The 1955 Plymouth Belvedere Suburban Wagon was part of Plymouth’s all-new styling era, marking Chrysler Corporation’s move away from the more conservative early ’50s designs to the sleeker, lower, and more modern look of the “Forward Look” under stylist Virgil Exner.
The 1955 Plymouth Belvedere Suburban Body Style was 4-door station wagon (also offered in 2-door versions in some trim levels). The Belvedere was Plymouth’s top trim line, above the Plaza (base) and Savoy (mid-level). The Suburban was Plymouth’s wagon line, available across all trims — so the Belvedere Suburban was the upscale version.
Features
First year for Plymouth’s completely new body design: longer, lower, and wider, with tailfins just starting to appear. Eggcrate grille design with a prominent central bar. Two-tone paint schemes were very popular, especially on Belvedere trim levels. Interiors were better appointed than lower models, with upgraded fabrics, chrome accents, and more available options. Seating for 6 to 9 passengers depending on configuration.
Standard engine:
- 230 cu in inline-six (“Hy-Fire Six”) – ~117 hp.
Optional engine (new for 1955):
- 241 cu in “Hy-Fire” V8 (borrowed from Dodge), making around 157 hp.
Transmissions:
- 3-speed manual (column shift)
- Optional PowerFlite 2-speed automatic (Plymouth’s first fully automatic transmission).
Plymouth sold over 675,000 cars in 1955, helping the brand climb back into popularity, but wagons were a smaller percentage.
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