The Keller years at Chrysler were definitely over in 1955 with the advent of tatty cars like the 1955 Dodge Royal Sierra Custom station wagon . K.T. Keller , corporal president since 1935 , liked materialistic styling with high rooflines that tolerate passenger to keep their hat on . By 1954 , America desire sleek , flashy car and Dodge sales were suffering .
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Chrysler ’s raw chief of design , Virgil Exner , was the anti - Keller . His styling was spectacular even by fifties standards . In 1955 , he start to show his stuff with new styling for all Chrysler divisions . duty for the Dodges fell to Maury Baldwin , one of Exner ’s new recruits .
The 1955 Dodge had what copywriters called " Flair Fashion " styling . Two- and even three - quality color schemes were used to make cars seem longer and lower . The DoI was n’t neglect with two - tone upholstery and a full complement of rotund gauge grouped in front of the driver . The world sleep together it , and Dodge sales increase by more than 75 percent for the model year .
Styling was n’t the only matter the new Dodge had going for it . Dodge got a V-8 in 1953 , and for 1955 the engine rise from 241 to 270 cubic inches . HP for V-8s straddle from 175 to 193 . The fastest models could top 100 mph , with 0 - 60 in the 14 - mo range . Both were skillful for a intermediate - price 1950s sedan .
Top - line Custom Royals got a 183 - H.P. " hemi . “An available power clique with four - barrelful carburettor and dual exhaust raised horsepower to 193 . Royals ( including Royal Sierra Custom police van ) got a polyhead V-8 with 175 horsepower . An 50 - head six was stock in stand Coronets . A PowerFlite two - speed automatic transmission was optional . The shifter was a small lever on the hyphen .
Dodge ’s dangling was praise by the press . Motor Lifesaid , " The Dodge sticks to the road like a vaporize bug on a windscreen . " The mix of functioning and handling give off with a undecomposed showing in the 1956 NASCAR time of year .
Not as exciting as the stock car racers but more hardheaded were the Dodge station wagons . At the first of the model twelvemonth , the Royal Sierra , available with two or three row of seats , was the top Dodge Big Dipper . Then , at midyear , a Royal Sierra Custom with special clipping was added . ( The more expensive a 1950s Dodge , the longer the name . )
Sierra Customs had chrome vertical stabiliser and a dipped beltline clay sculpture cribbed from the flashy Lancer models . A V-8 badge was summate just below the dip . Not many Royal Sierra Customs were built .
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