This 1955 Imperial is one of 3,418 Newport two-door hardtops produced for a single model year. It is finished in pale yellow and green over white leather upholstery with green brocade-cloth inserts, and power comes from a 331ci Hemi V8 paired with a PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes “gun-sight” taillights, styled wheel covers, whitewall tires, power steering, power windows, a power-adjustable front seat, a push-button AM radio, and an electric clock. The car was purchased by the current owner in 2021, and the selling dealer notes that the brakes do not work and will require service prior to use. This Imperial Newport project is now offered on consignment by McQueen Classics—a BaT Local Partner—with a Delaware title in the owner’s name.
The entire Chrysler Corporation lineup was redesigned under Virgil Exner for 1955 with styling advertised as the “100 Million Dollar Look.” This extended to Imperial, which was spun off as a separate marque in November 1954. The cars were available as a four-door sedan, a limousine, or the single-year Newport hardtop. They featured a split grille, bright body-side spears, ribbed lower-quarter-panel trim, and “gun-sight” taillights positioned atop quarter-panel mini fins.
This example is finished in pale yellow with a green roof and features a hood ornament, a retractable antenna, a driver-door mirror, and Imperial C-pillar badges. Imperfections in the finish can be seen in the photo gallery below.
Green-painted steel wheels wear chrome Imperial-branded covers, and they are mounted with L78–15″ Commander whitewall bias-ply tires. A matching spare wheel is stowed in the trunk. Power steering was standard equipment on 1955 Imperial models. The power-assisted drum brakes do not work, and the selling dealer tells us that stopping is currently handled via the parking brake. An overhaul of the braking system is required prior to use.
The cabin features front and rear bench seats trimmed in white leather with green brocade-cloth inserts. Matching upholstery extends to the door panels, and green carpeting lines the floors. Appointments include power windows, a power-adjustable front seat, a push-button AM radio, an electric clock, a dash-mounted shifter, sun visors, courtesy lighting, a fold-down rear armrest, rear cigar lighters, and bright doorsill plates. Interior wear is shown in the gallery.
The two-tone, two-spoke steering wheel with a chrome horn ring fronts a 120-mph speedometer and a four-in-one gauge with readouts for fuel level, oil pressure, engine temperature, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 43k miles.
The 331ci Hemi V8 features a Carter four-barrel carburetor and Chrysler FirePower–branded valve covers, and it was factory rated at 250 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque.
Power is sent to the rear wheels by way of a PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission. Areas of corrosion on the underside are depicted in the gallery.
The Delaware title has a “Mileage Disclosure Not Required” notation.