Re: Why Trim Differences on Clipper

Posted by BH On 2012/6/5 16:19:07

I made it a point to note these trim differences, as best I could, when I composed the content for the 55-56 ModelInfo[/url] pages, nearly six years ago. ALL of the images that I used for the '55 Clipper pages came from the SAME brochure - same as used in the dealer showroom album (referenced - and provided, here - by HH56).

The '55 Clipper Super Panama (5547) and Custom Constellation (5567) - both hardtop bodies - appear to have used only the curved door molding throughout the production run. The quickest way to tell the difference between those two models is that the Constellation was NOT available with fender skirts (shroud) - as documented in factory Trade Letters and duly noted in my RPO charts - because the line of the rocker molding was extended to a special wheel opening molding.

However, the '55 Clipper Deluxe (5522), Super sedan (5542) and Custom sedan (5562) started out in production with the short, straight door molding. I can't tell you when, but production later changed to a curved door molding for those bodies, but it's documented in the 55-56 parts book (Gr. 30.295). It's impossible for me to tell the difference betwen these three models/bodies at a glance; in the asbence of a view of script plates, one would need a view of the interior, with access to said dealer album and understanding of respective trim sets to do so.

I'm inclined to agree with the comparison to same year Pontiac, but in the absence of bona fide factory documentation, am reluctant to say that's the reason for the running production change.

The curved molding certainly does allow for a more dramatic two-tone - though I've read that some people don't seem to care for it.