posted by William Garrett
Appropriately enough, this popped up today at the Cohort, on the same day we have a vintage review of the 300 G. So lets bestow a bit of love on the second year 300, even if I do prefer the looks of the 1955 without the tacked on fin. The hemi got its first boost in displacement, from 331 to 354 cubic inches, and horsepower went up from 300 (hence the name) to 340 or 355, from a higher compression version available later in the model year. This made it the first production car to exceed one hp per cubic inch.
The new Torqueflite transmission was introduced late in the model year, which was of course a nice improvement over the 2-speed Powerflite.
The cover of the brochure doesn’t exactly pull any punches:
I greatly prefer the 56 rear end. It looks so much better integrated than the fake chrome fin of the 55 tail light housing to me
I agree with Matt A. The ’56 Chrysler design seems more pre-planned than the ’55 model and it is not quite terribly longer, lower, and wider (*). And, if you’re going to have fins (**), these are more subdued than those in the following 3 years.
(*) The ’56 (and the similar ’55) is a bit longer, lower, and wider than those in the early 1950s, but not as long and low and wide as those in the late 1950s.
(**) In the late 1950s; you had to have fins. Just like now you must have giant wheels and tiny tires that are expensive, ride hard, and break in potholes. Why? To look cool – like fins in the fifties.
And I am a former 1957 Chrysler driver who still thinks fondly of it.
Well, mostly.
+2. I think the ’56 Chrysler fins were among the more attractive designs of that genre. Like many styling elements of the ’50s, designers kept pushing the design envelope until they found themselves on the wrong side of ridiculous.
Absolutely! If you come back please see my posts. 61 Imperial fins were actually higher than fabled 59 Cadillac. 61 Imperial LEBARON (preferably in formal black) was ultimate in OTT decadent luxury. Unfortunately never to be seen again. Sad to see what is now considered a luxury vehicle. Have beautiful low mileage Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited and love it! Last generation of traditional American Luxury.
Me three. The tail end of the 56 Chrysler was one of the best they ever did, and it is one of my very favorite cars of the 50s. The 55 is nice, but the tacked-on taillight design was something I thought detracted rather than added.
Had to laugh at the ad depicting the 300 on the race track – complete with white walls and full wheel covers.
Flag marshal in a suit’s a bit unlikely too, even for the well-dressed fifties.
Now I am dying to know what the most powerful car in the rest of the world was in 1956.
Ferrari 410 Superamerica. 5 liter V12, 340 hp initially, upgrades to 360 and 400 hp. About the same hp in 1956 as the 300, but of course it weighed less, and had lower aerodynamic drag. Top speed was between 136 and 160 mph, depending on gearing, etc.
I think highly of most of Chrysler Corp’s 1956 designs. This one is seriously classy.
Indeed – long been a favourite of mine and preferably as a daily choice to the fins and chrome that was also around.
And I suspect an influence on the P5 saloon, especially around the screen, bonnet and headlamps
For all the hubbub about the 1956 Chevrolet and the other GM products the Chrysler 300 seems way ahead of its peers in design and mechanics. I also feel the 1956 Ford is slighted but the Chrysler is the most beautiful in this model year.
There were several later 300s that I find really desirable, but the 56 is one of my favorites.
That red one is stunning.
For sure!!
To me now and as a kid the ’56 MoPar designs were all GOOD! By ’57 they were going overboard, IMO.
That said, the ’55 Chrysler was no fughly design by any means. In ’55 it caught my young eyes more than most others. It was a very exciting time for a young, budding car nut!! 🙂
While I admired the Chrysler design more than most, my choice of a car of this vintage was a base ’56 Chevy 150, 2 door……..for 20 years. It definitely did not have the style or luxury of a ’55/’56 Chrysler, but it was affordable in 1970 when I bought the car, for a student that counted! 🙂 DFO
Also my fav fin
»chef’s kiss«
I cast my vote for the ’56. I like the integrated fins and the dual grille front end. Next year the Chrysler featured a huge central air intake that Lexus would copy in later years. These were never that common, they cost as much as a Cadillac and were only appreciated by the knowledgeable few.
I wonder how effective the letter-series 300 was in enhancing overall Chrysler sales. It sold in numbers way too low to have any kind of direct, significant effect on Chrysler’s profitability.
