1957 Dodge Coronet Lancer Convertible

325ci OHV V8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
285bhp
2-Speed Power-Flite Automatic Transmission
Torsion Bar Front Suspension, Leaf-Spring Rear Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes.

*Step into the wonderful world of Autodynamics
*Pristine, 'Christine'-like styling
*Swept wing design

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Chrysler, facing its first of many more to come bankruptcy scares in the early 1950s, once armed with a $250M bailout from Prudential, outfitted its offerings for the 1955 season. With stunning Virgil Exner design and tremendous performance on tap, Dodge, sandwiched within the hierarchy of the Corporation, positioned itself as an industry leader. Coronet, Royal, Custom Royal and La Femme hit the ground running as offerings that year with a vast assortment of optional extras to be selected.

Entering the 1957 model year with the mantra, "Suddenly it's 1960". All five of Chrysler's car lines came complete with tall, iconic fins, and NASA-esq wedge-shaped profiling. Dodge differentiated itself from its siblings via treatment of its quarter-panel mounted fins. Rather than the more simplistic, although elegant, wedge profile of its family members, the stylists at Dodge perched triangular tailfins atop rounded rear fenders. This provided the outline for a most elegant brightwork and laid the groundwork for the then innovative two-tone color schemes. The swept wing cars for '57 were offered in four trim levels: Custom Royal, Royal, Coronet and Station Wagon - convertibles were offered solely as either a Coronet Lancer or Custom Royal Lancer. It is believed, that the vehicle offered here is an example of the former, fitted with a most desirable performance-oriented D500 package. The Super Ram Engine, with its polyspherical combustion chambers had ample power to move the standard Dodge's mass – though failed to excite those with a heavy-foot. With hemispherical combustion chambers, dual rocker arm shafts, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter 4-barrel and a true duel exhaust system (amongst other improvements), performance massively hiked to 285bhp and 345lbs-ft.

Records on file show this car was once offered to the public at Barret Jackson's Scottsdale 1994 auction, likely the nature in how it was acquired by the museum. This Flame Red over Glacier White D500 Dodge is an irresistible classic and a clear indication that muscle cars existed long before the Mustang and GTO.