Constellation
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The Constellation was generally considered the top of the line mahogany cruisers offered by Chris-Craft between 1955, its inaugural year, through 1972, the last mahogany cruiser to be delivered. The only exception would be Motor Yachts. The Constellations were fitted for comfort and elegance. The accessory lists were short for most of the larger models and some of the smaller ones as most everything was already included. Chris-Craft announced the 53' Constellation in January of 1954 with a Spec. Sheet distributed to their dealers. A total of 42 of them were built, all were designated as 1955 models.
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[edit] Overview
Constellations were offered in lengths between 25’ (1961-1962) and 66’ (1960-1961). This 66’ Constellation has the distinct honor of being the longest mahogany cruiser that Chris-Craft ever built. The 57' Constellation was the last wood cruiser built by Chris-Craft in 1972.
Beginning in 1961 all Constellation models received the distinctive “Triple C with Arrow” embellishment on their topsides near the bow. The name “Constellation” was not present inside or out, and to my knowledge only appeared on the hull cards.
Chris-Craft produced more than 7,200 of these great mahogany Constellation cruisers in 47 distinct models. See also the Constellation Express, Sedan, Salon and Tri-Cabin models.
The following is a tabulation of Constellations by year and lengths offered: Note that the Express, Sedan, Salon and Tri-Cabin models are not included.
| Year | Quantity | Lengths Offered | |
| 1955 | 42 | 53' | |
| 1956 | 330 | 35' 38' 42' 46' 54' | |
| 1957 | 505 | 28' 30' 35' 38' 42' 46' 48' 55' | |
| 1958 | 365 | 28' 31' 35' 38' 40' 42' 48' 55' | |
| 1959 | 590 | 27' 31' 35' 40' 55' 65' | |
| 1960 | 800 | 27' 32' 36' 40' 45' 50' 55' 66' | |
| 1961 | 1,090 | 25' 28' 32' 36' 41' 45' 50' 55' 66' | |
| 1962 | 900 | 25' 28' 32' 36' 48' 50' 55' | |
| 1963 | 735 | 27' 30' 34' 37' 42' 46' 52' 57' | |
| 1964 | 500 | 27' 30' 34' 37' 42' 46' 52' 57' 65' | |
| 1965 | 500 | 28' 30' 32' 36' 37' 43' 46' 52' 57' 65' | |
| 1966 | 405 | 28' 36' 37' 45' 48' 52' 57' 65' | |
| 1967 | 230 | 30' 37' 45' 48' 52' 57' 65' | |
| 1968 | 125 | 30' 45' 52' 57' 65' | |
| 1969 | 105 | 31' 36' 45' 57' | |
| 1970 | 20 | 31' 57' | |
| 1971 | 10 | 57' | |
| 1972 | 35 | 42' 57' |
7,290 Total Constellations built (quantities approximate except for 1955, 53' model).
It's interesting to note the growth in popularity that peaked in 1961 and then began to fall rapidly. This may be attributed to other Division sales such as Cavalier and Sea Skiff as well as luxury Aluminum Roamers and Fiberglass Commanders that were later being introduced.
[edit] Models
Models are broken into two categories, the first representing the period when the Smith family owned Chris-Craft and the second after the purchase of Chris-Craft by NAFI.
[edit] 1955 to 1960
Model Year Hull No. Series Quantity Length Notes
1955 X-53-101 to -142 42 53' First Constellation
1956-1959 X-35-101 to -236('56) 136 35'
X-35-501 to -634('57) 134 35'
X-35-701 to -900('58-'59) 200 35'
1956-1958 X-38-101 to -192('56) 92 38'
X-38-201 to -258('57) 58 38'
X-38-301 to -336('58) 36 38'
1956 X-42-101 to -131 31 42'
1956-1957 X-46-101 to -157 57 46'
1956 X-54-101 to -138 38 54'
1957-1958 CD-28-001 to -138 138 28'
1957 CD-30-201 to -302 102 30'
1957-1958 X-42-201 to -230('57) 30 42'
X-42-301 to -354('58) 54 42'
1957-1958 X-48-101 to -126 26 48'
1957-1960 X-55-101 to -128 24 55' See Notes 1, 3.
X-55-201 to -260 60 55'
1958-1959 X-31-501 to -604 104 31'
1958-1959 X-40-501 to -536 36 40' See Note 2.
1959-1960 X-27-501 to -1298 798 27' See Note 3.
1959 X-65-101 to -102 2 65'
[edit] Notes:
- Four Conquerors were built in this hull series and were designated with hull prefix CX-55.
- This model was continued in 1960 with new Hull Number Series CXA-40 series.
- When Chris-Craft Corporation was purchased by NAFI in 1960 the hull number series prefix was modified by the new owners. Two Constellation models maintained their original Hull No. Series during the transition year of 1960, the 27' and the 55' models. The 40' X-40 series, however, was changed as noted. All other Constellation models were new beginning in 1960.
