1955 Imperial Convertible Custom
No factory convertible option existed for Imperial’s debut year as a standalone brand, though Chrysler Chairman K.T. Keller commissioned a single prototype for his personal use. That unique car took nearly a year to build and remained the only Imperial convertible constructed between 1951 and 1957.
This modern custom pays tribute to Keller’s Virgil Exner-styled original while creating something distinctly its own.
Builder Wayne Davis created this award-winning car by grafting a 1955 New Yorker convertible top structure and windshield frame onto a preserved Imperial hardtop body. Finished in custom-mixed Spies-Hecker Imperial Hazel Gray Metallic with a Kalahari-colored top, the car captured major honors including the 2017 Street Rodder Triple Crown of Rodding and multiple 2016 Goodguys awards.
Modern performance comes from a Bouchillon-modified SRT-8 392 Hemi V8 producing 485 horsepower, cleverly disguised with period-correct 1955 valve covers. A Chrysler 545RFE four-speed automatic transmission sends power through a custom driveshaft to a Dana 60 rear end with 3.70 gears.
Art Morrison independent front suspension, Bilstein shocks, and Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes transform handling far beyond what Keller ever experienced. Inside, Paul Atkins leather upholstery, Vintage Air climate control, and Classic Instruments gauges (rebuilt to appear stock while operating with modern sensors) blend authenticity with contemporary reliability.
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