Running Barn Find: 1955 Imperial By Chrysler
Chrysler began selling the luxurious Imperial in 1928. But, in 1955, they attempted to better market themselves against Cadillac and Lincoln by spinning off the Imperial as a separate make. They were still built alongside the Chrysler New Yorker but carried no Chrysler badging. The ploy must have been successful enough because the Imperial kept its separate identity into the 1970s. The seller’s ’55 hardtop coupe is one of 3,418 built that year and this one is said to be a running barn find, awaiting someone to restore it!
Though Chrysler cars were far from pedestrian, the company gurus thought the brand association with the Imperial was holding the latter car back. Yet they didn’t go all the way with the idea, continuing to sell the automobiles in Chrysler dealerships rather than setting up a separate network. But they did hang up separate signs for the products. The redesign of 1955 made all Chryslers and Imperials look bolder than before, and the “Letter Series” Chrysler debuted that year, perhaps as the very first muscle car.
We don’t know what this Imperial has been up to the past few years. The 78,000 miles on the odometer sound legit, but the vehicle has been in storage for some time given how dirty it looks. We’re guessing some mechanical tinkering was involved as the seller says it runs well. But we wonder what the tires and other consumables look like after all this time.
Under the hood likely resides a 331 cubic inch V8 that was rated at 250 hp. An automatic transmission is involved (pushbutton?) as well. We’re told the paint is original, so the interior must be, too. Both will need attention and the car is fully equipped, including air conditioning, a rare option in the mid-1950s. If you’re a Mopar fan and like these big 1950s boats, this Imperial can be found in Morristown, Tennessee, and is available here on craigslist for $12,000. Kudos to Barn Finder T.J. for this tip from yesteryear!
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Comments
Is it just me or does $15000 seem pretty high for this? Not exactly rustfree.
There are two on Hemmings auctions now in a nice #3 and lesser #4 condition. The first one seems to run well and is quite attractive, yet it can’t receive the $18,000 or so to sell. They even provide lots of photos and a drive video. This is one of my fantasies as a car. The particular one listed here requires way too much, even for much less money.
I forgot to mention, the two on Hemmings are four doors. So what, still very nice cars.
Well ..there you go.
It is a 1956 model based on The 2 speed PowerFlite push button transmission, fins and side trim.
The `55 auto transmission was a lever on the dash to the right of the steering column.
1 of 2,094, so even more rare.
Since it is a `56 the engine is a 354, 280HP.
I notified the seller of the error.
Hemi?
Yes the Imperial 354 was a Hemi.
The 354 poly was offered in other models.
An unfortunately optimistic seller there.
Another 12K fantasy.
It seems like a restorable car but by the time you are finished you could easily buy one that is already finished.
As DavidZ says a ’56, which is more desireable than even the ’55, based on the bigger hemi. I find it a crime that anyone left one of these to deteriorate to this condition. Almost not worth restoring based on the cost of a correct interior, chrome, body and paint, plus other parts most likely needed. A truly well restored one will be $50-60K. Hope this one is worth restoring to a buyer.
That 15,000.00 is too much, it does have rust, but nothing that can’t be taken care of. But the possibility of driving it down the road completely restored is amazing
I was a fifteen year old car lover when this came out, poor car lover I should add, but I still remember how beautiful this car was when it was new. I still love the look of it and I hope some one will get this one and restore it. It wouldn’t be cheap but would be nice when finished. Good luck to buyer and seller.
A friend in S Texas had one of these and I helped him with a few things on it. The A/C system is behind the rear seat, the scoops by the C-pillar supply the air for the interior, which is blown in from the rear package shelf. The rear tail lights on these are a thing of beauty.
Not bad….not bad at all…..and it runs !
Roland, thank you for the information on the a/c. I was 5 years old, when my grandpa bought a 1957 Packard Clipard in 1959. It had factory a/c. I was amazed that it came out of vase like tubes up the C pillars and blew the air across the roof. Now I know why.
We had a ’55 company car. Dear old Dad was second on the pecking order and the firm’s owner bought a new one every year; Every year we upgraded to a two year old Imperial.. Who cared? The ’55 was by far the best of the lot and our neighbors thought that we were millionaires.
This is a 56 and not a 55.
I didn’t realize that Imperial cars came with smaller than 392 Hemis. I can’t confirm this but I read once that the 354 hemi with two four barrels was the first naturally aspirated engine to develop one hp per cubic inch. Not even notable by today’s standards.
This car is just too ugly to pass up, I mean, I like attention, and ugly gets the job done.
The nuclear age was about to begin.