1956 Chrysler Windsor

The Chrysler Windsor became the entry-level model after the demise of the Chrysler Royal for the 1951 model year, a position it retained through to 1960. All Chrysler cars were completely restyled with Virgil Exner styling in 1955, sharing some visual similarities with the all-new Imperial which was now its own division. Described as the '100 Million Dollar Look,' the new Chrysler's became more streamlined, and aerodynamic, had more rounded bodies, and wrap-around windshields.

In 1956, the 'Forward Look' styling was introduced, highlighted by the first tail fins on a Chrysler car. The interiors remained mostly unchanged, though a new Highway Hi-Fi phonograph player became a new option on the Windsor. The grille on the Windsor had three horizontal bars floating within a chrome surround. The taillamps formed an extension of the uplifted outer rear bumper ends. Standard features included safety rim wheels, center plane brakes, new safety door latches, Oriflow shock absorbers, a 12-volt electrical system, and an independent parking brake.

Body styles on the 1956 Windsor included a sedan, a two- and four-door Newport, Town and Country wagon, 2 door Nassau, and a convertible. Prices ranged from $2,770 for the sedan and rose to nearly $3,500 for the Town and Country Wagon. The bulk of the sales was from the sedan with 53,119. The Nassau found 11,400 willing buyers and the two-door Newport had 10,800 sales. The four-door version of the Newport had 7,050 sales.

The 331.1 cubic-inch V8 engine had overhead valves, and hydraulic valve lifters, and delivered 225 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. With the optional single four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts, horsepower rose to 250 bhp. When equipped with a standard shift, the engine used a Carter BBD 2312S carburetor. When the PowerFlite was installed, the engine received a Carter 2313S carburetor. Air Temp air conditioning, electric window lifts, power brakes, power steering, Solex safety glass, and steering wheel-mounted clock were a few of the options.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedan
Chassis number: W5656960

Virgil Exner was one of the primary individuals responsible for the post-war designs at Chrysler. He became Chrysler's head of advanced styling in 1949. He sourced the best elements of European styling into a series of styling exercises and by the mid-1950s had shocked the world with his 'Forward Look' of vehicle designs.

In the very early 1950s, Chrysler introduced their 331 cubic-inch FirePower V8 engine. This 'Hemi' engine was powerful, but also it was heavy and costly to produce. A few years later, the polyspherical engine was introduced which had a simpler valvetrain and was less costly to produce.

This 1956 Chrysler Windsor Sedan is an original example that has spent the last fifteen years in storage. It wears most of its original paint and is finished in black with newer paint on the roof. Inside there is a Chrysler pushbutton transmission and tinted glass, and the original salmon and black upholstered with matching dash and padded dash pad. There is a dealer-installed 'Equip-Aire 707' air condition unit, power steering and power brakes.

The odometer currently reads just 40,000 miles since new. There are original air vents, a gas tank, and body decals, and is a well-equipped car from the mid-1950s. In 2009, this Windsor Sedan was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. It was expected to sell for $10,000 - $15,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for a high bid of $7,700, which includes the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan