1955 Imperial Newport Hardtop Project

This 1955 Imperial is one of 3,418 Newport two-door hardtops produced for a single model year. It is finished in pale yellow and green over white leather upholstery with green brocade-cloth inserts, and power comes from a 331ci Hemi V8 paired with a PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes “gun-sight” taillights, styled wheel covers, whitewall tires, power steering, power windows, a power-adjustable front seat, a push-button AM radio, and an electric clock. The car was purchased by the current owner in 2021, and the selling dealer notes that the brakes do not work and will require service prior to use. This Imperial Newport project is now offered on consignment by McQueen Classics— a BaT Local Partner —with a Delaware title in the owner’s name. The entire Chrysler Corporation lineup was redesigned under Virgil Exner for 1955 with styling advertised as the “100 Million Dollar Look.” This extended to Imperial, which was spun off as a separate marque in November 1954. The cars were available as a four-door sedan, a limousine, or the single-year Newport hardtop. They featured a split grille, bright body-side spears, ribbed lower-quarter-panel trim, and “gun-sight” taillights positioned atop quarter-panel mini fins.