As I moved my garbage cans out to the curb today for garbage pickup, the '56 Dodge posters on my wall were staring at me. Brought me back to when I was 6 years old in 1957 and a neighbor on Robie Street in West St. Paul had a shiny black and white '56 station wagon parked in his driveway. I remember liking it because it didn't look old. My Dad told me that it was the most beautiful Dodge ever built.
Some REAL DODGE Facts About the '56
Though it was pretty much a repeat performance of the handsome '55 for the "Forward Look", the talk was that designers found it hard to improve on the winner produced in '55. But slightly modified, changes were evident. The tail lamps and stainless side trim received minor attention, only to identify the car as being a new model. Most noticeable was the start of tail fins which certainly added to the cars "Forward Look".
Dodge introduced 4-door Hardtops available in the CORONET, ROYAL, and CUSTOM ROYAL Sedans. A mid-year offering was the GOLDEN LANCER, virtually the same car as the CUSTOM ROYAL LANCER, but completed in Sapphire White and Gallant Gold. This model was the running mate to Plymouth's Golden Fury, which was introduced at the same time.
Three-tone paint combinations were pretty much considered standard on Lancers if one considers the number equipped with three colors, even though it did cost the buyer extra. Twin side-mirrors were standard equipment on the Royal Lancer and Custom Royal Lancer but the dual antennas, deluxe spinner wheel covers, and whitewall tires were all optional extra's.
Research says that, that '56 Dodge Station Wagon that I remember as a kid was branded as CUSTOM SIERRA and it was either an 8-passenger that would have cost $2,822 when new, or a 6-passenger version costing $2,716 when new.
Hey George, did that neighbor on Robie Street's car look like this?
That's a 1:43!
Yes, my six-year old memory remembers it to be like your photo. I wish 1:24 would have been able to give us many that 1:43 has. I'd be adding them for sure.
