1955 Chrysler C-300 - Click on photo for much more info photo - Ken Leonard photos at pbase.com

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Ken Leonard | all galleries >> Garden Grove Main Street Car Shows (16 volumes) >> Main Street Garden Grove Fri Nite Cruise Vol. #4 > 1955 Chrysler C-300 - Click on photo for much more info

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1955 Chrysler C-300 - Click on photo for much more info

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Copyright 2007-2010 Ken Leonard, all rights reserved

Guest		18-Mar-2011 03:13
Guest All this talk about power, seems to overlook the classic styling. To me, the '55 300 is the perfect conjunction of the grace/respectibility of the past, and the "forward look" of the future. The '55 still has the gentle curves, but sheds the boxy shape of previous models. On the other hand, it doesn't take on the wild, sharp angles and fins of later models (though they're a kick of a different kind). The dual chrome grill, is just a fabulous statement, both, of beauty and power. The chrome tails are a perfect accent for the understated rear panels. The single chrome strip running full length along the sides, just pulls it all together in a single, clean design statement. The wrap-around windshield harmonizes with every other rounded corner. The absence of a center post between front and rear windows echos the progressive idea, and showcases a cool, comfortable interior. A black paint job turns the car into a limousine or perhaps a physician's personal conveyance; the white turns it into a Rolls Silver Shadow, but sportier. Of course red befits the unique power offering, as other writers have well stated. For my money, the 300 has more class than any classic. Why didn't they make, and why didn't we preserve, more of them?

930dreamer		15-Dec-2010 18:34
Question, We bought a tango Red 300 from Sacramento, CA in 1974. Sold it in Eugene,OR in 1976?. My Mothers Father was killed in his new 300 in the mid 1950's. Is there any way to track down either vehicles? Thanks

Reggie robertson		08-Dec-2010 20:06
didn't Virgil exner do a one-off Prototype Coupe or 2-dr hardtop for shows that was even more stylish?? I saw a picture once but now cant find. Any ideas?

Guest		02-Apr-2010 23:33
On the taillight reflectors i used Dennis Carpenter reflectors from his Cushman catalog real glass round 1950s look.

Marshall Hunter		02-Mar-2010 19:20
Nice car,looking at your Chrysler in Cars&Parts i have a 55 New Yorker Town&country looking at the reflectors in the tail lights have same problem,I owned it 33years,sat on the back seats when i was 9 years old.Redoing the car again, years ago we lived in Yucaipa,now in Placerville.Caught your page while look for wire wheels.Take care

The Outcast		19-Jun-2009 01:43
according to the Chrysler 300 Club, the C-300 was built for NASCAR. See www.chrysler300club.com/History.htm for more information.

John Lazenby		11-Feb-2009 18:25
In response to Rick Johnson's very well wriiten comments I'd like to offer the following. The 1955 C300 in Tango Red is owned by me along with a '56 300B, '57 300C coupe and a 300F coupe and some other Chryslers of the era. In 1955 there were a few special order C300's that sported different exterior colors and there was one stick car built, but only for racing purposes. Although Air Condtioning was officially not an option there were a few examples built. The dash in the Imperial was the same as the New Yorker and the only differences would be the 150 mph spedo and the tan and black colors. This documentation is verified via the Chrysler 300 Club International, Inc which retains a copy of the original micro film. The car shown has much originality to it to this day and we've owned it 20 years on Valentine's Day of 2009. A perfect color for such a day. This example was heavily optioned from the factory and still is very fast. It is a true pleasure to own and drive. John Lazenby Southern California

Randy Dowd		15-Dec-2007 12:57
I have owned a 55 chrysler windsor deluxe 2 door hard top for 20 years now all original with a 301 spitfire engine in it with Auto trans it is in need of a horn ring and that is about it except for body work and paint \i have had it licensed and drove it this summer on nice days. Any idea as to how much this is worth?

coaster		23-Apr-2007 23:53
Nice car and shot!

ronald davis		26-Dec-2006 14:18
The 1955 Chrysler 300 was designed and built to beat Lincoln in the 1955 La Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico, I've spoken with several people who were approched by Kiekhafer to drive but the race was canceled and thats why Kiekhafer showed up at Daytona with cars and no drivers, the rest of the story is now history.

