American car design progressed rapidly in the 1950s- Just compare any late 40s model to the same one from the mid 50s, and you'll see what I'm talking about. One of the most radical styling improvements in a single year has to go to the entire Dodg... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Some believe the Muscle Car era started with the '55 Chrysler 300. Some say it was a luxury car not a Muscle Car. I say it was both. It was the first car to have a V-8 with twin four barrel carbs and it was the fastest car you could buy with it's 300 horsepower Hemi. It also won the NASCAR championship in '55 with Tim Flock driving and '56 with Buck Baker driving. It was priced out of the youth market but made a statement for all performance cars that would follow.
The 55' Chrysler was a 300hp. engine,but 331cid,that works out to about .9 hp per cid. Almost, but not there. .............Jack
The 56 Desoto adventurer made 1HP per ci with there 345 also. Sorry to hijack, I like the 55 coupe it has a pretty cool combo of luxury and power.
There is 253 registered today out of the 1500 some odd made. We got an unregistered one id love to get running one day, id also love to get rid of it.
Chrysler was no longer the top of the line make starting in 1955, but its price basically reflected the personal luxury coupe model and it was also same size as other Chryslers. I'd still love to own one, and it could be argued as the first personal luxury coupe, but I'd put the Century and 88 before it as far as first muscle.
The 300 as shown is an ultimate car for me. I could be lifetime happy owning one of those beauties! ~sololobo~
I think they got better lookin' every year til '60....... not to say the weird kinda sorta sposed to look European body styles from '61-'64 were bad.....'65-early '70s Mopars were some of the best looking cars of the era, too!
Chrylers and Imperials still looked great in '61. I like the '62 Imperial too, but it's hard to top the fins and originals.
Was helping a freind and his dad build a new home (56 or 57)......A builder down the street had a white 300......Gorgeous car!.....
I have a 55 more door new Yorker deluxe. 331 hemi single 4 barrel Carb. It has power steering (first production car to have power steering I heard?) It also has electric windows, and electric seats. It will be my family cruiser when I am finished. Here she is.. its been in my family since 55. Originally purchased by my great grand father. I love the dash in these 55's. And the tail lights that they call "tower style tail lights" Power seats Even the hubcaps are wannabe caddy sombreros. A right hand drive 55 New Yorker http://musclcarvera.blogspot.com/2012/07/1955-chrysler-new-yorker-deluxe.html?m=1