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Rust-Free Nevada Car: 1955 Dodge Royal Lancer

Anytime that a person reads that a car from the mid-1950s is rust-free, that’s something to take note of. When it’s a 1955 Dodge Royal Lancer two-door, that’s even better. This great project car can be found here on craigslist in Superior, Wisconsin and the seller is asking $4,900.

This car really does look solid. It isn’t perfect but it looks good and complete and that yellow and white color scheme is perfect for a 1950s car – from back when car companies offered actual colors rather than tones. Although this car has only two colors, Dodge also offered “three-tone” paint schemes, speaking of tones.

Really nice examples trade hands for $20,000-$25,000 so this isn’t a car that can be dropped off at a restoration shop and left with a blank check on the dashboard without the next owner being upside down on the value. The next owner will have to do at least part of the work in order for it to make monetary sense. The body looks so nice, though, that’ll save thousands on what a rusty car would have cost to restore.

The interior is rough but if the floors are solid – and they say that it’s a Nevada car with no rust – it shouldn’t be hard to match the fabrics and patterns and make it look like new again.

Hey, that thang got a Hemi? Yep, the seller says that it has a Hemi and it turns over. It should be a 270 cubic-inch hemi head Super Red Ram which would have had 183 hp. I hope that they have the air cleaner assembly somewhere. I really like this car, it looks like a nice over-the-winter restoration project. Have any of you owned a mid-1950s Dodge Royal Lancer?

Comments

  1. Avatar Clintons

    Looks like the Air Cleaner is laying in the front passenger footwell

    Like 10
  2. Avatar FordGuy1972 Member

    There is an air cleaner lying on the front passenger floor, hopefully the correct one. Nice car to start out with as it seems to be complete and best of all, rust-free. I agree with the writer that the new owner will have to do some of the restoration themselves otherwise said restoration will be costly.

    Love the car though and hope it will be restored to stock.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      You’re right on the air cleaner, FordGuy1972! I need thicker glasses.

      Like 7
      • Avatar Morgan Winter

        I’d be more concerned about the missing carb…

        Like 6
      • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

        Ha, you have a good point, Morgan.

        Like 2
      • Avatar FordGuy1972 Member

        Well, when you get the glasses upgrade, look close and see if the carb is under the air cleaner…………………? ;)

        Like 6
    • Avatar Dodgeguy

      In Canada, the same car 1955 is called a Mayfair – they only built 450 of them with a small V8 – I have one that looks a lot better than this one – ofcourse, mine has be restored some 20 years ago – they did not export this model so is very rare.- when I called Chrysler to register a classic, they only had 3 other Mayfair’s listed.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar Mark D

    In high school my brother had a 55 Royal lancer. It was the coolest thing. 6 volt, power windows, power steering, I think that it had power brakes. ( If memory serves me right). And the baby hemi. Duel point distributor. But the best thing that it had was tons and tons of chrome. Really really sweet cruiser. We grew up about 15 miles away from this one.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar Will Fox

    This being the Royal, and not Custom Royal Lancer, it shouldn’t bring more than about $25K or so. If I restored this, I would paint it’s roof black, yellow on the lower sides; white on the upper sides & deck.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      You nailed it, Will. I think that’s the best color combo on these cars.

      Like 4
    • Avatar Robert Stine

      Will, this is a Custom Royal Lancer. They didn’t start using that little “Custom” badge on the front fenders until later in the production year.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar Keith

    Calling all Mopar freaks….. It’s a HEMI !

    Like 5
    • Avatar 36Packard

      Oh boy, the asylum let Keith out on pass.

      Like 12
    • Avatar Stillrunners

      Keith your such a crack head

      Like 0
  6. Avatar lc

    Super sweet and love the color combo – This is a 270 2bbl Red Ram rated @ 183 hp, not a Super Red Ram as they had a 4bbl carb and rated at 193 ponies.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Thanks, lc.

      Like 2
  7. Avatar rpol35

    “I hope that they have the air cleaner assembly somewhere.”

    The carburetor would help too!

    Like 1
  8. Avatar jerry z

    This things got a hemi! A small hemi but one none the less. A coupe at that price is a bargain.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Jack

    Redefining “No rust”.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Ben T Spanner

    My first car in 1965 was a 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer 2 dr ht with a “semi” hemi. My Father had a 1 year old 1955 Desoto Firedome 2 dr ht with a hemi .

    1955 and 1956’s were not very common. If you want one, this is a bargain.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar Jeff

    Nice car. Pleeeezzzze dont ruin it with a moderen hemi hack job or god forbid. A N. L S TRAVESTY

    Like 4
  12. Avatar moosie

    Clean it up as it sits body wise, do up the interior to modern accoutrements , put a nice tri-power 340 under the hood, an o/d trans and just drive it and enjoy it and be the envy of all the Ford & G.M. guys. Something you wont see every day.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    So many moons ago, while I was in school I worked at a vintage car lot……so cool……..they only carried “old cars”. We had a ’55 La Femme on the lot with the umbrella and makeup case in the glovebox .It was in perfect condition. I think it was three grand in 1981 dollars.

    These are interesting because they’re not the typical marque so many chase.

    This is another case of you better bring a boatload of money. We’re getting close to the tipping point where restoring so many of these exceeds the value when done. When that happens to most I expect a fire sale!

    Like 1
  14. Avatar bigdoc

    Cool looking old car. It would take some elbow grease but it would be a great cruiser.

    Like 2
  15. Avatar TimM

    To find a car like this with an early hemi under its hood is like a dream come true!! Hard to believe it even exists after all this time!! I know it’s not a muscle car but an original with a hemi and a straight rustless body I wouldn’t be surprised if the car was to go for a lot more than the expected price!!

    Like 1
  16. Avatar kjw42

    I learned to drive in a 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer.Pink, black and white which was very popular on the ’55 Dodge. It had the hemi, but with the 2 speed PowerFlite transmission it was not much of a performer. It still holds a place in my heart of course.

    Like 0

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