1956 Chrysler Cars Fact Sheet

1956 Chrysler Facts, Figures, and Specifications

1956 Chrysler Facts Specifications Information Data

The Chrysler 300B led the Chrysler model line with a 354 CID Hemi – now with 340 horsepower! An optional “race only” version produced 355 HP,  the first US car with one horsepower per cubic inch!

 

 

1956 Chryslers – Refined and Aggressive

The “100 Million Dollar Look” was carried forward once again with a tasteful facelift and notably sweptback tail fins! The Chrysler 300 Continued with more horsepower – now as the Chrysler 300 B, setting the precedent for the “letter Series” 300s.

General Year Information – 1956 Chrysler

The “100 Million Dollar Look” was carried forward once again with a tasteful facelift centered around grille changes and integrating the tail lamps into the body. The two-piece grille of 1955 was redesigned into a one-piece unit with a look similar to the 1955 Flite Sweep I show car. Three horizontal grille bars floated within a chrome surround. The new tail lamps formed a natural extension of the new uplifted outer rear bumper ends.

The “DeLuxe” nomenclature was dropped, and now there was only the “Windsor” and “New Yorker” nameplates in both lines. Chryslers were all powered by V-8s and the real differences in the lines were interior fitment/appointments and level of V-8 power (very important in the 50s horsepower races.

Big news this year was the size increase for the Hemi engine, now at 354 CID. This increased horsepower, in standard form, by more than 10 percent to 280. The Windsor continued on with the Poly V8 – but its displacement moved up to the old Hemi’s 331 CID. The Poly head’s horsepower rose to 225 – and with the 4-barrel Power Package – up to 250 HP.

This would be the last year for front coil springs combined with rear leaf springs.

1956 Chrysler Factoids

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The 354 CID V-8 was released in 1956. It had a bore of 3.9375″ and stroke of 3.625″. The High Performance 300B engine was rated at 340 HP, while the New Yorker 354 engine sat at 280 HP. See it in the Chrysler 300B Brochure HERE.

In 1956, Chrysler switched to push button transmission controls for its Powerflite transmission. This was the only PowerFlite shift mechanism until it was retired after 1961. Catch it in the 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Brochure HERE.

The Highway Hi-Fi system first appeared this year, using a vinyl record player.  Records for the system were manufactured exclusively by Columbia Special Products, and could hold about 45 minutes of music or one hour of speech per side. It Used a lower rotation speed of 16+2⁄3 RPM. See it in the Chrysler Windsor Brochure HERE

 

1956 Chrysler Facts – Models Offered

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WINDSOR SERIES C71: (Polyspherical Head 8-Cylinder): The Windsor line added a true four-door hardtop known as the “Newport 4-door”. Standard features included Oriflow shock absorbers, new safety door latches, independent parking brake, safety rim wheels and center plane brakes.

NEW YORKER SERIES C72 (Hemi 8-Cylinder):  The tastefully restyled New Yorker used a finer detailed grille and different bumpers to set it apart from the Windsor, Additional moldings created unique two-tone paint combinations and even a tri-tone combination in the St. Regis series. (See our example of the differences in the Images Section).

The New Yorker also introduced a 4-door hardtop in the Newport line. A distinctive New Yorker styling touch was the appearance of eight chromed teeth on the rear fender, above the horizontal molding. This feature was to become a New Yorker hallmark for many years.

CHRYSLER 300B SERIES C72-300 (Hemi 8-Cylinder): Technically a sub-series of the New Yorker, the 300B’s styling continued to reflect the flavor that the letter car introduced in 1955. Changes were essentially limited to the fins and tail-lamps, in line with those appearing on other 1956 Chryslers. As in the Windsor and New Yorker, the push button control for the Powerflite/Torqueflite automatic transmission was positioned to the left side of the dash.

The 300B was available with a choice of either automatic or standard shift transmissions. Two high-performance Hemi engines were available, either standard 340 or optional 355 HP. Leather upholstery was standard. The 300B was America’s fastest and highest powered car in 1956.

NOTE: The 300B was only available in three colors:

  • Cloud White
  • Regimental Red
  • Raven Black

 

1956 Chrysler Facts – Engines

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Windsor Series Standard Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Polyspherical combustion chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81″ x 3.63″. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 225 @ 4400 R.P.M. Torque: 310 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: Carter 2-barrel BBD 2312S. Powerflite: Carter 2-barrel BBD 2313S.

