Easy Revival: 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer
The Custom Royal enjoyed a short run in the 1950s as Dodge’s range-topping model. It is a prime example of Virgil Exner’s “forward look” design philosophy, a styling trend that forever changed American automotive design. Cars no longer needed to be upright and boxy, with “forward look’ producing cars that were long, low, and sleek. This 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer 4-Door Hardtop has spent years in hibernation, but the seller revived its engine, ready for it to find a new home. They include many parts required to return the car to active service, making it ideal for someone seeking a straightforward project candidate.
Dodge introduced the Custom Royal Lancer to its model range in 1955 as its premium offering, with cars remaining on sale until 1959. This one has spent years hiding but hasn’t suffered unduly from the experience. Its color combination of Gallant Gold and Jewel Black is particularly attractive, ensuring the car will garner attention wherever it goes. The seller doesn’t provide much information on its history, but I believe it may have received at least a partial repaint or restoration at some point. I base my assumption on the fender badges. They are correct for this car, but compared to other examples I have seen, they appear to be back-to-front. I am happy to be corrected if I am wrong, but such a mistake would be easy to make during reassembly. The paint doesn’t hold a mirror shine, but its warm glow and lack of significant defects make this Dodge a prime candidate for preservation. There is no evidence of rust in the supplied photos, and the seller doesn’t mention issues in their listing. The panels are straight, the trim is excellent for its age, and the glass is crystal clear.
Dodge selected its 325ci V8 to power the Custom Royal. This powerplant produces 260hp and 335 ft/lbs of torque, and although the car tips the scales at 3,970 lbs, its performance is surprising. The seller doesn’t indicate which transmission the first owner chose, but since the three-speed TorqueFlite was the most popular, that is likely to be what we find in this car. Power assistance for the steering and brakes emphasizes this car’s luxury leanings. The seller confirms the vehicle has sat for years, but they recently coaxed its engine back to life. They include an embedded video of it running in their listing, and it sounds as sweet as a nut. The vehicle doesn’t drive due to brake issues, but with the seller throwing in a new master cylinder and wheel cylinders, a few days of tinkering in a home workshop could see the Dodge return to its rightful place on our roads.
Years of inactivity have allowed this car’s interior to remain remarkably well-preserved. It isn’t perfect, but the lack of visible wear and physical damage suggests it should present nicely for a survivor-grade vehicle following a deep clean. The Black and Gold cloth and vinyl upholstery mimics the exterior paint combination, with matching Black carpet covering the floors. The lack of detailed interior shots makes it impossible to determine the state of the dash or what factory options the first owner chose to make life on the road more enjoyable. The engine bay photos confirm they didn’t select air conditioning, but we’re flying blind from there.
This 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer shows promise as a project candidate, and returning it to active service shouldn’t pose many challenges. The seller’s price of $11,000 looks competitive for a car in this condition, and with values climbing, it could be a sound long-term investment. The Dodge is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Springfield, Ohio, and I wish you luck if you decide to pursue it further.
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Comments
The price seems well in line considering the condition of the car (judging from the photos). Good colors, too. And it has fins.
One thing I notice is that it does not have the indented cowl thingy like the the same era GM and Ford cars, which, I find make ingress and egress of those cars difficult.
Like this ’58 Edsel.
IIRC, this treatment was often referred to as the “dog leg”. :-)
Complete.
Very happy color combination.
It’s a time of cars with personality.
Now they are all very similar.
A great purchase.
What few CARS remaining are black and melted jelly beans. The SUVS and crossovers, glorified trucks are revolting peasants! On to VERSAILLES! Or other beautiful Classics like this Dodge.
Boring is what vehicles are today. I finally have the money where I could drive whatever I would like. Unfortunately not one vehicle gives me a desire to buy a new one.
I’m with you. I wish I could buy a big Deville or Towncar, but all they have now are small cars that are all the same, or trucks. Hard bucket seats, console shifter, low profile tires with little give means a hard ride. No chrome bumpers anymore, no style at all.
WOW! What a stunning color combo. From the days when buyers had a wide range of two and even tri tones. In TV adaptation of Sweet Bird of YOUTH, a 58 black and yellow was almost as riveting as ELIZABETH TAYLOR and MARK HARMON. If you notice the front end, it was shared with 57 DeSoto (entry level) Firesweep. Unfortunately both DeSoto and Dodge (except for trucks) are Gone With the Wind. If I were younger and better at restoration, I’d be bidding now. So friends, put a smile on your face, a song 🎵 in your heart, put some bubbles in your 🍷 wine, and hurry on down to this DOTCH! And remember SERUTAN spelled backwards is NATURES! LW 😉
Didn’t LW name his twin daughters, Anna1 and Anna2?🤣
Wunnnerrfulll! Wunnnnerrfulll! Yesss! Yesss! My loverly wife Fern and yours truly did the a one and a two step I💃🕺.And danced all a night. Then we took some Geritol and danced summa more! Thanka you so much. But drop that DOTCH, like DOTCH dropped my Champaign Family! 😠 😡. 👍
Anda I also hired Anna Conni, awunnerrfuull singer. Hadda fire Alice Lonn (the Champagne Lady) for showing too mucha skin 😲. Made me pop my cork 🍾! No fiddling around on my show! 🎵 Anna 1🎶 Anna 2🎵 !
This appears to be a nice find in good condition. I’ll guarantee that all eyes will be on you as you pull up to the gas pump!
If it hadn’t been for Lancer wheel covers my ’54 Chevy wouldn’t have looked near as good. Nice car but those wheel covers look like knock offs to me.
Not sure, but IMO those covers are probably original. Chrysler Corp carried its Forward Look into almost every aspect of their cars. You might find out by checking the net for 57 Dodge wheel discs.
I did. There are originals for sale on “1957 Dodge Wheel Covers” and they are more recessed and don’t have the ribs. I bought mine from the Dodge dealer in town.
Definitely not original wheel covers. Good catch on the “Royal Custom” fender script. Also note that original mirrors would have been mounted on top of the front fenders. Those small mirrors on the doors do look good, and I have them on my ’57 Dodge, but it is highly modified. This is a really good buy.
Nice looking Dodge, and the price is very reasonable. I was hoping to see a picture of the dash layout to see the whole thing but there’s not one. That red paint on the engine didn’t help anything IMO but that’s correctable. This is an opportunity to get into the collectable car hobby at a low price, so I hope someone enjoys it.
It leaves all 1957 GM designs in the dust!
Finally! something I would buy….if I had the money laying around. :)
Being a hardtop I can forgive the second set of doors “) The seller clearly has the ability to fix the brakes given his “garage”…and get it running. Maybe its a quick flip but why wouldn’t you take a little more time to do it? Make it easier to sell if not at double the price. says me.
A guy in town once had a salmon pink ’57/’58 4 door sedan….I think it was a Coronet. He had the swivel drivers bucket seat…..swiveled out to the door to facilitate people getting behind the wheel.
My dad had a 2 door blue and white model. Not sure if he bought it new or it was a year old. I’m not a member here so I can’t post a picture of it.
The 57 Lancer would make a nice PRO MOD CAR
MOD? HELL NO! Keep it CLASSIC!