1955 Chrysler "C300" 2-dr hardtop

Designer: Virgil Exner

Estimate: $50,000 - $85,000

Chassis Number: 3N551301

Decoded: 3=Chrysler C68-300 Series; N=Detroit assembly plant; 1301=301st C300 scheduled for production

Engine: 331 cid "Hemi" V8

2 X 4-barrel Carburetors/300 bhp

2-Speed Power-Flite Automatic Transmission

Power Assisted Four Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

Odometer: 53,500 miles.

First Year of Legendary 300's

Outstanding Design and Workmanship

Greatest Performance of the Era

The Model -Two major achievements took place for Chrysler with the introduction of the 1955 models. From the outside, Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" was first realized with an across-the-board restyling to all lines. For the first time ever, performance was unbeatable with the new C300 hardtop. Based on the top-line New Yorker the C300 featured dual carburetors and a specially designed "batwing" styled air-cleaner. A bold "split-grille" design graced the front end of all Chrysler's that year, but the "300" badge up-front told the casual observer this was no luxury land-yacht, it meant performance in a big way. While the other cars in Chrysler's lineup represented the "100 million-dollar look", this beauty featured all the amenities you could want leather seats, plenty of room and comfort, plus 0-60 MPH times at about 10 seconds, pretty heady stuff in 1955. With a price tag of just over $4,100 delivered, Chrysler found 1,725 buyers for this limited production special hardtop.

The Car - For 1955, Chrysler 300 customers had a limited selection of colors to choose from, but red, officially Navajo Orange, was an often-selected choice, which is the color of the beautiful example we are proud to offer. With its powerful engine having been recently tuned up, that mighty Hemi comes to life easily and produces that throaty exhaust sound that beckons the driver to hit the open road. Sitting on its four gleaming chrome wire wheels, this car appears to be pure-stock in every way. Fitted with factory AM radio, heater-defroster and a clock, one of the most prominent features is the "stick-through-the-dash" control lever for the automatic transmission. A simple push of the door lever and you are inside this well-appointed performance machine. The doors close tight, and along with the hood and deck-lid, panels line up at or above factory specs. This car presents a pleasant driving experience giving the driver the feel of the road and command of the machine. The 1955 C300 was the start of the performance push in America, the first of the real horsepower based luxury cruisers.