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1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

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MinesGT
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1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:41 pm

Hi,

We have recently purchased a 1956 CC 23' Continental with removable hardtop. It has the Chrysler Hemi 331, and has also been fitted with an additional row of seats.

The boat had spent its life on Lake Tahoe, as far as we are aware, before we had it shipped to the UK.

We have been trying to find out how rare this is ? I have e mailed the mariners museum a couple of times to try and get the hull card, and further research assistance, but I can't seem to get a reply.

The hull no. is CL-23-055

Can anyone help? or point me in the right direction?

Cheers

Kevin

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Thu Sep 17, 2015 6:27 pm

welcome to the Buzz. This is a great model. I think not too many and even somewhat rarer with the top. If you have access to jerry conrad's book on chris crafts, he gives the production numbers for each model. Mine is at my other place so i cant look it up for you.

Not sure what is going on with the museum but will check their site for you in a minute.
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Thu Sep 17, 2015 6:31 pm

If you go to their website, under the Library, there is the chris-craft collection. It indicates pricing for hull card or for a fuller research package. You need to send them u.s. funds and your hull number in order to get what you want.
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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tkhersom
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by tkhersom » Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:07 pm

The Essential Guide indicates that there were 170 built from '56 to '58. It does not say how many came with hard tops.
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

MinesGT
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:01 am

Don Vogt wrote:welcome to the Buzz. This is a great model. I think not too many and even somewhat rarer with the top. If you have access to jerry conrad's book on chris crafts, he gives the production numbers for each model. Mine is at my other place so i cant look it up for you.

Not sure what is going on with the museum but will check their site for you in a minute.
Not long after I posted, I got a reply from the Mariners Museum. The research should be complete by Tuesday of next week, so hopefully by the end of next week, should have everything.

I will post the info as soon as I can.

Hope to upload some pics later today

Kevin

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drrot
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by drrot » Fri Sep 18, 2015 7:17 am

How about some photos. I've never seen a removable hardtop. It's hardtop boating season here.
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Greg Wallace
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Greg Wallace » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:02 am

Mr. Staib,

I find it hard to believe that a person of your eminent status and experience has never seen a removable hardtop on a Continental.

They are all removable.

In fact, mine also had a removable bottom.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

MinesGT
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:20 am

drrot wrote:How about some photos. I've never seen a removable hardtop. It's hardtop boating season here.

Here are some pics just before it was shipped to the UK

Image

Image

Image

Image

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:27 am

thanks, good looking boat. where do you use it in the UK? Are there many c-c's around at that lake?
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

MinesGT
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:45 am

Don Vogt wrote:thanks, good looking boat. where do you use it in the UK? Are there many c-c's around at that lake?

Cheers !

Never used it yet, unfortunately. There are a couple of rivers close by we have in mind, and the Lake District as well.

Just got to get a few small jobs done over the winter, ie engine service , small prop repair, cutlass bearing, and fuel cut off taps.

Chris Crafts are very rare over here, there is one in a boat museum being restored about 90 miles from where we live.



:D

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:58 am

thanks.

Oh, and troy, slightly off topic, did your 21 model (which is super with the fins) come with an optional hard top?
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

Mark Haines
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Mark Haines » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:20 pm

I have CL-23-043. You are going to have a great time in yours. Plenty of room for guests and it rides great. Enjoy!

Mark Haines
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tkhersom
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by tkhersom » Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:21 pm

Don Vogt wrote:thanks.

Oh, and troy, slightly off topic, did your 21 model (which is super with the fins) come with an optional hard top?
No hard top here, but still running the original MCL.
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Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:05 pm

thanks, troy, I wasnt clear. I meant did the model series offer an optional hardtop?
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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tkhersom
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by tkhersom » Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:18 pm

Don Vogt wrote:thanks, troy, I wasnt clear. I meant did the model series offer an optional hardtop?
Yes, it was offered with a hard top. :mrgreen:
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Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Fri Sep 18, 2015 7:00 pm

thanks, that is a neat top in relation to the design of the hull.
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Shady Lady » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:34 pm

Kevin-
Congratulations on your new boat. We are the proud owner of her older sister, a 1955 22' Chris Craft Continental Hardtop with the Hemi 331 engine. I am sure you will find, as you dig deeper into her history, she is even more rare than may initially be apparent as we did. 1955 was the first year Continentals were built and the only year the 22' model was built. There were only 102 22’ Continentals built in 1955. Of those 102 Continentals , 28 were equipped with the 200 HP Hemi engine and 20 were built with the sedan hardtop option. Only three were built with both the Hemi and sedan hardtop options. The "Shady Lady" is currently the only 22 foot 1955 Continental Sedan Hardtop with a Hemi engine listed in the ACBS Directory or on the CC Registry. We believed she is the only one of the three built in 1955 to still be on the water. I suspect you will find your boat to be equally rare.

