1956 Dodge Resources

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• Custom Royal
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1956 Dodge Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes

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1956 Dodge

1956 Dodge Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1956 Dodge

1956 was the last year of this body style before the change in 1957, and the only differences offered in 1956 from the previous year were trim packages, fins, and the new Dodge D-500. New for safety were safety door locks. Power windows were added to the available options.

Coronet/Suburban
The Coronet as well as the Suburban station wagon were the base models. This was the only line to feature the 230 CID I-6 as well as the 270 CID Red Ram V-8. Coronets were available in all body styles including the convertible. Sedans feature “Coronet” badges on the fenders, while the station wagons are called “Suburban”. Although the hardtop coupe was officially named “Lancer”, it wore only “Coronet” badges. The Coronet line included: 2- or 4-door hardtop coupe — V-8 (Coronet Lancer), 2- or 4-door sedan — V-8 or I-6, 2-door Convertible — V-8 , 2-door wagon — The Coronet Suburban wagon V-8 or I-6, and the 2- or 4-door wagon — The Coronet Sierra wagon V-8.

Royal
For 1956 the use of the Royal Lancer name was extended to include a new 4-door hardtop model. All Royals were v-8 powered. Still available were the 4-door Sedan and the 2-door hardtop, however the Convertible moved up to the Custom Royal line. Station wagons now included 2-door Royal Custom Suburban and 4-door Royal Custom Sierra models in 6- or 8-passenger versions. Like the Coronet, external changes were the growth of tailfins, redesigned taillight housings and the side trim. Changes at the front were the addition of six “fins” in the grille that was not to be found on the Coronet, and an redesigned hood ornament. Turn signals were standard on the Royal and Custom Royal models but optional on the base Coronet.

Custom Royal
The Custom Royal was again the top level Dodge. It was also exclusively V-8 powered and included all the Royal features, plus hooded and painted headlight doors; grooved backup and taillight housings; a strip of the lower body color extending upward toward the rear edge of the rear fenders. The line consisted of the 4-door Sedan and the 2-door hardtop, 4-door hardtop, and 2-door Convertible.

D-500
The D-500 was at first its own model and was available only as a 2-door Sedan and 2-door Hardtop, on any of the lines. It was Dodge’s first factory high-performance car. The D-500-1 was slated for NASCAR and USAC stock car racing but could be ordered (if you knew someone with connections). The only external clues to it’s performance potential were small crossed checkered flags and “500” lettering on its hood and lower rear deck. (The 4-barrel powerplant was later available for order from the dealer on all Coronet models, including station wagons.

The standard D-500 included a 315 CID V-8 with hemispherical heads, a unique camshaft, carburetor. It was rated at 260 HP while torque was 330 ft. lbs. The D-500 received an upgraded suspension with stiff front coil springs; heavy-duty shock absorbers, with the same valving specified for Dodge police cars. The overall height of the D-500 was 1.5 inches lower than its standard Dodge counterpart. The D-500 came standard with 15 x 5.5 inch wheels with 7.60 x 15 inch tubeless tires.

D-500-1
The D-500-1, was intended for NASCAR competition. The D-500-1 received two four-barrel Carter WCFB carburetors The 295 HP versus a curb weight in the Coupe of approximately 3,500 lbs meant it was one of the fastest cars from the factory that year.

NOTE: For more information, see the Special Section on the D-500 below as well as the AMA Specifications
Sheets – HERE.

1956 Dodge Facts – Dodge D-500 and D-500-1

NOTE: The D-500 was released on December 22, 1955, first as a 2 door hardtop and convertible Royal Lancer, then in the Coronet line as a 2 door sedan club coupe, and as a convertible. The D-500 and D-500-1 were what we now call “muscle cars” built, marketed and sold on performance only.  They were part of Chrysler Corporation’s effort to add excitement to their line of car that at the time were perceived as “stodgy” and ”old man” cars.

Breaking down the two models is best done by outlining the major differences between these models and the regular Dodge models offered in 1956. Note that the D-500-1 was built for professional racers and were heavily modified when actually raced.