Windsor Series Power Pack Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Polyspherical combustion chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81″ x 3.63″. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 250 @ 4600 R.P.M. Torque: 340 foot-pounds at 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 4-barrel WCFB 2367S or 2367SA. Includes dual exhaust.

New Yorker Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 354 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.94″ x 3.63″. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 280 @ 4600 R.P.M. Torque: 380 foot-pounds at 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 4-barrel WCFB 2314S or 2314SA.

NOTE: While the camshaft duration of the Hemi 354 New Yorker V-8 appears the same as the Windsor Poly head, the lobe separation was different: 15° BTC open, 57° ABC on the intake and 49° BBC and 15° ATC on the exhaust.

 

Chrysler 300B Series Standard Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 354 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.94″ x 3.63″. Compression ratio: 9.0:1. Horsepower: 340 @ 5200 R.P.M. Torque: 385 foot-pounds at 3200 RPM. Five main bearings. Mechanical valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 280°, Exhaust 270°, Overlap 60°, Lift (Intake) 0.444″ (Exhaust) 0.435″. Carburetors: 2 Carter 4-barrels WCFB (front) 2444S (rear) 2445S.

Chrysler 300B Series Optional Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 354 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.94″ x 3.63″. Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Horsepower: 355 @ 5200 R.P.M. Torque: 405 foot-pounds at 3200 RPM. Five main bearings. Mechanical valve lifters. Camshaft Duration: Intake 280°, Exhaust 270°, Overlap 60°, Lift (Intake) 0.444″ (Exhaust) 0.435″. Carburetors: 2 Carter 4-barrels WCFB (front) 2444S, 9rear) 2445S.

NOTE: Current information indicates that  the major differences in the 355 HP unit was only the increase in compression ratio.

 

1956 Chrysler Facts – Chassis Features

    • Wheelbase: All models – 126.0″.
    • Front tread: 60.4″
    • Rear tread: 59.6″
    • Overall length: Windsor 2 and 4-door 220.5″, Windsor Town & Country 220.4″, New Yorker 2 and 4-door sedans and hardtops and 300B 221.0″; New Yorker Town & Country 221.2″.
    • Overall width: Windsor 78.8″, New Yorker 81.0″, 300B 78.8″
    • Overall height: Windsor 60.6″, New Yorker 60.9″, 300B 59.4″
    • Tires: 7.60 x 15, New Yorker and 300 – 8.00 x 15, New Yorker, 300B and Town & Country with wire wheels – 8.20 x 15. 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

1956 Chrysler Facts – Power Train Options

    • Windsor. Three-speed manual transmission standard with Powerflite automatic transmission optional.
    • New Yorker. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard. Later in the model year: Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission.
    • Chrysler 300B. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard, three-speed manual transmission special order. Later in the model year: Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission optional. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard, three-speed manual transmission special order.

1956 Chrysler Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes

NOTE: The 300B was only available in Cloud White, Regimental Red and Raven Black.

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

1956 Chrysler

  Stardust Blue
  Mediterranean Blue
  Glacier Blue
  Turquoise
  Crown Blue
  16 Mint Green
  17 Surf Green
  18 Hunter Green
  19 Crown Green
  25 Satin Gray
  26 West Point Gray
  30 Sand Dune Beige
  31 Rosewood Tan
  35 Desert Rose
  36 Geranium Red
  37 Regimental Red
  38 Raven Black
  38 Crown Maroon
  41 Cloud White
  42 Nugget Gold
  261 Crocus Yellow
  262 Blue Jade
  263 Copper Glow

1956 Chrysler Facts – Significant Options

    • Air Temp air-conditioning.
    • Carpets for Sedan and Nassau (Windsor).
    • Custom Steering Wheel (Windsor)
    • Custom Wheel Covers (Windsor).
    • Electro-Touch Tuner Radio with foot control standard (with or without rear speaker).
    • Electric window lifts.
    • Highway Hi-Fi record player.
    • Hot Water Heater.
    • Instant Gas Heater.
    • Music Master Radio (with or without rear speaker).
    • Power Brakes.
    • Power Front Seat.
    • Power Package on Windsor.
    • Power Radio Antenna.
    • Power Steering.
    • Rear Center Arm Rest for Sedan and Four Door Hardtop (Windsor).
    • Removable Kiddie Seat for Town Country Wagon.
    • Solex Safety Glass.
    • Steering Wheel Mounted Clock.
    • Undercoating.
    • Whitewall Tires.
    • Wire Wheels.

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