You will also find as you begin to work on the boat that although the hardtop can be removed, it is not "removeable". That is, it is not intended to be removed. The hardtop is the only thing holding the "ventilating windows" together. Removal and reinstallation takes several painstaking hours. While there are a lot of open Continentals out there that were at one time hardtops, you have something special with the hardtop and I encourage you to enjoy it as is. We sure do!
Sicamous.jpg

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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:59 pm

Shady Lady wrote:Kevin-
Congratulations on your new boat. We are the proud owner of her older sister, a 1955 22' Chris Craft Continental Hardtop with the Hemi 331 engine. I am sure you will find, as you dig deeper into her history, she is even more rare than may initially be apparent as we did. 1955 was the first year Continentals were built and the only year the 22' model was built. There were only 102 22’ Continentals built in 1955. Of those 102 Continentals , 28 were equipped with the 200 HP Hemi engine and 20 were built with the sedan hardtop option. Only three were built with both the Hemi and sedan hardtop options. The "Shady Lady" is currently the only 22 foot 1955 Continental Sedan Hardtop with a Hemi engine listed in the ACBS Directory or on the CC Registry. We believed she is the only one of the three built in 1955 to still be on the water. I suspect you will find your boat to be equally rare.

You will also find as you begin to work on the boat that although the hardtop can be removed, it is not "removeable". That is, it is not intended to be removed. The hardtop is the only thing holding the "ventilating windows" together. Removal and reinstallation takes several painstaking hours. While there are a lot of open Continentals out there that were at one time hardtops, you have something special with the hardtop and I encourage you to enjoy it as is. We sure do!
Sicamous.jpg

Lovely boat !!

Many thanks for the advice

Cheers

Kevin

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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by clarks » Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:28 pm

I have a 23ft 1956 cont and have enjoyed it for many years There were only 170 built, It has a MBL and runs great. Big Woody is a keeper. I also have a 26ft cont with twins Ms called Twin Screw and hope to restore it soon Hope you enjoy yours as much as we have.

Bruce

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tkhersom
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by tkhersom » Sat Sep 19, 2015 9:23 pm

clarks wrote: I also have a 26ft cont with twins Ms called Twin Screw and hope to restore it soon Hope you enjoy yours as much as we have.

Bruce
That's funny! My uncle also has a 26'er with twin MCL's and he also refers to her as the "Twin Screw".
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

MinesGT
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Sun Sep 20, 2015 11:29 am

clarks wrote:I have a 23ft 1956 cont and have enjoyed it for many years There were only 170 built, It has a MBL and runs great. Big Woody is a keeper. I also have a 26ft cont with twins Ms called Twin Screw and hope to restore it soon Hope you enjoy yours as much as we have.

Bruce
Thanks

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steve bunda
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by steve bunda » Sun Sep 20, 2015 1:04 pm

The 23 footers are nice, I have restored 006 and now working on 024 with a MCL , I wonder at what hull number the windshields we changed to the plastic? 1958 or so. thanks, steve

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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Greg Wallace » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:15 am

Congratulations and welcome. Very Very nice boat you have there.

Perhaps not the finest riding utility but certainly one of the prettiest of the era. Have owned a 20 w/hardtop and a 22 w/hardtop. The 22 had just 51 original hours when I (stupidly) let her go for the second time a few years ago. Dad sold both originally. He also sold a special order 23 with hardtop, dual quad Hemi and "upholstered to match sample" interior. It was a dark teal with a rolled pleat that was stunning. She too still exists but sadly in rough shape.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

MinesGT
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by MinesGT » Wed Oct 14, 2015 11:07 am

Received the information pack from the Mariners Museum.

It shows that the boat was not originally supplied with the additional row of seats, so they must have been a later addition, however, it appears it is more rare than we first thought.

Out of the 170 boats of this model, there were only 2 with the M45S (331)
and a hardtop (The other hull was CL-23-135)

It may be the only survivor?

Very shocked!!!

Thanks for all the supportive comments

Cheers

Kevin

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Don Vogt
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Re: 1956 CC 23' Continental Hemi

Post by Don Vogt » Thu Oct 15, 2015 9:24 am

congratulations!
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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