Chris-Craft by the Numbers

The Continental Era 1955-1961

By Craig Magnusson, Pacific Northwest Chapter

1955 was the biggest year ever for Chris-Craft in terms of new models. The Capri and the Cobra runabouts were new, a number of new cruisers were introduced, and an entirely new line of utilities were introduced ranging in size from 18- through 25-feet. 

This new line, all called Continentals, replaced the Holiday name as Chris-Craft’s top-of-the-line utilities. For a few years, the Holiday name remained, applied to a somewhat stripped-down Continental, which was positioned in price between the least expensive 17-foot and 20-foot Sportsmans and the most expensive Continentals.

Although available in lengths up to 26-feet, the Continentals were low, sleek, bullnose beauties. Chris-Craft would be without a large open “utility” in the line until 1959 when the 24-foot Sportsman was introduced.

All Continentals and derivatives were phased out during 1961, to be replaced by an entirely new line of “sports boats” designed after Chris-Craft moved to Pompano Beach, Florida and sold to NAFI.

The all new 18-foot Continental was introduced in 1955 and continued in production through 1958. The Continental was equipped with a steeply sloped chrome framed windshield and the 1951 23-foot Holiday, and used blond highlights on the deck. The hull sides and transom were all dark mahogany, eliminating the blonde detailing of earlier Holidays. The vee windshield was used through 1956 (280 built) and a new two-piece curved windshield was used for 1957 and 1958 (204 built).

The 18-foot bullnose Holiday used the same hull, but without the fancy windshields, a blond highlighting, or interior ceiling boards. Ironically, a “Holiday” could be equipped with options and extras to nearly match a Continental, much like car lines overlap. Two hundred and eight Holidays were built for 1955-1956, and 115 for 1957-1958. The Holiday name was dropped after 1958.

The bullnose 18s were powered by versions of Chris-Craft’s “K” engine, with production totaling 808 boats. 

18- and 19-foot Continentals

Chris-Craft redesigned the 18-foot bullnose for 1959 with a new “clipper bow” stem and foredeck design. The windshield remained the same as the 1958 model, and the hull from the windshield back was essentially identical to earlier 18s. The Chris-Craft 283 V-8 was first introduced in late 1958 for 1959 model boats, was offered as an option and most of the clipper bow 18s were so equipped. Four hundred ninety-eight were built between 1959-1960.

For 1961, the hull was stretched 9-inches to make a 19-foot and painted white panel detail was added to the rear hull sides and side decks. The 283 V-8 became the standard engine, and another 180 were built before production ended. Altogether, 578 clipper bow Continentals were built. 

20-Continental/Holiday

The 20-foot bullnose Continental was introduced in 1955 and produced through 1957, along with matching Holiday. The 20-foot was styled like the 18-foot and 22-foot but based on the previous 20-foot Holiday. Both “K” and “M” based engines were available, and a V-8 for 1957. 

Two hundred and twenty-one Continentals were built, and 143 Holidays, for a total 20-foot production of 364 boats. The 20-foot bullnose was replaced by the 21-foot tail fin Continental during 1957.

22-foot and 23-foot Continental/Holiday

The 1955 22-foot Continental was an all-new boat, similar in appearance to the 20-foot Continental, and intended to replace both the 22-foot Sportsman and Custom Sedan which were retired in 1954. An attractive hardtop was

offered as an option, similar in design to the open-sided hardtops offered by Gar Wood in the late 1940s. The 22-footer was stretched to  23-feet for 1956, and produced through 1958. The big “W” was available as an option. 

One hundred and two Continentals were built in 1955, and 26 Holidays. As a 23-foot, 97 Continentals were built during 1956 and 28-Holidays. Finally, equipped with a new two-piece curved windshield, 73 Continentals ere built for 1957-1958. Altogether, 326 22-foot and 23-foots were built, including hard tops, most equipped with “M” series engines.

25-foot Continental

Considered by many to be the queen of the post-war fleet, the all new 25-foot Continental was produced only during 1955. Available as either a single power by Chris-Craft’s large 200 hp “W”, or with twin “KLs” (105 hp each), the 25-foot was big, fast and expensive. The 25-foot replaced the 23- and 24-foot Holiday, but used all new patterns – the Holiday had note been available with either the “W” or twins. The 25-foot Holiday was advertised, but none were produced. 

Thirty were built for 1955 – not bad for the most expensive boat in the line – making the 25-foot Continental the rarest of all post-war Chris-Crafts.

26-foot Continental

The 25-foot Continental was stretched to just over 26-feet for 1956, and offered with twin “M” series engines as an option. The steeply raked, vee windshield from 1955 continued through 1956, replaced by the two-piece curved windshield during 1957. In 1959, the last year of production, the blond highlights on the deck were redesigned, and twin 283 V-8s were offered with an advertised top speed of 40 mph. Although not quite as graceful or well-proportioned as the 25-foot Continental, the 26-foot earned the distinction as the largest, most-expensive utility built by Chris-Craft. Eighty were built from 1955-1959. 

21-foot Continental

Chris-Craft introduced an all new 21-foot highly styled Continental during 1957 as a 1958 model, replacing the conventional appearing 20-foot Continental. With white tail fins and upper hull sides, optional sliding hardtop, and a star emblazoned bullnose, the new 21-foot was a direct response to Century’s high styled Coronado which had been introduced in 1955. 

Introduced just before Chris-Craft’s Sliver Arrow, the 21-foot Continental demonstrated automotive styling concepts and details which would eventually spread to the entire Chris-Craft sport boat line during the 1960s. One hundred ninety of the original 21-foot tail fin Continentals were built from mid-1957 through 1959, powered first by “M”s and then by various V-8s including the large Chris-Craft Lincoln 430.

For 1960 the tail fins and foredeck were redesigned, with smaller concave fins and a raised center panel on the foredeck. Otherwise, the hull was the same and only V-8s were offered. Unlike the original design, no large rear deck Capri was offered. Ninety-six were built for the 1960-1061 model years. 

Altogether, 286 21-foot “tail fin” Continentals ere produced along with 44 1958-1959 Capris. 

By 1961, only the 19-foot and 21-foot Continentals were available. An all new line of sport boats would be introduced in 1962. 

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