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1955 Chrysler New Yorker

Chrysler models for 1955 included the Windsor, New Yorker, and the C-300. The C-300 accounted for just over 1 percent of Chrysler's production with 1,725 examples sold. The bulk of the sales and the company's bread-and-butter model was the Windsor series which accounted for approximately 65 percent of Chrysler's 1955 sales. The New Yorker had a similar body style lineup as the Windsor, consisting of a sedan, Newport, St. Regis, convertible, and a Town and Country wagon. The most expensive Windsor body style was the Town & Country wagon that listed for $3,330 and the least expensive New Yorker was the sedan, which was roughly $100 more than the Windsor T&C Wagon.

The 1955 Chrysler models wore all-new styling penned by designer Virgil Exner and inspired by the 1952 Imperial Parade Phaeton. The top-of-the-line New Yorker DeLuxe series rested on a luxurious 125-inch wheelbase platform and had an overall length of 218.8 inches. The larger and more exclusive Imperial lineup was, for the first time, officially a separate nameplate that year. With plenty of horsepower and Exner's 'Hundred Million Dollar Look,' Chrysler sales broke into the top ten for the first time since before World War II and finished in second place in the high-priced market. Overall, 1955 saw Chrysler capture ninth place in sales within the entire industry.

The higher-priced New Yorkers were distinguished from the lower-priced Windsor models by a more intricate grille, slimmer bumpers, and a 331.1 cubic-inch engine delivering over 60 additional horsepower. It had a low profile and streamlined appearance that helped emphasize the longer-than-ever silhouette. A wide array of rich color choices, the bold use of chrome trim elements on flowing contours, and bigger glass enhanced the car's powerful and luxurious persona.

The New Yorker Deluxe had four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes, power steering, power windows, and an overhead-valve V8 engine with hemispherical combustion chambers. The 331.1 cubic-inch unit had hydraulic valve lifters, a dual exhaust system, five main bearings, and an 8.5:1 compression ratio. It produced 250 horsepower at 4,600 RPM making it among the most powerful engine on the road.

The most expensive 1955 Chrysler vehicle was the New Yorker Deluxe Town & Country, exceeding the C-300 by $100, and listed at $4,200. While the Windsor Deluxe sold over 1,980 of the T&C Wagon, the exclusive New Yorker found 1,036 capable buyers. The Hemi V8-powered New Yorker Deluxe Town & Country station wagon had 1950s pastel coral paint finishes, a dash-mounted stalk shifter for the Powerflite automatic transmission, a tailgate gap filler panel, extensive wooden flooring, and bright chrome rails and hardware that extends from the back of the second seat all the way to the tailgate.

The convertible, priced at $3,925, accounted for 946 sales making it the most exclusive in the lineup. The most popular style was the four-door sedan which had a price of $3,500 and 33,342 were sold. The two-door St. Regis was the second most popular, with 11,076 sales. The other two-door hardtop, the Newport, had 5,777 sales. The St. Regis had a base price of $3,690 while the Newport sold for $3,650. The St. Regis was distinguished by its two-tone paint scheme, exclusive to St. Regis, excessive use of chrome, full carpeting, upgraded fabrics, and color-keyed two-tone steering wheel.

Mid-way through 1955, Chrysler introduced the 'Summer Special' two-tone paint option with revised side trim allowing for bolder two-tone paint schemes and better emphasizing the complementing body colors. A new color-break line resulted from the addition of bright upper-body trim borrowed from the 1955 New Yorker St. Regis 2-door hardtop.

1955 Chrysler New Yorker photo
Deluxe Series St Regis
Chassis #: N5531900
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
The New Yorker's price point put it in competition with the Lincoln Capri, Packard Series 400, and the Harley Earl-designed Cadillac Series 62. The Cadillac was more expensive and its 331 cubic-inch engine produced the same 250 horsepower. (A higher specification was available with 270 horsepower). Packard's straight-eight engine had a 327.1 cubic-inch displacement and offered 155 horsepower. The Lincoln Capri had a 341.2 V8 engine that delivered 225 horsepower. The slightly less expensive Buick Super Series 50 was powered by a 322 CID V8 with 236 horsepower.


by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020

Related Reading : Chrysler New Yorker History

The Chrysler New Yorker has faced amazing success in the four decades it has remained in the auto industry. Introduced initially as the New Yorker Special in 1938, the name was eventually simplified to just the New Yorker. Americas longest continuously used nameplate, the New Yorker, has kept this title for 58 years. In 1939, Chrysler began to manufacture vehicles in Mexico and, until the early....
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1955 Chrysler New Yorker Vehicle Profiles

1955 Chrysler New Yorker vehicle information
Deluxe Series St Regis

Designer: Exner
1955 Chrysler New Yorker vehicle information
Deluxe Series Sedan

Designer: Exner
1955 Chrysler New Yorker vehicle information
Deluxe Series St Regis

Designer: Exner
Chassis #: N5531900

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1955 New Yorker
$4,210-$18,050
1955 Chrysler New Yorker Price Range: $3,492 - $4,210

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1955 Chrysler Models

New Yorker

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
52,178
126.00 in.
8 cyl., 331.10 CID., 250.00hp
$3,492 - $4,210
41,140
126.00 in.
8 cyl., 354.00 CID., 250.00hp
$3,770 - $4,415

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