In 1955 the Imperial became a make of its own, separate from Chrysler, and its two-door hardtop coupé was called the Newport. The name was used for one season only: for 1956 the same body became the Southampton.
Imperial Newport at a glance
| Maker | Imperial Division, Chrysler Corporation |
|---|---|
| Production | 1955 only; renamed Southampton for 1956 |
| Model code | C-69 |
| Body | two-door hardtop coupé |
| Built | 3,418 |
| Engine | FirePower 331 cu in (5.4 L) Hemi V8 |
| Power | 250 bhp (186 kW) |
| Gearbox | PowerFlite automatic |
| Wheelbase | 4.0 in (102 mm) longer than the Chrysler |
| List price | $4,720 |
| Air conditioning | $535 option |
| Imperial production 1955 | 11,430 |
based on one source (English Wikipedia); there is no separate article on the Imperial Newport, so the page uses the section on the 1955 models.
History of the Imperial Newport
Chrysler had built a luxury car called the Chrysler Imperial since 1926, but for 1955 the company dropped the Chrysler name and registered the Imperial as a separate make under the Imperial Division. Notices went to the motor vehicle agencies of the then 48 states that the car would no longer be registered as a Chrysler. The purpose was to compete directly with Lincoln and Cadillac, and the styling came from Virgil Exner, whose “100 Million Look” defined the Imperial from 1955 until 1963.
The 1955 cars are said to be inspired by Exner’s own 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton show cars. Platform and bodyshell were shared with that year’s big Chryslers, but the Imperial had a wheelbase 4.0 inches (102 mm) longer, which gave more rear-seat legroom. The grille was a wide-spaced split egg-crate unit of the kind used on the Chrysler 300, and the taillights were free-standing “gunsight” lamps mounted above the rear quarters. Nicknamed sparrow-strainers, they stood free only in 1955–56 and again in 1961–62, although the shape remained an Imperial fixture through 1962.
Two C-69 models were listed: the two-door Newport hardtop coupé, of which 3,418 were built, and a pillared four-door sedan with 7,840. A C-70 Crown limousine added another 172 cars at the top of the range. The Newport nameplate was used for 1955 alone and was replaced by the Southampton for 1956. Total production of 11,430 was more than twice the 1954 figure, which made the Imperial far more exclusive than the Lincoln and Cadillac models it was priced against.
The engine was the FirePower V8, Chrysler’s first-generation Hemi of 331 cu in (5.4 L) developing 250 bhp (186 kW). Power brakes and power steering were standard, as was the PowerFlite automatic transmission. Air conditioning was one of the major options at $535. The Newport hardtop was listed at $4,720, while the Crown limousine cost $7,737.
Design and features
- Gunsight taillights: free-standing lamps above the rear quarters, an Imperial signature of 1955–56 and 1961–62.
- Split egg-crate grille: the wide-spaced front shared with the Chrysler 300.
- Hemi V8: 331 cu in and 250 bhp with a standard automatic.
- Longer wheelbase: 4.0 in (102 mm) more than the Chrysler for rear legroom.
- One-season name: the Newport became the Southampton for 1956.
Imperial Newport versions
- Newport hardtop coupé (1955): the two-door C-69, 3,418 built.
- Pillared four-door sedan (1955): 7,840 built.
- Crown limousine, C-70 (1955): 172 built, $7,737.
- Southampton (1956): the same body under its new name.
The Newport became the Southampton for 1956 and shared the 1955 range with the pillared four-door sedan; the first generation as a whole is described in Imperial Custom. More cars are in the Imperial collection.
Video: 1955 Imperial Newport
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Imperial (automobile), English Wikipedia: first generation, 1955 models, production, prices
