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Cars in Taylor Swift Music VideosCool Car Find: 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer
This 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer has all the hallmarks of a ‘50s classic: chrome, fins, and a spectacular two-tone paint job.
Dodge at Peak 50s
1957 Dodge Lancer – carsforsale.com | Shop 1957 Dodge Lancer on Carsforsale.com
Carmakers of the 1950s were enamored of three things: chrome, fins, and overly long names for cars, the Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner as just one example. So, when Dodge was fashioning their top-of-the-line model, they made sure to keep with the fashions of the time they gave it an elaborate chrome grille, uniquely detailed fins, and a long name, the Dodge Royal Custom Lancer. Like many ‘50s classics, the Custom Royal Lancer is both distinctive of its era and more than capable of charming a contemporary audience.
Today’s Cool Car Find is an absolute stunner of a 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer in beguiling shades of turquoise and white.
The Original Lancer
For car fans of my generation, you’ll recall the Dodge Lancer of the 1980s as one of those bedraggled used cars populating your high school parking lot, bumpers held on with zip ties and duct tape, a tenuously connected and rapidly disintegrating exhaust system belting out notes reminiscent of a bass kazoo. The Dodge Lancer, when new, was a five-door hatchback of no major distinction beyond the Shelby branded variant that turbocharged an anemic four-cylinder to negligible effect.
Before that, the Lancer name was attached to a badge-engineered version of the DeSoto Rebel/Plymouth Valiant for two model years, 1961 and ’62, before evolving into the Dodge Dart. While not particularly notable, this Lancer did have a boldly designed 770 station wagon version that’s worth checking out.
The Lancer name, however, started out in the mid-1950s as an addendum to Dodge models to designate a pillarless design for models including the Coronet, Regal, Royal, and Custom Royal. The Custom Royal was then Dodge’s top model and ran from 1955 through 1959. It was offered as a two-door convertible, four-door sedan, and two- and four-door pillarless hardtop.
Engines for the Custom Royal included 315 cu.-in. Red Ram and Hemi D-500 V8s. These grew to 325 cu.-in., in 1957, adding a Super D-500 version that offered dual four-barrel carbs for 285 horsepower. In 1958, the Hemi design was jettisoned as the Ram Fire V8 became the stock offering at 295 horsepower. The D-500 and Super D-500 grew to 361 cu.-in. for 305 and 320 horsepower, respectively. The final year of production, 1959, saw the largest engines yet as the D-500 (retitled as the Ram Fire) became stock, and along with the Super D-500, was bored to 383 cu.-in. displacement for 320 horsepower and 345 horsepower for the Super D-500. A three-speed manual transmission came standard with the option of a TorqueFlite automatic, which became the sole transmission in 1959.
This Cool Car
Those large V8s were nice enough, but the real headline with the Dodge Custom Royal Lancer was and remains the car’s looks. Today’s Cool Car Find, a 1957 model year, is one of three distinct designs for the Custom Royal. The 1955 and ’56 cars featured a sloping hood and modest, chrome fins. For 1957 and ‘58, a significant redesign brought a more ornate grille works and body trim. In its final year, the Custom Royal was redesigned once again with a flatter hood, new grille, and characterful arching over the headlights.
This 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer sits in the design sweet spot for these cars, being highly ornate yet not overwrought. The fabulous turquoise and white two-tone paint job makes this car a head-turner. The color scheme continues inside the car with white accenting contrasting with the dark green carpet and upholstery. It’s clear that refurbishments have been painstaking as every nob and button sparkles.
The car’s generous chrome likewise shines. The ‘57’s complex grille design is a fitting introduction, and the chrome continues with body trim, “Custom Royal” badging, window moldings, and a pair of rocket hood ornaments. The car’s Lancer badging is also a treat. The full lance and knights helm can be seen on the side of the car as well as a helm and 500 emblem on the trunk lid.
1957 Dodge Lancer – carsforsale.com | Shop 1957 Dodge Lancer on Carsforsale.com
The back of this car is no less interesting. Here, the Custom Royal’s fins dominate the show. They feature unique stacked double taillights that jut rearward. Note the small marker light just above, set in straked chrome and hidden just above the fin’s chrome bezel. Even the exhaust is ornamented with flattened chrome tips. Everywhere you look, there’s another cool captivating detail to this mid-century masterpiece.
If you’re in the market for a classic Chrysler we recommend this 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer, listed for $65,995.
