1957 Dodge Custom Royal

The Custom Royal line served as Dodge's flagship model from 1955 through 1959. It had the top-level trim, wore chrome tail fins, special tail-light surrounds, an upscale interior, backup lights, and a Red Ram Hemi engine.

The entry-level 1957 Dodge was the Coronet offered as a sedan, club sedan, Lancer hardtop sedan, Lancer hardtop coupe, and convertible. The intermediate trim level was the Royal series offered in the same body styles as the Coronet sans club sedan. The top trim level was the Custom Royal with the same body styles as the Royal. Prices on the Custom Royal were approximately $150 higher than its Royal siblings.

All 1957 Dodge models rested on a 122-inch wheelbase platform with a length of 212.2-inches. The station wagons were slightly longer at 214.4-inches. The Coronet rested on 7.50x14 tubeless black sidewall tires, while the others had 8.00 x 15 tubeless black sidewalls.

The Coronet was powered by an inline, L-head six-cylinder engine with a 230 cubic-inch displacement, solid valve lifters, and delivered 138 horsepower. The Red Ram V-8 had overhead valves, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a 325 cubic-inch displacement, and 245 horsepower in the Coronet and Royal series. The Custom Royal version used a Carter carburetor (instead of a Stromberg two-barrel version) which boosted power to 260 horsepower. Transmission included a PowerFlite or TorqueFlite automatics. This was the first year of the torsion bar front suspension.

The styling incorporated Virgil Exner's 'Forward Look' designs. In the front were deeply recessed headlights with large headlight 'brows' flanking a grille that housed a gull-wing-shaped horizontal bar that dipped in the center and housed a large Dodge crest. The Dodge name, in block letters, was spaced along the front of the grille, directly below the chrome jet-styled hood ornament. Chrome trim surrounded the headlights, grille opening, windshield, rear window moldings, wheel covers, along with the fins, and side trim.

The Custom Royal Series had six vertical bumper bars between the horizontal grille bar and the bumper. The Dodge name was in gold along the hood and trunk lid, and the Custom Royal name appeared on the sides of the front fenders.

Optional equipment included Air temp air conditioning, Highway Hi-Fi automatic record player, Mopar radio, turn signals, power brakes, power windows, power steering, and an electric clock. The D-500, Super D-500, and D-501 engines were also optional. The D-500 displaced 325 cubic-inches, had hemispherical heads, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, solid valve lifters, and delivered 285 horsepower. The Super D-500 added a dual Carter four-barrel carburetor which boosted power to 310 horsepower. The D-501 was a 354 CID V8 with Hemi heads, two Carter four-barrel carburetor, hydraulic valve lifters, and delivered 340 horsepower. These engine options came with a heavy-duty suspension, upgraded brakes, and other chassis upgrades that were utilized from the New Yorker and Imperial lines.

Virgil Exner's 'Swept Wing' forward-look design earned the Industrial Designers Institute Gold Medal in 1957.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

A step above Plymouth in performance and luxury, Dodge's top-of-the-line Custom Royal models were flamboyant expressions of Virgil Exner's trend-setting 'Forward Look' styling.

This Custom Royal Convertible is one of 2,456 built in 1957 and is equipped with the rare D-500 option, which included a 310-horsepower, 325 cubic-inch, Super Red Ram Hemi V8 engine and Carter 4-barrel carburetor. It is believed to be one of only five D-500 Convertibles ordered with the three-speed manual transmission.

This unusual car was meticulously maintained by its first owner for 47 years and has traveled only 14,985 miles since new. It remains completely original and unrestored, right down to the period-correct plastic seat covers and dealer-installed search light mirror.

Convertible

Dodge described the 1957 Custom Royal Lancer as 'completely new, from road to roof,' and it was. The longer, lower and wider body sat on a new X-braced frame with side rails. 'Twin-Set Driving and Parking Lights' were neatly placed above the 'Mono-Grille.' Out back, 'Soaring Swept Wings' housed new 'Twin-Jet Taillamps.' The Torque-Flite automatic transmission featured pushbutton controls and a 'Scope-Sight' horizontal red ribbon speedometer accurately reported vehicle speed. All in all, it was a dramatic package that set the pace for medium-priced cars in 1957.

This Custom Royal Convertible is one of only 2,456 built in 1957 and is equipped with the rare Super D-500 option, which included a 330 horsepower, 325 cubic-inch, Super Red Ram Hemi V8 with dual 4-barrel carburetors. It has just completed a full restoration and is refinished in the original colors of 'Tropical Coral and Glacier White.' The unique upholstery fabric has been carefully replicated.

