West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptionally straight and rust free and great daily driving survivor of this very rare and original Mopar - a southern California 1955 Chrysler Imperial 4 Door Sedan with its original 331c.i. FirePower 250HP 4BBl V8 engine and factory options including PowerFlite automatic transmission, electric clock, 4 way power seat, power steering, power brakes, power windows and with added options of heater & defroster, wire wheels with white sidewall tires and MusicMaster AM radio! One of very few such remaining examples and a top-of-the-line model for the Chrysler Corporation.
This particular car will be sold with a copy of its rare original build sheet and it was sold new at 'Crown Motor Sales' of Palo Alto, CA and has been owned since new by only obviously very careful and mature owners and it is a car which has seemingly always been garaged as it is both a rust and accident free true survivor! The car boasts its original 'Crown Imperial Blue' (Code 77) color paint with a beautiful contrasting Back & Gray cloth trim. The 331/250HP 4 barrel V8 engine is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely magnificent and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be believed - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The PowerFlite transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car is an absolute pleasure to drive! The car has obviously always been well maintained and all the options work as they should and the car boasts its original spare wheel and jack in the truck!
Chrysler's best car was spun off as a seperate make and division beginning with the 1955 models and what a terrific car it was! Chrysler now had 5 divisions with a line up of cars to match GM in every market level with the Imperial as it's top-of-the-line model directly aimed at Cadillac and Lincoln. Styled by Virgil Exner along the lines of his 1954 Parade Phaeton show cars.
A big split eggcrate grille with parking and turn signal lamps integrated atop the front bumper and the new streamlined Imperial hood ornament was used up front with distinctive gunsight tailights adorning the rear and sculpted flowing bodylines with fully radiused rear wheel openings appearing in between with the distinctive freestanding chrome trimmed tailights atop the rear fenders. The placement of the transmission selector, dubbed the 'Finger tip' PowerFlite range selector, was located on the instrument panel rather than in the standard steering column position. This would prove to be a one year only design and is now another of the car's very unique and striking features. A wraparound 'Super Scenic' winshield made it's first appearance and power was supplied by Chrysler's Hemi V8 to ensure the car's heritage as a true and rare milestone car.
The Imperial model of the mid 50's and early 60's sold well and remained a strong contender with Cadillac and Lincoln, the two other luxury marques of its day. The 1963 mild face lift design was reminiscent of Virgil Exner's earlier designs and especially the Lincoln Continental which he had styled for Ford. By 1964 the Imperial was completely 'Continental' in character with its fenderline traced in brightwork like the big Lincolns and about the only left over in the design being the familiar hood ornament. Even the dash panel was completely redesigned.
With very few remaining Imperials of this caliber left, this is an extremely unusual opportunity to own a great daily driving example of this first year and rare and very desirable and collectible 1955 Chrysler Imperial 4 Door Sedan in very fine daily driving condition for any classic American car or Mopar or indeed 'Imperialist' enthusiast to enjoy or collect today!
