Because we could all use a glimmer of hope on this snowy, blustery first weekend of Spring, today’s East Coaster is a convertible.
And a spectacular convertible, at that. This 1957 Dodge Custom Royal D500 is owned by Vernon Smith. You can see it, as well as many other automotive gems, on display at Vernon’s Antique Car Museum in Swift Current, Newfoundland.
1957 Dodge Custom Royal. Photo courtesy of Vernon’s Antique Car Museum, Swift Current, Newfoundland
The sleek, jewel black open-air Dodge has a Carter 4-Barrel carburetor, 325 CI Super Red Ram engine (Dodge’s version of Chrysler’s Hemi) mated to a Torque-flite three-speed automatic transmission that makes 310 horsepower.
1957 Dodge Custom Royal. Photo courtesy of Vernon’s Antique Car Museum, Swift Current, Newfoundland
Less than 2,500 were produced. The black beauty has dual exhaust, power steering, power brakes and power windows.
Photo courtesy of Vernon’s Antique Car Museum, Swift Current, Newfoundland.
The ‘Swept Wing’ style was all the rage for 1957. Dodge ad campaigns talked about the ‘swept wing mastery of motion’ and encouraged the world to “Join the swing to Swept Wing”. The Custom Royal cost just over $3,000. Average income at the time was about $5,500. A loaf of bread cost 16 cents.
1957 Dodge Custom Royal. Photo courtesy of Vernon’s Antique Car Museum, Swift Current, Newfoundland
Who hasn’t been dreaming of hitting the road with the wind in our hair, the sun on our skin and the tunes blasting? A convertible spells instant vacation, even if you’re just going to the store.
In honour of the First Day of Spring, throw down your shovels!
We’ll leave this 1957 Dodge Custom Royal D500 convertible right here for everyone to gaze at over the weekend. Better than watching snow melt.