Hardtop
Chassis number: 37275779

The 1957 Dodge Custom Royal series, their top-of-the-line model, came with a standard Red Ram V-8 engine or the optional, high-performance D-500 engine. When the D-500 was fitted with optional dual-barrel carburetors, it became known as the Super D-500 and offered 310 horsepower. Dodge's advertising stated 'New low look! New safety-strength design! More fine-car features than any other car at its price! Now see the new queen of automotive fashion…the long, low, lovely Dodge Custom Royal for '57! Drive and ride in the all-new luxury of the biggest, finest Dodge of all.'

The particular Royal Lancer Coupe is one of the rare cars fitted with the Super D-500 engine option. This car is well equipped with power brakes, power steering, power seat, power windows, a Power-Flite automatic transmission, a radio with dual antennas, and factory air conditioning.

Currently in the Howard and Norma Weaver Collection, this car has been given a recent restoration. It is finished in Glacier White and Velvet Blue paint, and features the optional leather interior with cloth inserts.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop

Between 1955 and 1959 Dodge ran three Lancer models, the Coronet, the Royal and the Custom Royal; it debuted as a hardtop version on the full-size platform. This two-door hardtop carries the big block 361 cubic-inch V8 which was available in three versions ranging from 305 to 340 horsepower. It features a padded dash and steering wheel, foot-operated windshield wipers, dual antennas, and thick chrome eyebrows. Power windows, power brakes, air conditioning, and swivel seats were options. A total of 11,397 Custom Lancers were made in period and thus magnificent examples are very rare. This example is all original except for one repaint, helped by its odometer reading of 41,000 miles.

Convertible
Chassis number: 37278230
Engine number: KD500-8471

Wrapped in Virgil Exner's Forward Look design, the 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Convertible was boldly hailed by the company's marketing department as the best and most beautiful automobile yet created. The vehicle's profile was long and low with aviation-inspired design cues. Jet-Age-inspired elements included the triangular 'Flightsweep' tail fins, 'twin jet taillamps,' and high-contrast 'Scope Sight' instrumentation. The performance specification complemented the bold styling with its brand-new suspension and a selection of potent V-8 engine and transmission combinations. Dodge's 'Torsion-Aire' suspension used an independent torsion-bar system with ''anti-dip'' upper and lower control arms, shock absorbers, and an anti-roll bar.

The D-500 performance package on the Custom Royal used the standard 325 cubic-inch V-8 engine with a pair of Hemi cylinder heads, new pistons, hydraulic valve lifters, dual exhaust system, and Carter four-barrel carburetor. Output increased by nearly ten percent over the base engine, to 285 bhp. Of the 2,456 Custom Royal Lancer Convertibles produced for 1957, it is estimated that fewer than 125 examples were given the D-500 performance package.

This particular 1957 Custom Royal Lancer D-500 Convertible is an unrestored example that is finished in Halo Blue and Sapphire White exterior with a matching polychrome interior and white convertible top. The interior has a D-500-specific, twin-spoke steering wheel with a push-button radio and Torqueflite control modules. A previous owner treated the car to mechanical sorting and sympathetic cosmetic detailing.

Factory options include an under-dash heater, power steering, and power brakes. The standard steel wheels have chromed full-size covers and period-style wide whitewall tires.

by Dan Vaughan

Before the creation of the Daimler Chrysler in 1998, the Dodge Lancer was the model for the Dodge division and used to denote models three times in its history.

Designating both two and four-door pillarless hardtop models in the Coronet, Royal, and Custom Royal lines, the Lancer name was used by Dodge from 1955 to 1959.

A two-door hardtop version of the mid-level models designed by Dodge in 1955, the Lancer ran in the production line until 1960.

On V8 powered models, a V8 emblem was customized to the side, just below the V in the side trim.

The Lancer name was passed on to a clone on the compact model Valiant which was met with huge success during 1961. Given round taillights with full-width grilles, Lancers used a Slant-6 engine.

South Africa introduced a right-hand drive version of the Lancer that was sold from 1961 to 1963 though renamed as the DeSota Rebel. Equipped with the same 170 in³ Slant 6 engine, most came with the 3-speed manual transmission. In accordance with South African vehicle equipment regulation, white reflectors were mounted to the front bumper.

Though not meeting sales expectations, possibly due to the total resign of Dodge's compact car line, the Lancer was discontinued in 1963.

Re-introduced in 1985, a mid-sized 5-door hatchback version cloned from Chrysler LeBaron GTS and based on the Chrysler H platform.

Replaced by the Spirit, production ended April 7, 1989.

All production and design work was done in Sterling Heights Michigan.

by Jessican Donaldson