The Custom Royal Lancer was at the top of the pecking order for Dodge products in 1956. That’s when the seller’s beautiful convertible was built, one of 4,100 drop-tops (across all Dodge models). This one has been restored, though we don’t know how recently, and has Dodge’s 325 cubic inch “Hemi” V8. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this car has been here on Facebook Marketplace for several months, perhaps due to the asking price of $60,000. A shoutout goes to “Zappenduster” for another Mopar tip.
Dodge restyled their cars in 1955, so changes for 1956 were minimal. But the addition of tailfins was an easy way to sort one model year from the other. The lineup included the Coronet/Suburban (wagon), Royal, Custom Royal, and D-500 (NASCAR). The Custom Royal was the cream of the crop and could only be had with a V8 engine. They came as 4-door sedans and hardtops, 2-door hardtops, and convertibles (the latter two also referred to as “Lancers”.
The seller says this was a special-order Dodge, which might explain the 325 CI Hemi, which was offered beginning in 1957 (I think). A 315 CI “Poly” V8 would have been the top choice in 1956 proper. The car is said to have 100,000 miles, but that sounds like a placeholder rather than actual mileage. Besides the hot V8, a 2-speed PowerFlite transmission is in the mix. From what we can see, the Dodge looks good, but the photos aren’t the best.
Since the machine is described as being in “very good condition,” we assume the referenced restoration is an older one. And OEM interior pieces were used along with a Happich-brand cloth convertible top. No trades will be considered, and the seller would have had better luck selling the car sooner with a more extensive listing (and maybe a better price).
Not just a Lancer, nor a Royal Lancer, but a Custom Royal Lancer! And a rag top missing its back window. This is a nice car, but not $60k nice. It will continue to sit. A word about early Hemis.. They were quite powerful, but they were also heavy, which offset some performance.
Considering this car is being shown without at least a wash and a wax, missing things like the back window, and no real good shots of the rest of the car, I doubt he won’t get anywhere near what his “bottom line” is. Nice car, but not that nice.