As a car lover, it’s sometimes tough to be responsible for a car’s fate: Sometimes it’s too far gone, sometimes the cost outweighs the reward, sometimes parts just aren’t available. This Forward Look Chrysler seems to be at that crossroads where somebody is going to have to make that hard choice.
In my opinion, the ’55 Chrysler is among the best-looking of Exner’s Forward Look creations. Sure, the later models were dramatic and their performance continued to improve, but the ’55 seems like the perfect bridge between those early-1950s Italianate Ghia one-offs and the later finned spectacles-on-wheels.
This Windsor Deluxe sedan has clearly been socked away in a storage garage for a while, six or seven years, according to the advertisement. Unfortunately, a previous owner had disassembled the engine and left it in the elements, so it will have to be towed.
The engine problem might be strike one for this Windsor. If the engine were still in one piece, there would be a good case for getting it running and enjoying it; however, the Chrysler 301 (or any engine in that Polyspheric family) is expensive to rebuild. You could always transplant an engine, but that takes time, money, and a little fabrication skill.
The engine and its parts come with the car, but it will take a trip to the machine shop to see what can be done. If parts are needed, they aren’t available in a Summit catalog.
Strike two might be the rust. The advertisement says that it needs floorpan and trunk floor work but is otherwise solid. If the rust truly is minimal, and you could find an engine that would fit without much fuss, there’s some hope. The interior appears to be in decent condition.
Well, maybe the front seat. The remaining engine components, including the crankshaft, are piled onto the back seat, so it will need some deep cleaning before you’re letting everyone pile into the back.
This all leads us back to our original question: Is this car a project or is it a parts car? The 1955 Chrysler two-door hardtops are fairly valuable and trim parts are not readily available, as these were never produced in gigantic numbers. Does this sedan give up its trim and sheetmetal for a hardtop? Fortunately, it’s priced reasonably enough at $2000 that getting it fixed up could also make some sense if you have a ’50s Chrysler parts source. It’s currently for sale on Marketplace in Ohio, and the owners would like to sell it as soon as possible. What do you think? Project or parts? Thank you to Ted for the tip!
First WADR, I believe the 55 Chrysler Corp cars were badged as The Million Dollar Look. For me, DeSoto was the most beautiful. 56 began the FORWARD LOOK. I hope someone has the time, money, and ability to save this poor baby! It’s a tough choice. I once reluctantly let my 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance go when it needed repairs. I’ve regretted it ever since. The Walter P. Chrysler Society could be a good source for help.
Rick, the phrase Chrysler used in advertising in `55 was the “One Hundred Million dollar look” I have an ad for a red-white New Yorker St, Regis coupe that carries that tag line.
Seems to me a running 4 door project could be had for 2K even in our inflated world. Not much of the trim would work on a 2 door so who would put time and money into this?
The 55-56 body’s had the best of MOPAR’s styling for the 50s. The one uniqueness of the 55s was the transmission gear selector at the right of the steering column on the dashboard. The 56 brought the advent of Chrysler products with “Push Button Drive”. Always wondered if that was the influence that lead the Edsel to have similar selector in the center of the steering wheel.
Unfortunately I think the supply of these cars is greater than the demand.
A lot of cars like this just don’t have a very big following anymore. This thing needs an engine and the floors replaced just to get started.
Definitely a parts car.
This mechanics project is just that. If you aren’t a mechanic/fabricator keep looking. My first car was a 56 with no reverse. I was 18 and had to bring a couple buds with where ever I went to make the Behemoth back up. I would say this sled is not restore-able and for parts only. It’s actual value is a couple hundy.
That block is huge for such a small displacement
If the frame is good, it looks too nice for a parts car, and as petiger says, many of the body parts may not fit the more desirable 2 door, a custom build is an option. Forget about originality. If floor and trunk pans aren’t available, Plymouth or Dodge pans could probably be adapted. Drop in the engine and transmission of your choice, comfortable seats, disc brakes, etc. Access to an old fashioned wrecking yard would be a big advantage. Do it up like we did in the 1960s. You’d definitely spend more than it’s worth, but for a younger person with some skills, it could be a fun project and yield a unique ride.
It should say pwtiger. Sorry. This phone wants to change everything and I didn’t catch it.
I’ve seen it a thousand times. Some clueless goob gets their hands on a nice complete old car in decent shape and proceeds to tear it apart. Because they have no plan and no money and no skills they abandon everything in a wet heap. Oh yes, the back seat is the perfect place to dump all those greasy, unlabeled parts. The chef’s kiss is leaving the disassembled engine parts unprotected from the elements. Few people have the appetite for a project where you are spending time and money undoing the previous owners damage.Sad to say it’s a long shot that it will ever be back on the road.
Windsors just aren’t in demand like New Yorkers. They didn’t get the 331 hemi. If you love the look, either a New Yorker Deluxe Saint Regis or a “300” are the best ones to get. There aren’t many out there but they do show up from time to time.
Doesn’t surprise me that its sold already that price was low for what this car was since the engine was already taken out you are not destroying it by dropping in a hellcat or something else to make a sleeper car
I prefer the mentioned, Mopar finned spectacles of the later 50s. I know guys still on a 2 year waiting list at machine shops for an engine rebuild, so no thanks. Any Mopar guy who has a 1960s rebuilt Hemi engine laying around his shop could be all over this one.
A must have if I ever saw one, marking the 100th Anniversary of the immigration station(Castle Garden)/NYC, and was photographed by Margaret Bourke White when she climbed out from the top of the Chrysler Building!