Vehicle Description
Ask around, and I bet you'll find that your parents or even your
grandparents drove a car just like this 1955 Dodge Royal Lancer
back in the early '50s. Rugged, reliable, and surprisingly
entertaining on the road, this was basic transportation for
millions of Americans. Today, it represents a cool niche in our
hobby-cars that were restored for love, not profit.
Dark colors always looks great on cars like this, and the streets
were filled with similar low-profile cars throughout the '50s. All
those old photos you see have cars just like this going about their
business, parked by the curb outside a dry-cleaner or hardware
store, or churning up a cloud of dust on some lonely country road.
And they looked awesome doing it. This dark blue Dodge was
repainted a few years ago, with pretty straight sheetmetal, good
panel alignment, and fit and finish that makes it look more
expensive than it is. It's not perfect, but this car was obviously
something special to someone and they threw the budget out the
window when they were doing the work. There's also a lot of chrome
and stainless, most of which is original and in good shape and adds
a distinctive look reminiscent of the big, expensive Chrysler
300.
With room for six, cars like this were part of family road trips on
America's fresh superhighways. The upholstery is handsome blue
cloth and white vinyl, and virtually every automaker offered
something similar. It's simple, elegant, and dignified, which
encompassed everything about the early 1950s. The instrument panel
shows a few flashes of artistry, with the original gauges replaced
with modern white-faced gauges that fit like they were born there.
Plastics improved greatly during the war, so it's not unusual to
find post-war steering wheels like this one in good condition and
check out that shifter! The carpets are new and it still carries
its original AM radio in the dash, although it might be time for an
upgrade. You'll also be pleased to see that there's a lot of room
in the fully trimmed trunk, which has been done in blue for a
semi-custom look that really works well.
The 318 cubic inch V8 isn't original, but it sure moves this blue
sedan with genuine authority. Rebuilt within the last two years, it
features a Lunatic camshaft, new valve springs, fresh gaskets, and
a Carter 2-barrel carb as a nod to the past. They decided not to
dress it up and instead it has a period look with modern
functionality in the form of an alternator, dual reservoir master
cylinder, and a big aluminum radiator up front. "Golden Lion"
decals on the valve covers are a nod to tradition and factory-style
exhaust manifolds dump into a great-sounding dual exhaust system.
The front suspension has been fully rebuilt, there's a fresh 727
TorqueFlite automatic transmission, a fresh driveshaft, and new
wheel bearings and seals, so it's ready to roll. Chrome steelies
with baby moon hubcaps are a traditional look and carry 205/75/15
whitewall radials all around.
Discover how much fun an old car like this can be without a huge
investment. Dipping into a bygone era might be just what you're
looking for in your next old car. Call today!
