1956 CHRYSLER CARS DESCRIBEDwildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisher... · were available,...

Copyright © Automotive History Preservation Society, Al l Rights Reserved. Contact: Librarian, PO Box 467, Perry MI or e-mail [email protected].

1956 CHRYSLER CARS DESCRIBED 1956 CHRYSLER - GENERAL: The 100 Million Dollar Look was carried forward once again with a tasteful facelift centered around grille changes and integrating the tail lamps into the body. The two-piece grille of 1955 was redesigned into a one-piece unit with a look much like the 1955 Flite Sweep I show car. Three horizontal grille bars floated within a chrome surround. The new tail lamps formed a natural extension of the new uplifted outer rear bumper ends.

The "DeLuxe" nomenclature was dropped, and now there was only the "Windsor" and "New Yorker" nameplates in both lines. Chryslers were all powered by V-8s and the real differences in the lines were interior fitment/appointments and level of V-8 power (very important in the 50s horsepower races.

Big news this year was the size increase for the Hemi engine, now at 354 CID. This increased horsepower, in standard form, by more than 10 percent to 280. The Windsor continued on with the Poly V8 - but its displacement moved up to the old Hemi's 331 CID. The Poly's horsepower rose to 225 - and with the 4-barrel Power Package - up to 250 HP.

This would be the last year for front coil springs combined with rear leaf springs.

INNOVATIONS: The Powerflite automatic (and later in the year Torqueflite) had pushbutton control for the transmission - positioned on the left side of the dash near the door. A 12-volt electrical system was new for all Chrysler models.

1956 WINDSOR SERIES C71 (Poly 8-Cylinder): The Windsor line added a true four-door hardtop known as the "Newport 4-door". Standard features included Oriflow shock absorbers, new safety door latches, independent parking brake, safety rim wheels and center plane brakes.

1956 NEW YORKER SERIES C72 (Hemi 8-Cylinder): The tastefully restyled New Yorker used a finer detailed grille and different bumpers to set it apart from the Windsor, Additional moldings created unique two-tone paint combinations and even a tri-tone combination in the St. Regis series.

The New Yorker also introduced a 4-door hardtop in the Newport line. A distinctive New Yorker styling touch was the appearance of eight chromed teeth on the rear fender, above the horizontal molding. This feature was to become a New Yorker hallmark for many years.

1956 CHRYSLER 300B SERIES C72-300 (Hemi 8-Cylinder): Technically a sub-series of the New Yorker, the 300B's styling continued to reflect the flavor that the letter car introduced in 1955. Changes were essentially limited to the tail-lamp alterations, in line with those appearing on other 1956 Chryslers. As in the Windsor and New Yorker, the pushbutton control for the Powerflite/Torqueflite automatic transmission was positioned to the left side of the dash.

The 300B was available with a choice of either automatic or standard shift transmissions. Two high-performance hemi engines were available, either standard 340 or optional 355 HP. Leather upholstery was standard. The 300B was America's fastest and highest powered car in 1956.

MODEL/ENGINE I.D. DATA:

Windsor serial numbers. Windsor DeLuxes built in Detroit were numbered from W56-1001 to W56-7520. Los Angeles built cars were numbered from W56L-1001 to W56L-7091. Motor numbers ran from WE56-1001 to WE56- 81623.

New Yorker serial numbers. Detroit built cars serial numbers were from N56-1001 to N56-36162. Los Angeles built cars serial numbers were from N56L-1001 to N56L-5197. Motor numbers ranged from NE56-1001 to NE56-4060.

Chrysler 300B serial numbers. Serial numbers for the Chrysler 300 were from 3N56-1001 to 3N56-2150, built in Detroit only. Motor numbers ran from NE56-1001 to 3NE56-217401.

All serial numbers were located on the left front door hinge post. Windsor Poly V-8 engine numbers, and New Yorker and Chrysler 300B Hemi V-8 engine numbers were located at the front of the engine block, between the heads, under the water outlet elbow. No code numbers were provided for identification of body/style type.

BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS: WINDSOR AND NEW YORKER

5 Stardust Blue 6 Mediterranean Blue 7 Glacier Blue 8 Turquoise 9 Crown Blue 16 Mint Green 17 Surf Green 18 Hunter Green 19 Crown Green 25 Satin Gray 26 West Point Gray 30 Sand Dune Beige 31 Rosewood Tan 35 Desert Rose 36 Geranium Red 37 Regimental Red 38 Black 38 Crown Maroon 41 Cloud White 42 Nugget Gold 261 Crocus Yellow 262 Blue Jade 263 Copper Glow

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BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS: CHRYSLER 300B

1 Raven Black 37 Regimental Red 41 Cloud White

CHRYSLER ENGINES: Windsor Series Standard Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Polyspherical combustion chambers. Cast Iron Block.

Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81" x 3.63". Horsepower: 225 @ 4400 R.P.M. Torque: 310 foot-pounds at 2400 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Carburetor: Standard Shift: Carter 2-barrel BBD 2312S. Powerflite: Carter 2-barrel BBD 2313S.

