Imperial Home Page -> Imperials by Year -> 1955 -> Specifications
HISTORICAL NOTES:
Imperial, like all Chrysler Corporation cars, was completely restyled for 1955. The Custom Imperial Town Limousine was dropped for 1955. Model year introductions were held on November 17, 1954. Genuine leather interior trims were offered in the front seat of Crown Imperial Limousines and eight-passenger sedans and in combinations for the Imperial Southampton four-door.
The numbering system and code locations were changed as follows: C551,001 - C5,512,464.
ENGINE -
V-8 331 Cast iron block
Overhead valves
Displacement : 331.1 cubic inches
Bore and Stroke : 3.81 x 3.62 inches
Compression Ratio : 8.50:1
Brake Horsepower : 250 @ 4600 rpm
Main bearings : Five
Hydraulic Valve Lifters
Carburetor - Carter WCFB-2126S
CHASSIS -
Wheelbase : (Imperial) 130 inches
(Crown) 149.5 inches
Tires : (Imperial) 8.2 x 15
(Crown) 8.9 x 15
TRANSMISSION -
Powerflite automatic transmission was standard.
POWER STEERING
POWER BRAKES
FOUR-WAY POWER SEATS IN 8-PASSENGER MODELS
OPTIONS:
Air conditioning
Power windows
Chrome Wire Wheels "Kelsey Hayes"
White sidewall tires
Radio
Heater (Instant Heat Condition-Aire is optional on Crown Imperials.
Solex Glass
Fog lights
Spot lamps
Rear seat radio speaker
Windshield washer
Outside rear view mirror
Two-tone paint
Power seats
Imperial becomes its own make, giving Chrysler Corporation five auto divisions.
Chrysler introduces the legendary 300.
Chrysler reveals the "Forward Look" styling by Virgil Exner and the "Hundred Million Dollar Look" ad slogan reveals the cost of the new styling program.
Information on this page was obtained from The Standard Catalog of Chrysler 1924-1990 by John Lee and Chrysler Chronicles by James Flammang.