• • Looks – other than the “crossed flags-500” logo on the hood and trunk, there was not visible difference between the D-500s and any other Dodge.
  • Engines – Here is where the car were way different from the rest of the line. The D-500s both featured a 315 CID Hemi V-8, with mechanical long duration camshaft and many other internal tweaks. The difference between the two was the carburetion and camshaft duration, with the 500 featuring a single and the D-500-1 dual 4-barrel carburetors. While many it is known that there were more changes to the D-500-1, factory information indicates that the intake was the only change.  (See the Engines Section below for specs). Dealer bulletins list two long duration camshafts for the D-500-1.
  • Power – The D-500 was rated at 260 HP @ 4800 RPM and 330 ft. lbs. of torque @ 3000 RPM. The factory did not release different HP figures for the D-500-1, but most estimated 295 HP @ 4,000 RPM and 330 ft. lbs. of torque @ 3300 RPM. See the engine specifications below for more information.
  • Exhaust – Both versions were fitted with dual exhaust, with the D-500 using 2-inch pipes throughout, and the D-500-1 fitted with 2.5-inch until the tailpipes which were 2.0.
  • Clutch – The D-500s used an 11-inch clutch plate with123.7 inches of area and 2016 lbs. of pressure versus a 10-inch 1962 version on other V-8s.
  • Std Transmission – A heavy duty unit with the same ratios was installed. Overdrive was not available.
  • Auto Transmission – The Powerflite was available on the D-500, and was not listed as modified, except for stall speed to be 2.71:1 at 1850.
  • Rear Gears – The D-500s received a Heavy Duty 8.25” 4-pinion carrier with all available ratios from 3.54:1 to 4.78:1 OR an 8.75” 4-pinion carrier with ratios from 3.07:1 to 4.89:1.
  • Wheels – The D-500 received 5.5 x 15-inch rims and the D-500-1 used 6.5 x 15-inch rims with a larger bolt pattern.
  • Tires – Special nylon 7.60 tubeless tires were optional.
  • Brakes – Both versions were fitted with Chrysler 300 12.75 x2.5-inch brakes, front and rear versus the standard 11.5 x 2-inch units
  • Springs – Front springs were 581-619 lbs./in. versus 445 in V-8 cars, and rear springs were 6 leaf rated at 110 /in. versus 5-leaf at 90 lbs./in.

The D-500 was proven to be able to outrun just about any vehicle produced in the U.S. that year. The 1956 D-500 set or broke a total of 306 standing speed and endurance records on its first time out. Astounding, considering it was Dodge’s first attempt at building a car of this type. Sports Car Illustrated wrote in August 1956: “It is designed from the ground up as a high performance road machine that can be used for commuting to work, for winning its class at the local Drag Strip, or for making a top showing in a tough rally or race.” See that Test HERE.

Many said that the D-500 was named after the Indy 500; but according to R.D. Engel and B.J Nickols this was just a coincidence.

When the D-500 was released on December 22, 1955, it was first available as a 2 door hardtop and 2-door coupe – either Royal Lancer or Coronet, While it is said a convertible was available, initial factory specifications do not list it. When the restrictions were lifted a Royal Convertible was delivered with the 260 HP D-500. It is said that a Coronet convertible also received the D-500 package, but it’s possible that it was used for racing as there was a convertible class in NASCAR. The versions of the Coronet 2 door sedan club coupe were raced available in D-500-1 form, but not until January 12, 1956, making the D-500-1 official.

1956 Dodge Facts – Significant Options

Prices where known

• • Airtemp air conditioning.
  • Electric clock.
  • Heater.
  • Highway Hi-Fi automatic record player.
  • Mopar radio.
  • Overdrive ($102).
  • Power brakes ($38).
  • Power seats.
  • Power steering ($92).
  • Power windows.
  • Powerflite fully-automatic transmission ($184).
  • Turn signals.
  • White sidewall tires.
  • Windshield washers.