1955 Chrysler

For the 1954 model year, General Motors introduced panoramic, wraparound windshields across its Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac lines.  A-pillars for these wraparounds were either vertical (on A-body models) or slanted forwards (on B-bodies).

The rest of the American automobile industry scrambled to place panoramic windshields on their 1955 models.  Most of these featured A-pillars as noted above.  A major exception was Chrysler Corporation.  Chrysler brands had wraparound windshields with A-pillars slanting backwards in the normal manner.

Backwards slanting A-pillars probably struck some observers at the time (including the young me) as being a little old-fashioned.  But from today's perspective, I, and perhaps others, consider the 1955 Chrysler line the most attractive for that model year.

Chrysler Corporation cars came in two basic bodies. One was shared by Plymouth and Dodge, the other by DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial.  The present post features hardtop and sedan styling for Chrysler.

Unless otherwise noted, images below are of cars listed for sale.

Gallery

1955 Chrysler New Yorker Newport hardtop, factory photo.  Elaborate two-tone and even three-tone paint schemes were a mid-1950s American styling fad.  Those usually-contrived patterns seldom improved the cars' appearance, as can be seen here.

Now for some context: Here is a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Newport hardtop, the previous Chrysler design that did poorly in the market.

And here is a 1955 Buick Roadmaster Riviera hardtop, a car Chryslers had to compete against.

1955 Chrysler New Yorker grille.  The grille design is too elaborate, too fussy for my taste. and was discarded for 1956.  The upper segments are shortened derivations of the design used by 1955 Imperials and Chrysler 300s.

1955 Chrysler 300, Mecum Auctions photo, showing the grille design just mentioned.

1955 Chrysler Windsor DeLuxe 4-door sedan.  I find this two-tone scheme particularly awkward.

Same car, rear quarter view.  Those tail light assemblies are another defect in the '55 Chrysler brand design.  DeSoto and Imperial stylists did a better job on the same basic body.

This New Yorker Newport has a more common 1955 two-tome scheme -- Auctions America photo.

Now for a walk-around: 1955 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis hardtop - Barrett-Jackson photos.

Same car, side view.

Same car, rear quarter view.

1955 Chrysler Windsor Nassau hardtop, Mecum photo.  Here is an example of a more sensible two-tone paint job.

1955 Chrysler Windsor Nassau hardtop.  Cars painted in only one color were rare in 1955, aside perhaps for stripped-down entry-level models (and Windsors were the entry-level Chryslers).  This Chrysler looks better than the others shown above, in my opinion.