Vehicle Description
This 1956 Dodge Coronet Sierra Wagon is a charming 50s station
wagon that is loaded with fantastic options! Largely brought on by
the styling changes of the "Forward Look" styling program and
favorable market conditions across the American automotive
landscape, Dodge (as well as seemingly all of its sister marques at
Chrysler) was coming off a massively successful year of sales in
1955. Taking design influences from the growing aviation industry
and space exploration, the Forward Look design philosophy, brought
on by famed automotive designer Virgil Exner, prioritized
aerodynamics and space-age design. In fact, Chrysler's shift to the
new "Forward Look" was a massive wager for Chrysler that saw
slowing sales in the early 50s and it was said that Chrysler spent
over $250 million (in 1950s dollars) on the design, development,
and tooling to produce the space-inspired designs. And, Chrysler's
bet on the Forward Look turned out to be a good one as its sales
not only rebounded but grew in 1955. In an effort to keep up its
momentum in 1956, Dodge sought to retain much of the same general
style from the previous year. Up front, the 1956 Dodge models were,
for the most part, left unchanged and the front ends were virtually
indistinguishable from 1955 to 1956. However, from the sides, rear,
and even inside, the 1956 Dodges did see some updates in '56. While
not the most significant change in 1956, "Saddle Sweep" side trim
added for '56 with chrome trim that ran from the nose and swept
down to the rear bumper on the rear quarter panels. More
significantly, the entire silhouette of the 1956 Dodge models
changed with the addition of modestly sized tail fins, which was
the start of having those iconic hallmarks of the Forward Look era
cars and a harbinger of style trends across the entire industry in
the mid to late fifties. The other major improvement in 1956 was
the first time Chrysler had their famous push-button shifters
incorporated into its cars across all of its marques including the
1956 Dodges. In total, Dodge produced 142,613 of its Coronet series
cars in '56. While Dodge did not break down its production numbers
by body style in 1956, station wagons were likely among the lower
production bodies and additionally, they were daily-driver people
movers so seeing one, such as this particular example, survive
nearly 70 years is quite a feat. Under the hood on this '56 Dodge
Sierra Wagon is a "Super Red Ram" 315 cubic inch V8 that breathes
through a single 4 barrel carburetor that together were said to
have produced 230 horsepower when new. The 315 V8 is mated to an
automatic transmission that is shifted with a push-button shifter,
a cornerstone feature of the Forward Look era. Exhaust exits the
Super Red Ram power plant via a dual exhaust setup that generates a
superb sound out of the tailpipes. This 1956 Coronet Sierra Station
Wagon is absolutely loaded with options! With power brakes in all
four corners, bringing this 3,600 pound people mover to a complete
stop is much easier. Squeezing into a tight parking space at the
local car show or drive-in is a total breeze thanks to the addition
of an optional power steering system. Further aiding with parking
efforts, as well as lane changes, is a pair of chrome outside
mirrors. Riding on a set of wide whitewall radial tires mounted on
painted steel wheels and accented with full chrome spinner-style
wheel covers, this 1956 Dodge Wagon has a fantastic look and even
better ride. Even the bumpers have a stepped-up look thanks to a
pair of bumper guards mounted on both the front and rear bumpers.
The tri-tone exterior consists of a Crown Yellow and Jewel Black
body topped off with a Sapphire White roof, completing the exterior
look of this rare Mopar wagon. The interior of this 1956 Dodge
Coronet Sierra Wagon has a fantastic "Forward Look!" The front and
rear bench seats feature black and white houndstooth fabric with
white inserts on the seat backs and bottoms. The black and white
door panels, tuxedo-styled carpeting, black and white painted dash,
and refurbished steering wheel all retain a beautiful stock
appearance. The space-age inspired dash features a wide array of
instrumentation including a 120 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge,
oil pressure gauge, amp gauge, and fuel gauge, along with a
concealed ash tray. Finishing off the dash are a variety of
controls, along with a locking glovebox and push-button AM Radio.
Whether you're looking to add an eclectic piece to your existing
collection of Mopars or you're buying your very first classic car
and want something that can fit the whole family and some luggage
too, this 1956 Dodge Coronet Sierra Wagon would make an excellent
choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!
*"Super Red Ram" 315 Cu. In. V8
*Single 4 Barrel Carburetor
*Pushbutton Automatic Transmission
*Dual Exhaust
*Power Brakes
*Power Steering
*Crown Yellow/Sapphire White/Jewel Black Exterior
*Black/White Houndstooth Bench Seat Interior
*Wide Whitewall Radial Tires w/ Full Wheelcovers
*Pushbutton AM Radio
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 84,788 Miles
