Having made its carrying out point for 1953 - 1954 , Dodge emphasized styling for the 1955 - 1956 Dodge D-500 . Not that it stood pat on carrying out – no make could give to , what with thehorsepowerrace tight than ever – so the 1955s became not only the most stiff Dodges ever , but among the fastest cars in all Detroit .
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If not totally new , they were decidedly dissimilar from any Dodges than had gone before – part of the sudden , dramatic lilt to high exponent and high style evident throughout the 1955 Chrysler Corporation line . This mean bolder , bright cars – such as the Dodge D-500 – with biggerenginesand mostly longer wheelbases – in Dodge ’s instance a young 120 - column inch yoke across the instrument panel , up 1.5 in from 1953 - 1954 .
Offerings were blissfully simplify into Coronet hexad and V-8s , and V-8 - only Royal and new Custom Royal models . Hardtop coupes were subtitled Lancer along with the Custom Royalconvertible , which pass the line at $ 2,748 .
Though Virgil Exner oversaw the styling of Chrysler Corporation ’s 1955s , Dodge and Plymouth received the attention of his assistant , Maury Baldwin . All the business firm ’s car embodied the " Forward Look , " Dodge shout its interpretation " Flair - Fashion . " Announcing the Dodge D-500 was an aggressive schnoz with two large horizontal bars wrap up around from the sides into a shared out grille cavity .
A dummy scoop appeared at the front of the tough and flared outward and back toward the cowl . On some models this ran to the rear fenders as an upper body clay sculpture , dip near the C - column ; in a contrast color , the area thus defined made what was still a rather high - sided consistence look grim . motorcar conventionally two - inflect at the beltline looked a batch squat .
Other features included " New Horizon " wraparound windscreen and , for Custom Royal Lancers , embryonic chrome tailfins . gaga three - tone paint jobs could be had on Custom Royals , with different colors on roof , soundbox sides , and the exhaust hood / deck of cards surface area .
Dodge ’s famed " Red Ram " V-8 expanded to 270 three-dimensional inch for 1955 – but was n’t necessarily a true hemi . It was if you bought a Custom Royal , where you got a Super Red Ram with an sizable 183 horsepower .
Otherwise you got what Chrysler termed a " polyspherical " locomotive . Its cardinal difference of opinion was intake and fumes valves invest diagonally across from one another rather than directly opposite , which permitted a single rocker quill for each cylinder bank alternatively of two and improved jade availability . With lighter rock ‘n’ roll musician arms and this simpler valvetrain , the poly weigh less and cost less to make than thehemi , yet keep back most of its desirable breathing timbre . Most of its power , too : 175 bhp .
For more on how the unexampled Dodge vision manifested in the 1955 - 1956 Dodge D-500 , go to the next page .
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Continued
Dodge bring out a host of new alternative in 1955 , but the 1955 - 1956 Dodge D-500 was arguably the most muscular – Dodge offered an surplus - toll " Power Pack " for the hemi - four - barrel carb and dual exhaust fumes adding 10 horses . With it , the hemi was formally ( and clumsily ) send for the " super - powered Super Red Ram , " but presently became known merely as the " D-500 " option .
The Dodge D-500 returned for 1956 on a hemi stroked out to 315 three-dimensional inches . large valves , mechanical lifters , reprofiled camshaft , and higher compression ( 9.25:1 ) gave it a mighty 260 knight , close to double the maximum power Dodge had offered just two eld before . A two - bbl , 218 - bhp version of the Dodge D-500 come stock on Royal and Custom Royal . Coronets retained the poly at a slenderly more brawny 189 bhp .
Dodge ’s meek 1956 face - rhytidoplasty brought eminent , fin rearward fenders to all models , which now included V-8 Lancer four - room access hardtop in each series , including the Dodge D-500 . As on other Chrysler makes , ascendence of the optional Powerflite automatic changed from the chromed embodied dashboard sceptre of 1955 to the before long - to - be - ill-famed pushbuttons .
Highland Park go more intemperately into in high spirits - public presentation limited edition for 1956 , issuing the new Plymouth Fury and DeSoto Adventurer to add on the play along - up version of the hairy Chrysler 300 . Little appreciated is the fact that Dodge had a like special , the Golden Lancer . This was basically a Dodge D-500 - equipped Custom Royal hardtop coupe with Sapphire White and Gold Gallant Saddle paint ; gold - colored dash , windshield , and room access molding ; and model white / gray / mordant upholstery . Production is unknown , even to Chrysler , but was doubtlessly minuscule .
every bit uncommon was " La Femme , " a newfangled - for-1955 trim package offer umbrella bearer , makeup case , and a fulgurant pinkish - and - white exterior in a patronizing nod to fair sex buyers distinctive of the years . The 1956 La Femme preserve most of milady ’s accessories , but the colors change to Regal Orchid over Misty Orchid . determine to the Custom Royal hardtop coupe – and available with the Dodge D-500 option – it sold fewer than 1,500 copy through 1956 ( estimates range from 300 to 1,100 ) , after which it was tastefully withdrawn .
Check out the specification of the 1955 - 1956 Dodge D-500 on the next page .
1955-1956 Dodge D-500 Specifications
The 1955 - 1956 Dodge D-500 helped Dodge shed its older - maid image and spurt a reputation as the producer of fashionable vehicles . As the 1955 - 1956 Dodge D-500 specifications below indicate , they were powerful as well .
Specifications
Engines : ohv V-8 1955 270.1 cid ( 3.63 × 3.25 ) , 193 bhp ; 1956 315.0 Criminal Investigation Command ( 3.63 × 3.80 ) , 260 bhp
Transmissions:3 - speed manual of arms ; overdrive and 2 - speed PowerFlite machinelike optional
Suspension , front : upper and downhearted A - arms , curl outpouring
abatement , rear : alive axle , semi - ovate leaf bounce
brake : front / rear drums
Wheelbase ( in.):120.0
Weight ( lbs):average 3,550
Top speed ( mph):115 - 120
0 - 60 mph ( sec):9.5 - 10.0