But the way it was assembled as a complete package using existing parts was a masterful touch. Even if the impact was negligible, it almost certainly didn’t cost Chrysler all that much. Kudos to them for the effort on a car that was quite memorable to the point that some consider it the ‘first’ musclecar.
Success of 55 Chrysler 300 led to 56 DeSoto ADVENTURER which continued to be a somewhat lower priced competitor for 300 until 1959. 56 ADVENTURER was pace car for 56 INDY 500. To me ADVENTURER was better looking at better price. DeSoto was at its peak. Unfortunately DeSoto soon started a sales slide being squeezed by Dodge moving upscale while Chrysler introduced lower prices. In 1960 ADVENTURER was simply top level DeSoto without previous upgrades. Final few 1961 DeSotos even lost the ADVENTURER name, simply one level with no model identity.
The Indy 500 pace car was a Fireflite convertible in Adventurer colors, not an Adventurer. There were no Adventurer convertibles in ’56 and the pace cars back then typically were convertibles.
You, may be correct. Thought 56 pace car was 2door. Know it looked like ADVENTURER and would think it would have had ADVENTURER equipment. 🤔. Thanks for info.
Notice another mentioned 61 styling. To me, 61 Chrysler, DeSoto,and Imperial was the best and final expression of Virgil Exners OTT excess ive fabulous finned fantasies. 🏆👑
Not 1961, but this very cool ’60 Imperial billboard was at Sunset Blvd & Larrabee Street in West Hollywood, CA…
Appreciate the photo. In late 70s and 80s I spent great deal of time in SFO and LA. Know that intersection well. One of my teachers had a black 60 Imperial which she parked on the street. Because of tail fins,she did not park well. One day office informed her that she would have to move the car as it was BLOCKING traffic 🙄. Liked 60s but not quite as well as 61s. Many thanks 😊
Love these. Such a clean design. Must build a ’56 one day.
Here’s the ‘unloved’ ’55 with ‘those’ tallights.
Some neighbors had a “55 (or 6), Imperial” as their “daily driver” up into the early “1970’s”.
White out/red inside , as i recall. Fair amt a rust on it come the “late 60’s”.
I think these were the best expression of the “Frenched” headlights. Just a very elegant automobile.
I think Chrysler had the best looking windshield resolutions from this period, resisting the completely vertical or reverse slanting A pillars of the competition which I never liked.
And beautifully trimmed in stainless moldings as all windshields should be.
As I commented in detail on the CC post for the 300G, I owned a 300B in 1975 to about 1978. It was a nice low-mileage car, black with [of course] the tan leather interior. It was loaded with all options except for wire wheels, and it had super-cold A/C. As it was a very late production vehicle, it had Torqueflite as well.
What got me interested in the 300B was a few years earlier, while living in central Germany, I bought and drove a 1956 Imperial sedan as my everyday car, and I loved it. On coming home, quite by accident I found the 300B for sale, and I regret it’s sale to this day.
Around the same time I also found and bought 2 more rare Chryslers: a 1956 Imperial Southampton 2-door hardtop, black with blue & white leather interior and factory A/C, then I found a 1955 C-70 Crown limousine, ex-White House car.
The 55 limo sounds great, especially when used by White House. One of my all time dream cars is 61 Imperial LEBARON. Had a chance to buy one at a reasonable price years ago, but money was tight. One of several that got away! Hope you still have the limo! 👑.
Rick,
I traded the ’55 limo to another collector for a 1955 Packard Patrician with factory A/C, and a 1971 Ford Ranch Wagon 6 door. The ford originally had a hatch over the cargo area, and was used for Reagan’s 1971 inaugural parade, with a TV camera sticking up out of the hatch. By the time I got the Ford, the hatch had been welded up.
Hope the new owner of that limo is still treasuries it. Always admired last REAL PACKARDs,especially those triton Caribbeans! Hope you still have your Patrician. Always wonder what would have happened if George Mason’s plan to combine Nash, Hudson, Packard, and Studebaker. Also prefer model names like Patrician,Ambassador, Fleetwood, etc., to current use of numbers as model designations. But then,guess we both prefer the older traditional American🇺🇸 vehicles.