1955 Imperial Newport Coupe Rare Nicely Restored Car in Running Condition

1955 Chrysler Imperial Additional Info:

Imperial was the Chrysler Corporation's luxury automobile brand from 1955 to 1975, and again from 1981 to 1983.

The Imperial name had been used since 1926, as a Chrysler luxury model, the Chrysler Imperial. However, in 1955, the company spun off Imperial into its own make and division to better compete with its North American rivals, Lincoln and Cadillac.123 Imperial would see new or modified body styles introduced every two to three years, all with V8 engines and automatic transmissions, as well as technologies that would filter down to Chrysler Corporation's other models.
Originally, the Chrysler Imperial was introduced in 1926 as Chrysler's flagship vehicle for much of its history. It was based on extended-length platforms of the company's full-size cars and competed with the likes of rival Cadillac, Continental, Lincoln, Duesenberg, Pierce Arrow, Cord, and Packard.

Production started due to Walter P. Chrysler wanting a share of the luxury car market in the United States, and also expand the company's lineup since their most expensive car by that time only had a displacement of a six-cylinder engine to offer. The new model called the Imperial shared the same body as the cheaper Chrysler Six but had a slightly larger engine, being a 288.6 cu in (4.7 L). Subsequent generations were based on the Chrysler Royal, Airflow, Saratoga, and New Yorker.

In 1954 Chrysler dropped their brand name from the car and renamed it just the Imperial in an effort to better compete with other luxury manufacturers. Lincoln would pull a similar move 2 years later when they made the Continental Division a standalone brand.

For the 1955 model year, the Imperial was launched and registered as a separate marque, apart from the Chrysler brand. It was a product of the new Imperial Division of Chrysler Corporation, meaning that the Imperial would be a make and division unto itself, and not bear the Chrysler name. Chrysler Corporation sent notices to all state licensing agencies in the then-48 states, informing them, that the Imperial, beginning in 1955, would no longer be registered as a Chrysler, but as a separate make.
Chrysler introduced the "100 Million Look" Styling by Virgil Exner, who would define Imperial's look (and the look of cars from the other four Chrysler divisions) from 1955 to 1963.Even as early as in 1954, Chrysler Corporation ads at the time began to visibly and consciously separate The Imperial from the Chrysler Division car line in the eyes of the public, to prepare for the big change coming in 1955. Once the "Imperial" brand was introduced, Cadillac no longer used the "Imperial" name for its top-level limousines starting in 1955.

The 1955 models are said to be inspired by Exner's own 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton show cars (which were themselves later updated to match the 1955-56 Imperials). The platform and bodyshell were shared with that year's big Chryslers, but the Imperial had a wheelbase that was 4.0 inches longer, providing it with more rear-seat legroom, had a wide-spaced split egg-crate grille, the same as that used on the Chrysler 300 "executive hot rod", and had free-standing "gunsight" taillights mounted above the rear quarters, which were similar to those on the Exner's 1951 Chrysler K-310 concept car. Gunsight taillights were also known as "sparrow-strainer" taillights, named after the device used to keep birds out of jet engines. Such taillights were separated from the fender and surrounded by a ring and became an Imperial fixture through 1962, although they would only be free-standing in 1955-56 and again in 1961-62. Two "C-69" models were available, including the two-door Newport hardtop coupe (3,418 built) and pillared four-door sedan (7,840 built), along with an additional "C-70" Crown limousine model (172 built). The Newport nameplate was only used for 1955 and renamed the Southampton beginning in 1956. The "FirePower" V8 engine was Chrysler's first-generation Hemi with a displacement of 331 cu in and developing 250 HP. Power brakes and power steering were standard, along with Chrysler's "PowerFlite" automatic transmission. One major option on the 1955 and 1956 Imperials was air conditioning, at a cost of $535 ($5,844 in 2022 dollars Production totaled 11,430, more than twice the 1954 figure, positioning the Imperial as much more exclusive in comparison to more widely available and affordable Lincoln and Cadillac. Manufacturers list price for the Newport hardtop was $4,720 ($51,562 in 2022 dollars while the Imperial Crown limousine was $7,737 ($84,521 in 2022 dollars).

This rare example was part of a great collection of Chrysler and other Iconic coupes and convertibles. The collector died a few years ago and his children have now decided to part with some of the cars. Some recommissioning has ben performed to ready the cars for sale, but work still needs to be accomplished to make them truly roadworthy. In the case of this car it presents very well overall cosmetically, starts and runs very well, shifts well, and stops OK. I would recommend a complete brake overhaul before embarking on putting it on the road.

Offered as is this car represents a great opportunity to get into a very rare and desirable Legendary 50's Hemi powered car affordably.