Nandy Davila		14-Nov-2006 22:27
i just bought a new 300 , 2007 and i love this carrrrrr

Guest		29-Oct-2006 00:13
check out www.mexicanroadracecars.com

Rick Johnson		18-Jun-2005 05:48
1955 Chrysler C-300. This is it. The original American Muscle Car. This Tango Red beauty is the one that began it all, and this is the story of how it all began........ In 1953, Chrysler appointed Virgil Exner as Styling Director of the company. A corporate-wide redesign was ordered for the 1955 model year. Exner's "Forward Look" was the spectacular result, and it marked the beginning of a dramatic turnaround for the firm. Chrysler began to seriously challenge Harley Earl and General Motors for design leadership of the Industry. Engineering, long a Chrysler tradition, was also doing its part to make Chrysler products more exciting than ever. Chrysler had the fully automatic Powerflite transmission, considered the best in the industry. And for the first time, there was V-8 availability for the entire corporate lineup, including low-price leader Plymouth. A magnificent 331 cubic inch hemispherical-head engine nicknamed the "HEMI" powered the larger Chrysler and Imperial. Chrysler Corporation decided that it needed an "image car" that would dramatically call attention to its high-styled '55 product line. It just so happened that Chrysler Division's Chief Engineer, Bob Rodger, had such a car in mind: a performance machine to outshine any of its competitors. Rodger, in collaboration with Virgil Exner, started with a '55 Chrysler New Yorker hardtop coupe and made a number of significant modifications. The impressive 1955 Imperial chrome-plated eggcrate split grille was substituted for the more modest New Yorker rendition. The less elaborate Chrysler Windsor side trim and rear-quarter sheetmetal resulted in a more tailored appearance. Backup lights and outside mirrors were removed to preserve a clean, uncluttered look. Chassis modification, including increased spring rates were made to provide superior handling and ride. And then .....history was made. Under the hood Engineer Rodger and crew slotted a "revised" version of the 331-cid Hemi. A hotter cam, solid lifters, and twin four-barrel carburetors advanced the 250 horsepower New Yorker engine to 300 horsepower creating the most powerful production engine in the world, and giving Chrysler's new high-performance model its name, the 300. More accurately, the "C-300", though ads seldom mentioned the letter, and not to be confused with the third car in the series, the 1957 300-C. Standard equipment included the Power-Flite fully automatic transmission, and no manual gearbox was available. The lavish interior was upholstered in leather (tan only), and was highlighted by a dash borrowed from the luxurious Imperial, except the speedometer was calibrated up to 150 miles per hour. Air conditioning was not available. Exterior colors were Black, Platinum, and the Tango Red of our featured car in Ken's photograph. There were no two tone combinations available. Options included power steering, radio, and chrome wire wheels, as shown on our featured car. They were introduced in Chrysler showrooms in February,1955. Production of the first year 300's reached 1,725, and they were priced at $ 4,110. The car did exactly what Chrysler had hoped. The image ruboff on the rest of the Chrysler line was tremendous. Coinciding with the car's February introduction, was its appearance and participation at Daytona's Speedweeks festivities. Tim Flock gave the Chrysler 300 its first victory on the Beach Course at Daytona. Chrysler began touting the 300 in its ads as "The Car That Swept Daytona". By season's end, Mr.Flock had won the 1955 NASCAR Grand National Championship , including a record 19 poles and 18 wins, driving a Chrysler 300. In fact, Chrysler 300's won 22 of 40 NASCAR events in 1955. By season's end, 300's had taken 37 first-place victories in NASCAR and AAA stock car events of 100 miles or more. A phenominal record, and a windfall for Chrysler, considering these cars received absolutely no financial support or special racing equipment from Chrysler. But the story doesn't end here. In 1956, Chrysler 300's once again dominated NASCAR. 300's driven by Buck Baker, Speedy Thompson, Tim Flock, and Herb Thomas gave Chrysler victory after victory, and ultimately, Baker the '56 Championship. Remember...this was before the superspeedway era in NASCAR, when tracks were mostly dirt and half-mile in length, full of ruts and chuck holes,and clogging dirt, and driving conditions took its toll on man and machine. Chrysler 300's had proven it could take the punishment and consistently prevail. With the 300, a performance legend had been born at Chrysler that was to continue into the sixties and early seventies.These cars were the inspiration for the Chargers, Challengers, Cudas, and Roadrunners that followed. And what about today? The Viper, the Charger, the Magnum, and yes, .......the 300. Can you say "HEMI"?