1956
The driving force behind the C-300 continued to evolve as the 1956 Chrysler
300B featured a larger 354 cubic-inch Hemi
V8 which produced 340 horsepower
at 5200 rpm from the standard engine. An optional 10.1:1 compression engine
(8.5:1 was standard) shot the horsepower to 355.
Interest and sales of the 300 cars had proven to Chrysler executives that the
public was hungry for musclecars - but not all were prepared to pay the King's
Ransom of $4,242 the 300 was commanding. Consider this: A 1956 Lincoln could
be bought for $4,119 and a Cadillac for $4,146. A Chrysler Imperial would set
a buyer back $4,832. In comparison, a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis hardtop
(a top-of-the-line car) with a similar 354 cubic-inch V8 engine rated at 280
horsepower, could be had for $3,889. So admission into the 300Bs realm came
at a rather high cost.
Once the marketing wizards at Chrysler figured out that a strong performance
image would sell cars, they offered a new engine option for Dodge and a whole
new musclecar from Plymouth. The Dodge D-500 engine was a 315 cubic-inch V8
producing 260 horsepower at 4400 rpm. In a 3,475 pound Coronet, it offered
brisk acceleration at an affordable price tag.
The musclecar from Plymouth, an all-new model dubbed the Fury, also made its
debut in 1956. Featuring gold anodized side
trim (white was the only paint
color offered) and gold appointments elsewhere (including its turbine-style
gold wheel covers) the Fury 2-door hardtop was a distinctive car from any angle.
Under the hood was a 303 cubic-inch Polyspherical (Poly) V8 engine developing
240 horsepower at 4800 rpm. A 3.73:1 rear axle was standard with 4.11:1 offered
on manual transmission overdrive-equipped cars.
The TorqueFlite automatic transmission,
which would go on to help transmit the power of muscle Mopars through the next
two decades, was also introduced for the 1956 model year, but on Chryslers
only.
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