Windsor Series Optional Power Pack Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Polyspherical combustion chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 331.1 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.81" x 3.63". Horsepower: 250 @ 4600 R.P.M. Torque: 340 foot-pounds at 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Carburetor: Carter 4-barrel WCFB 2367S or 2367SA. Includes dual exhaust.

New Yorker Series Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 354 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.94" x 3.63". Horsepower: 280 @ 4600 R.P.M. Torque: 380 foot-pounds at 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Carburetor: Carter 4-barrel WCFB 2314S or 2314SA.

Chrysler 300B Series Standard Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 354 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.94" x 3.63". Horsepower: 340 @ 5200 R.P.M. Torque: 385 foot-pounds at 3200 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters with high-lift camshaft and extra-stiff valve springs. Compression ratio: 9.0:1. Carburetors: 2 Carter 4-barrels WCFB 2126.

Chrysler 300B Series Optional Engine. V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 354 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.94" x 3.63". Horsepower: 355 @ 5200 R.P.M. Torque: 385 foot-pounds at 3200 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters with high-lift, full race camshaft and extra-stiff valve springs. Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Carburetors: 2 Carter 4-barrels WCFB 2126.

CHASSIS:

Wheelbase: All models - 126.0". Overall length: Windsor 2 and 4-door 220.5", Windsor Town & Country 220.4", New Yorker 2 and 4-door and 300B

221.0"; New Yorker Town & Country 221.2". Tires: New Yorker and 300 - 8.00 x 15, New Yorker, 300B and Town & Country with wire wheels - 8.20 x 15.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS:

Windsor. Three-speed manual transmission standard with Powerflite automatic transmission optional. New Yorker. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard. Later in the model year: Torqueflite 3-speed

automatic transmission. Chrysler 300B. Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission standard, three-speed manual transmission special

order. Later in the model year: Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission.

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS:

Air Temp air-conditioning. Carpets for Sedan and Nassau (Windsor). Custom Steering Wheel (Windsor). Custom Wheel Covers (Windsor). Electro-Touch Tuner Radio with foot control standard (with or without rear speaker). Electric window lifts. Highway Hi-Fi record player. Hot Water Heater. Instant Gas Heater. Music Master Radio (with or without rear speaker). Power Brakes. Power Front Seat. Power Package on Windsor. Power Radio Antenna. Power Steering. Rear Center Arm Rest for Sedan and Four Door Hardtop (Windsor). Removable Kiddie Seat for Town Country Wagon. Solex Safety Glass. Steering Wheel Mounted Clock. Undercoating. Whitewall Tires. Wire Wheels.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The Chrysler 300B set the World Passenger Car Speed Record at Daytona Beach, averaging 139.9 miles per hour.

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PRODUCTION: Chrysler production for 1956 totaled 128,322. See the attached chart for the detailed model breakout.

CAR IMAGES The Chrysler 300B led the Chrysler Model line with a 354 CID Hemi & an optional 355 HP. It was labeled "America's Most Powerful Car". 1,102 300Bs were sold in 1956. The Chrysler 300B logo. It was similar the 1955, but a “B” was inserted in the checkered flag. Continued –


CAR IMAGES Continued The 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible was number 3 in top of the line price tag, and also #3 in top price sales at 921 units. The 1956 St. Regis 2-door hardtop outsold its sister Newport by a wide margin, with 6,686 delivered.

A New for 1956 was the Chrysler 4-door hardtop, also called a "Newport". It justified the production expense with 3,599 sold. Continued –


CAR IMAGES Continued

The 1956 New Yorker Newport hardtop had some of its thunder stolen by the new 4-door hardtop and the St. Regis, regardless, 4,115 still left the factory.

The "old soldier" the New Yorker 4-door Sedan was still the best seller in the line with 24,749 units.

The 1956 New Yorker Town & Country wagon was a high priced piece at $4,417 base, but deliveries were stable at 1,070.

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The Windsor line got in a good punch with the release of the 4-door Newport hardtop, selling 7,050 cars in its first year.

The 1956 Windsor Nassau 2-door Hardtop was quite popular now that it could boast up to 250 HP. The result was that 11,400 were sold.

The 1956 Windsor Convertible outsold its New Yorker brother at 1,011, due to its $900 lower price - a lot of dollars in 1956.

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The 1956 Windsor Newport was a great deal when measured against the other Chrysler 2-door Hardtops, but it sold less than the more expensive Nassau at only 10,800. Perhaps the Nassau's finer interior was the key.

The 1956 Windsor 4-door Sedan was by far the best-selling Chrysler. It's 53,119 deliveries outsold the entire New Yorker line!

The 1956 Windsor Town & Country wagon was quite popular, outstripping its senior sister by almost three to one - 2,700 units. A $1,000 price difference tells the tale.

Continued –


CAR IMAGES Continued – Styling Changes for 1956

Key model identifiers were at the front. New Yorkers had a thin bar grille, "Chrysler" in letters above & a Chrysler logo centered. The bumper had a thin upper bar. The Windsor had 3 large horizontal bars, the logo was above & a huskier upper bumper guard.

The Powerflite automatic transmission shifter was now push buttons – a feature that would last for 10 years.

1956 CHRYSLER CARS DESCRIBEDwildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisher... · were available,...

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