The Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe Coupé St. Regis from 1955 in a glorious two-tone colour scheme of bright red with white roof and bonnet, separated by a line of horizontal chrome work. The New Yorker DeLuxe name appears – like the original – towards the rear of the body below the chrome waistband. The Chrysler crest of the early 1950s depicting a red lion with a black shield sits on the edge of the bonnet and again on the boot catch. We also see the model with whitewall tyres, chrome wheels and hubcaps. The interior of the St Regis features red seats and steering wheel with a white dashboard. Our elegant motor is registered in Texas in 1955 as RH 3375.
The back story is fascinating.
The Chrysler New Yorker was their most prestigious flagship model throughout most of its life between 1940 and 1996. It was available in several body styles including sedan, coupé and convertible. The name helped define the Chrysler brand as an upmarket manufacturer on a par with the other great names of the era – Buick, Mercury and Oldsmobile – all in the Oxford Diecast range!
In 1955, Chrysler introduced new designs for the New Yorker which all carried the DeLuxe suffix. The two-door hardtop came either as a standard Newport or as the new higher priced St Regis, which replaced the former Chrysler Windsor. It came with exclusive two-tone paint and additional chrome trim. 1955 was a good year for Chrysler due to fresh attractive styling and proven Hemi engine power on the upmarket models. This included the top of the range New Yorker DeLuxe which continued the use of the 331 CID8-cylinder Hemi engine with horsepower increased to 250 as a result of the increased compression ratio.
Minor lower grille ad bumper alterations in the front and a different rear bumper configuration also enhanced the New Yorker over the Windsor. Even the model ‘signatures’ were repositioned – on the St Regis, it was towards the rear below the horizontal silver moulding and above the rear wheel arch.
