Dodge · 1955–1956

1955 Dodge

The 1955 Dodge car lineup, consisting of the entry-level Coronet, Royal, and ornate Custom Royal, was a major departure for the company. Driven almost out of business in 1953 and 1954, the Chrysler Corporation was revived with a $250 million loan from Prudential and new models designed by Virgil Exner. The Dodge lineup was positioned as the mainstream line in Chrysler's hierarchy, between DeSoto and Plymouth.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Dodge Matador

All Dodge 1955 Dodge data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Overview

The 1955 Dodge was all-new with a 120 in (3048 mm) wheelbase and 212.1 in (5387 mm) overall length, longer than the 1954 cars. They shared their basic mechanicals with the DeSoto Custom, but had distinct styling. These cars lasted through the 1956 model year before being replaced by an all-new 1957. There were six body styles and four trim levels for 1955:

Coronet

The Coronet (and Suburban station wagon) was the base model. This was the only line to feature the 230 in3 (3.8 L) Getaway I6 as well as the 270 in3 (4.4 L) Red Ram V8. Coronets were available in all body styles except the convertible. Sedans feature "Coronet" badges on the fenders, while the station wagons are called "Suburban". Although the hardtop coupe was officially named "Lancer", it wore only "Coronet" badges. Turn signals were standard on the Royal and Custom Royal models but optional on the base Coronet.

Royal

The Royal (and Sierra wagon) were the next step up. Featuring only the V8 engine, the Royal also lacked the 2-door sedan and wagon models available in the Coronet line. Early hardtop coupes lack the "Lancer" script, although they were officially Lancers, but later models wore "Royal Lancer" badges.

Custom Royal

The flagship model was the Custom Royal. All hardtop coupe and Custom Royal-only convertible models were called "Custom Royal Lancer". The Custom line featured unique chrome tailfins (although early model year cars went without this trim), special tail light surrounds, and an upscale interior. Backup lights were standard on the Custom line but optional on all others. The Custom Royal also featured the hemi 270 CID Super Red Ram engine.

La Femme

The La Femme was a special package oriented towards women, who made up an increasing share of Dodge buyers. It came in Heather Rose and Sapphire White colors and included a cape, boots, umbrella, and shoulder bag that matched the floral tapestry-like fabrics. Changes to the car include built-in compartments in the seatbacks to hold these accessories.

D-500

The 1956 D-500 was a high-performance model derived from the standard 1956 Dodge but differing in many ways. It included a heavy duty suspension and other chassis upgrades from the New Yorker and Imperial lines, upgraded brakes, and a high-performance 315 in3 (5.2 L) Hemi-head V8. A four-barrel Carter carburetor pushed output to 260 hp (194 kW) and 330 lb·ft (447 N·m). The 3-speed manual transmission was standard, with the PowerFlite 2-speed automatic as an option. A rare NASCAR-specific option was the D-500-1(Dash-1), which upped power to 285 hp (213 kW). The D-500 originally used only the Coronet 2-door sedan and Royal Lancer hardtop and convertible bodies.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: 1955 Dodge
Assembly: Dodge Main Factory, Hamtramck, MI
aka: Dodge Coronet, Dodge Suburban, Dodge Royal, Dodge Sierra, Dodge Custom Royal
Manufacturer: Dodge (Chrysler)
Production: 1955–1956
Successor: 1957 Dodge
Class: Full-size
Related: DeSoto Custom, Plymouth Plaza
Body style: 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, 2-door hardtop coupe, 2-door wagon, 4-door wagon, 2-door convertible
Engine: 230 in3 (3.8 L) Getaway I6, 270 in3 (4.4 L) Red Ram V8, 325 cuin V8, 350 cuin V8, 361 cuin V8
Transmission: 2-speed automatic, 3-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
Layout: FR layout
Wheelbase: 120 in (3048 mm)
Length: 212.1 in (5387 mm)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1234355CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1955_DodgeCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1352101661 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1956_Dodge_Custom_Royal_Lancer.JPGCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Stephen Foskett (Wikipedia User: sfoskett) · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.