1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Polara D500 Royal 300 Desoto Rare NOS Foward Look

Based on legendary designer Virgil Exner's 'Forward Look' body, Dodge's newly radicalized offerings were adorned in flamboyant 'Swept Wing' styling that made them look fast even when standing still. And, introduced to supplement the brand's Royal and Custom Royal models, this stunning Lancer is some of the finest 'Swept Wing' metal to ever leave a Chrysler design studio. The car's spectacular two tone Blue Diamond and Star Sapphire rolls over a clean original paint car about 70 percent.This Lancer is a graceful coupe an exceptionally striking and decidedly handsome.

Although Dodge's Lancer name has adorned everything from post-war gems to modern Mitsubishi compacts, the 1959 model is far and away its best manifestation. And when it comes to big-fin collector cars, it simply doesn't get much better than the sculpted bliss of this pristine Lancer. At the front of the big coupe's body, a thick bumper centers a stainless eggcrate façade between a stylish Dodge grille topper, bold parking lamps and quad headlights that are highlighted by dramatic chrome eyebrows. Those eyebrows flow into straight stainless belt mouldings that balance a planar profile with small wheel skirts, Lancer-specific fender emblems, rear-mounted louvers, and tucked and chrome-trimmed door handles. Those handles latch under a like-new greenhouse that rides between cleverly placed mirrors, original stainless frames. This Lancer's dramatic tail fins that seat both “Royal” emblems in front of fluted chrome trim and rocket-inspired brake lamps. And those brake lamps illuminate pristine Dodge trunk trim, a second, equally thick bumper.

All that classy metal moves thanks to a fully original low mileage, 361 cubic inch Chrysler V8 below a correct ML 361 II22 engine stamp and a telling April (4) 21st (21) of 1958 (8) casting date. Introduced to compete with increasingly powerful Plymouth and DeSoto hardware, this car's go-fast mill would eventually serve as inspiration for the Dodge division's entire line of Magnum offerings; thereby becoming one of Ma Mopar's most trusted and dependable powerplants. The copy you see here appears to wear a roster of correct pieces from its glossy, single-snorkel air cleaner and high performance Carter carburetor all the way to its heavy duty radiator and red cap battery. Fire is provided by a traditional points distributor which sequences sparks between a tagged generator and 7mm Standard Triple Silicone. Aesthetically, the engine has low miles and is a great survivor.

The 1959 Dodge was billed as “The Newest of Everything Great and The Greatest of Everything New”. Accordingly, Chrysler's marketing gurus drowned the print world in ads touting the brand's new Torsion-Aire Suspension. And, not surprisingly, the “great” part of that statement still holds true today, as this big boulevard king sits on a super fresh chassis that veils pothole-shattering solidity in a silky smooth ride. Behind the car's big V8, a slick-shifting Torqueflite sends power to a correct rear end. That tough driveline spins inside a fully restored undercarriage that's complete with robust torsion bars, stiff outrider springs and factory power steering. At the corners of that undercarriage, heavy duty drums ensure solid, fade-free stops. There's about a mile of solid floors that are detailed with fresh undercoating and a full assortment of still-tagged componentry. At the center of those floors, a traditional, true-dual exhaust system employs fresh turbo mufflers that sound deep and civilized. And all this road-worthy hardware rides on body-matched steelies which spin pliable G78-14 BF Goodrich Silvertown Classic whitewalls around ornate Dodge wheel covers.

Take a look inside this massive coupe and you'll find a spacious and appealing interior that has enough room to seriously shorten your local Shriner's parade! Front and rear benches, which still feel firm to the touch, frame attractive plaid centerpieces in a bright, two-tone vinyl. Like-new carpet, both spotless and fade-free, does an excellent job of underlining the car's cool, comfortable ambiance. Above that carpet, a Jet Black dash hangs fully rebuilt gauges, standard pushbutton transmission controls and a correct AM radio under a fresh black pad that's garnished with a uniquely mounted mirror. At the sides of that dash, fantastic, two-tone door panels display a prominent 50s design theme behind fresh stainless trim, bright chrome handles and Jet Black door toppers. Above those panels, Jet Black A-pillars lead the eye to a tan headliner that's fitted with correct courtesy lamps, color-keyed roof bows and stylized sun visors. In front of the driver, a two-tone steering wheel spins an elliptical horn ring around a padded centerpiece. And behind the passengers, a Dodge-branded package tray rides above a giant, the trunk features echo-inducing cargo space.

The sale of this chrome-laden Chrysler includes a copy of its original broadcast sheet.