[edit] 1960 to 1972
Model Year Hull No. Series Quantity Length Notes
1960 CXB-32-001 to -057 57 32'
1960 CXA-36-001 to -202 202 36'
1960 CXA-40-001 to -042 42 40' Continuation of 1958-1959 X-40 Series
1960 CAA-45-001 to -056 56 45'
1960 CAA-50-001 to -042 42 50'
1960-1961 CMA-66-001 to -005 5 66' Longest wood cruiser built by Chris-Craft
1961-1962 CXA-25-001 to -200('61) 200 25'
CXC-25-001 to -120('62) 120 25'
1961-1962 CXA-28-001 to -410('61) 410 28'
CXB-28-001 to -300('62) 300 28'
1961-1962 CXC-32-001 to -180('61) 180 32'
CXD-32-001 to -170('62) 170 32'
1961-1962 CXB-36-001 to -170('61) 170 36'
CXC-36-001 to -190('62) 190 36'
1961 CXA-41-001 to -026 26 41'
1961-1962 CXB-45-001 to -035('61) 35 45'
CXC-45-001 to -056('62) 56 45'
1961-1962 CXB-50-001 to -030('61) 30 50'
CXC-50-001 to -030('62) 30 50'
1961-1962 CAA-55-001 to -036('61) 36 55'
CAB-55-001 to -036('62) 36 55'
1963-1964 CXA-27-001 to -185('63) 185 27'
CXB-27-001 to -120('64) 120 27'
1963-1968 CXA-30-001 to -220('63) 220 30'
CXB-30-001 to -160('64) 160 30'
CXC-30-001 to -150('65) 150 30'
CXD-30-001 to -130('66) 130 30'
CXD-30-2001 to -2100('67) 100 30'
CXD-30-3001 to -3060('68) 60 30'
1963-1964 CXA-34-001 to -110('63) 110 34'
CXB-34-001 to -030('64) 30 34'
1963-1967 CXA-37-001 to -125('63) 125 37'
CXB-37-001 to -080('64) 80 37'
CXC-37-001 to -065('65) 65 37'
CXD-37-001 to -030('66) 30 37'
CXD-37-2001 to -2045('67) 45 37'
1963-1964 CAA-42-001 to -050('63) 50 42'
CAB-42-001 to -030('64) 30 42'
1963-1965 CAA-46-001 to -044('63) 44 46'
CAB-46-001 to -040('64) 40 46'
CAC-46-001 to -045('65) 45 46'
1963-1968 CAA-52-001 to -022('63) 22 52'
CAB-52-001 to -016('64) 16 52'
CAC-52-001 to -012('65) 12 52'
CAD-52-001 to -008('66) 8 52'
CAD-52-2001 to -2004('67) 4 52'
CAE-52-001 to -014('68) 14 52'
1963-1972 CAA-57-001 to -028('63) 28 57'
CAB-57-001 to -033('64) 33 57'
CAC-57-001 to -036('65) 36 57'
CAD-57-001 to -040('66) 40 57'
CAD-57-2001 to -2036('67) 36 57'
CAE-57-001 to -034('68) 34 57'
CAF-57-001 to -030('69) 30 57'
CAF-57-2001 to -2025('70-'72) 25 57' See Note 1.
1964-1968 CAA-65-001 to -002('64) 2 65'
CAB-65-001 to -003('65) 3 65'
CAB-65-2001 to -2003('66) 3 65'
CAB-65-3001 to -3002('67) 2 65'
CAB-65-4001 (1968) 1 65'
1965-1966 CXC-28-001 to -080('65) 80 28'
CXC-28-2001 to -2050('66) 50 28'
1965 CXE-32-001 to -035 35 32' See Note 2.
1965 CXE-36-001 to -040 40 36'
1965 CAA-43-001 to -035 35 43'
1966-1969 CAD-45-001 to -019('66) 19 45'
CAD-45-2001 to -2020('67) 20 45'
CAD-45-3001 to -3015('68) 15 45'
CAD-45-4001 to -4005('69) 5 45'
1966-1967 CAA-48-001 to -026('66) 26 48'
CAA-48-2001 to -2024('67) 24 48'
1969-1970 CXA-31-001 to -060('69-'70) 60 31'
DXA-31-001 to -013('70) 13 31' See Note 3.
1969 CXG-36-001 to -010 10 36'
1972 CAC-42-001 to -027 27 42'
[edit] Notes:
- Hull Number CAF-57-2024 was the last mahogany cruiser built by Chris-Craft, shipped Nov. 4, 1972.
- This model was also built as a Constellation Express model.
- These were built in the Stratford, Ontario, Canada facility prior to its closing in 1970.
[edit] References
- Chris Craft, The Essential Guide, by Jerry Conrad; Mariners' Museum
- Type: Book; English
- Publisher: Newport News, VA : Mariners' Museum, ©2002.
- OCLC: 49780180
