1955 Dodge Royal Lancer: Flair Fashioned!

Klockau-Dodge-Royal-Lancer-Lead
Thomas Klockau

Dodge finally got some style in 1955. Not that the ’54 was ungainly, but starting in 1949, Dodges (and its Plymouth, DeSoto, and Chrysler brethren) got a little taller, plainer, and narrower than the competition, famously so due to then-Chrysler president K. T. Keller requiring a man to be able to get into a Chrysler Corporation product and not have his hat knocked off in the process. Yes. Hats were important in 1949.

Thomas Klockau

All of the Chrysler Corporation vehicles for 1955 were redesigned, from basic Plymouth Savoy to the top-of-the-line Imperial, which became a separate marque, a la Cadillac and Lincoln, instead of the fanciest Chrysler, although then and to this day, these cars are still far too frequently referred to as “Chrysler Imperials.” The ’55s were much more modern and stylish than the somewhat staid 1949–54 models.

Thomas Klockau

It was all part of Chrysler Corporation’s so-called “100 Million Dollar Look,” so named due to the reported cost of the all-new redesigned lineup.

Thomas Klockau

As the brochure extolled, “New ’55 Dodge … Flair-fashioned and alive with beauty! Expect the unexpected when you take command of the brilliant new ’55 Dodge. Expect a new reserve of power, new ride, new handling ease … new luxury features and advances that cater to your every comfort, pleasure, and pride!”

Thomas Klockau

Among the new optional items prominently featured for 1955 were a four-way power front seat, power windows, and “new, improved Full-Time Coaxial Power Steering.” Automatic transmissions now had a control lever sticking out of the instrument panel fascia. A standard feature on all models was the “New Horizon” wrapped windshield. As the brochure bragged, it was the “car of a hundred exciting surprises.”

Thomas Klockau

There were three model lines for 1955: the base Coronet, mid-level Royal, and the top-of-the-line Custom Royal. One cool new feature, and oh-so 1950s, was the three-tone paint option. And the colors! So many colors! Among the unashamedly bright and cheerful selections were Chiffon Green, Cameo Red, Parisian Blue, and Fantasy Yellow.

Thomas Klockau

Regardless of model designation, the 1955 Dodges had a 120-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 212.1 inches, and were first revealed to the buying public on November 17, 1954.

Thomas Klockau

Model year production was 273,286 units, while the calendar year sales totaled 313,038 vehicles.

Thomas Klockau

Our featured car is a two-door Royal Lancer, Lancer being Dodge’s designation for pillarless hardtop, regardless of model. It had a factory price of $2370 (about $27,150 today), a curb weight of 3425 pounds, and production of 25,831 units.

Thomas Klockau

The other Royal models included a four-door sedan, six-passenger station wagon, and an eight-passenger station wagon. If you wanted a convertible, you had to splurge for the top-of-the-line Custom Royal version for $2723 ($31,195).

Thomas Klockau

While the basic coronets came with a 123 horsepower, 230-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine, both the Royal and Custom Royal came with the 270-cu-in Red Ram V-8 with 175 horsepower.

Thomas Klockau

If that wasn’t enough power for you, you could also get the Super Red Ram V-8 with 183 horsepower at 4400 RPM. That last figure was with the Stromberg two-barrel carburetor, but if you ordered the Carter four-barrel carb, power was bumped to 193 horsepower at 4400 RPM.

Thomas Klockau

And while the majority of ’55 Dodges were introduced in November 1954, the Royal Lancer and the Coronet Sierra station wagon appeared a little bit later on December 17. The Custom Royal four-door Lancer appeared in April.

Thomas Klockau

Perhaps the most unusual 1955 Dodge was the La Femme package, available only as a two-door Lancer hardtop. It came only in Heather Rose and Sapphire White two-tone color combinations.

Thomas Klockau

Meant to appeal to the fashionable sophisticated woman, special features of the La Femme included color-keyed floral-tone upholstery, an umbrella, cape, boots, and even a shoulder bag.

Thomas Klockau

No matter who you ask, response to this special model was likely not what Dodge had hoped for. Though the package returned for 1956, it is estimated that less than 2500 were made in 1955–56.

Thomas Klockau

As a matter of fact, when I first spotted our featured car at the weekly Freight House cruise-in on the Davenport riverfront back on May 17, I thought it was a La Femme, but closer examination proved it was just a very brightly hued Royal Lancer hardtop.

Thomas Klockau

So while it was perhaps not quite the rare birdie I initially thought, it was still a beautiful car, and I was pleased as punch to gawk at it! I’d happily and proudly drive it.

Thomas Klockau

 

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Comments

    We need to invent a time machine to go back to the late 1950s and steal some car designers; the world is in great need of them.

    As always, a great article, Thomas. Most educational too.

    This one’s a real beauty — love that Dashboard!

    Didn’t Dr. Miles Bennell drive something like this in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”?

    Didn’t really notice it much until looking at this car, but the bumpers stick out quite a bit on cars of the 50s and early 60s. I guess because of the body styling, including the bumpers, it really works and makes it look natural. (Unlike the bumpers of ’73 and up. Yuck.)

    That car really is a beaut. The pillarless hardtop really cleans up the roofline. The trunk looks like it could be enormous inside.

    My dad was a Dodge man for all of my pre-teen years, and I remember going to Sanzenbacher Motors in Warren Ohio and playing with the 3-tone paint display while my dad talked with the owner. The display was a light box with a collection of slides of the various Dodge models with cutouts for the matching color sheets. I had a good time trying out colors for the many combinations that were possible.

    I’m pining for “Eddie”, my 58 two tone blue Royal sedan which was my winter beater for a few years in the late-70’s while in college. Seated 8 for road trips! I bought it from the original septugenarian owner who named him..push button automatic of course. Was a chick magnet too. Everyone loved the fins.

    One of the funnest cars I ever owned–but it was also during the funnest time to be just ‘of age’…

    Car shown is a Royal, not a Royal Lancer. Royal Lancer has small chrome fins and different headlight surround. Have one that has been in family since sold new by my great uncle to my grandparents in 1955.

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