

NEW YORKER DELUXE SERIES C68:  The top-of-the-line New Yorker DeLuxe continued to use the 331 CID Hemi engine with horsepower increased to 250 as a result of the increased compression ratio – now at 8.5:1. The two-door hardtop came in two flavors, as a standard Newport or an upgraded interior trim version called the “St. Regis” – noted for its unique two-tone paint. Later, a summer sales special used the St. Regis curved upper body side trim on the standard New Yorker DeLuxe Newport, providing a rather unusual two-toning effect.

Minor lower grille and bumper alterations in the front and a different rear bumper treatment set the New Yorker apart from its Windsor sister. New Yorker DeLuxe nameplates were placed at the rear of the body side color sweep on standard cars. On the St. Regis it was toward the rear, below the horizontal molding.

CHRYSLER 300 – SERIES C68-300:  The 300 was the most powerful automobile of the year. It used a much modified 331 CID hemi-engine developing 300 horsepower. It was equipped with two four-barrel carburetors, a full race camshaft and heavy-duty suspension. Externally it was a New Yorker Hardtop, with the grille from the Imperial, and Windsor parking lights, to give it a powerful look. Inside, it had a full leather interior. when you saw an 300, you marked this car as something special. Chrysler 300s were only available in one color: Paint Code 30 Platinum.

The 300 packed performance and styling combined in one package of such magnitude, that it created a true “muscle car”, perhaps the first true model in that vein. That aura would last for more than a decade and go through letters B through L – all with great performance from such a large car. The series V-8s would grow in power and displacement from the original 300 CID to 440 with horsepower to match.

Initially, the 300 was only equipped with Powerflite automatic transmission, but later in the year the Windsor’s 3-speed manual could be special ordered. The 300 would go on to dominate NASCAR and USAC stock car racing in 1955.

1955 Chrysler Facts – Engines

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Windsor DeLuxe Series Engine. V-8, overhead valve, Polyspherical combustion chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 300.5 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.63″ x 3.63″. Compression ratio: 8.0:1. Horsepower: 188 @ 4400 R.P.M. Torque: 275 foot-pounds at 2400 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters.  Camshaft Duration: Intake 252°, Exhaust 244°, Overlap 30°, Lift (Intake) 0.381″ (Exhaust) 0.357″. Carburetor: Standard Shift: Ball and Ball BBD 2180S.

New Yorker Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Double rockers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81″ x 3.63″. Compression Ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 250 @ 4600 RPM. Torque: 340 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 252°, Exhaust 244°, Overlap 30°, Lift (Intake) 0.381″ (Exhaust) 0.357″. Carburetor: Carter WCFB 2126S.

Chrysler 300 Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Double rockers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81″ x 3.63″. Compression Ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 300 @ 5200 RPM. Torque: 345 ft. lbs. @ 3200 RPM. Five main bearings. Mechanical valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 280°, Exhaust 270°, Overlap 60°, Lift (Intake) 0.444″ (Exhaust) 0.435″. Carburetors: Two Carter WCFB 2118S (front) 2317S (rear).

1955 Chrysler Facts – Chassis Features

    • Wheelbase: Windsor and New Yorker models – 126.0″.
    • Overall length: All Windsor models 218.6″, All New Yorker and Chrysler 300 models 218.8″.
    • Tires: Windsor – 7.60 x 15, New Yorker and 300 – 8.00 x 15, New Yorker, 300 and Town & Country with wire wheels – 8.20 x 15.

1955 Chrysler Facts – Power Train Options

    • Windsor DeLuxe. Three-speed manual transmission standard with Powerflite automatic transmission optional.
    • New Yorker Deluxe. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard.
    • Chrysler 300. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard, three-speed manual transmission special order.

1955 Chrysler Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes

Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:

1955 Chrysler

  Desert Sand
  1 Black
  5 Wisteria Blue
  6 Rhapsody Blue
  7 Crown Imperial Blue
  11 Porcelain Green
  12 Shantung Green
  13 Jade Green
  14 Crown Imperial Green
  16 Skyline Gray
  17 Embassy Gray
  20 Canyon Tan
  25 Tango Red
  26 Crown Imperial Maroon
  27 Navajo Orange
  30 Platinum
  31 Nugget Gold

1955 Chrysler Facts – Significant Options

    • Air Temp air-conditioning. (Except Convertible, Town & Country, and 300).
    • Back up lights. (Not Available on 300).
    • Electric Window Lifts.
    • Fog lights. (Not Available on 300).
    • Heater.
    • Heavy Duty Generator
    • Leather trim (New Yorker, standard on 300).
    • Map light (standard in Newport and Convertible).
    • Outside rear view mirror. (Not Available on 300).
    • Power brakes. (Standard on Town & Country).
    • Power seat.
    • Power steering.
    • Power windows.
    • Powerflite automatic Transmission (on Windsor, standard on New Yorker & 300).
    • Radio.
    • Rear seat radio speaker.
    • Solex tinted glass.
    • Spot lamps. (Not Available on 300).
    • Two-tone paint. (Not Available on 300).
    • White sidewall tires.
    • Windshield washers.
    • Wire spoke wheel rims.
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