Chassis no. U5GW134307

182-hp, 272-cid OHV V-8 engine, three-speed manual transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 115.5-inches

“Victoria,” a name used in the 1930s for stylish two-door models, was revived by Ford in 1951 for the new hardtop coupe. For 1955, a companion model was added, the Crown Victoria with a sleeker roof and a heavy chrome tiara or “basket handle” incorporating slanting B-pillars. Many considered it the most stylish car in the catalog.

A Crown Victoria turns heads in any form, but this one, in the rare colors Regency Purple with Snowshoe White, really stands out. Equipped with a Continental kit, rear fender skirts and fog lights, it simply stuns.

The recipient of an older, frame-off restoration, it has a black-and-white vinyl-cloth interior with matching dashboard and black carpets. The engine is the Power Pack version of Ford’s 272 Y-Block, its four-barrel carburetor good for 182-hp. Unusually, it has a three-speed manual transmission with column shift. Other accessories include radio, heater, windshield washers, and a clock.

The 1955 Crown Victoria proved quite popular, with more than 33,000 built. Few, however, had manual transmissions, and reportedly only 500 came in Regency Purple. Quite literally, this must be the jewel in the crown.