A 1957 Dodge Coronet is a great example of a car that was built to be driven and enjoyed. This vehicle is in very good condition for its age. The exterior has been repainted in its original two-tone turquoise and white (MLM). The engine is the numbers-matching D-500-1 5.2-liter HEMI V8 that was rated at 310 horsepower with dual Carter WCFB quads. The seller claims that this is the original motor in the car when it left the factory.
The Coronet line debuted in 1949 as a full-size model in the Dodge lineup. It was positioned above the Rambler, Wayfarer, and Meadowbrook models, but below the Royal and Custom Royal.
In 1953, Dodge redesigned the Coronet body with help from Virgil Exner. Exner was a world-renowned designer that had worked with many companies including Chrysler. He created the design that became known as the Forward Look for Dodge. The car was lower and wider than before. The grille was a bit more rounded and the car had subtle hints of the coke-bottle style that other muscle cars of the day used.
For 1956, the Coronet was updated with a new grille and other trim pieces that made it look more modern. In addition, the lineup was expanded to include the Coronet R/T and Super Bee models. The R/T was the performance model and it included the 440-cubic inch Hemi V8. The Super Bee was the budget performance model and it included a 383-cubic inch Hemi V8.
A three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission was standard and a two-speed air cooled Powerflite was optional. A four-speed manual transmission was also available. The Powerflite was a very popular option and it was one of the smoothest shifting transmissions available in a Mopar.
The Coronet was offered in several body styles including a hardtop coupe and a station wagon. Sedans were named Coronet Custom and Crestwood while wagons received the Brougham name. All models were powered by either the 230 cubic inch Getaway I6 or the 270 cubic inch Red Ram V8.
By the end of the fourth generation in 1957, the Coronet had moved to the bottom of the Dodge model lineup below the Lancer and Royal. The Brougham and Crestwood models were the top-level models.
The fifth and final generation of the Coronet lasted from 1971-1976. The six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models were dropped, and only the four-door sedans and station wagons remained in production. The Coronet line was now positioned below the Rambler, Custom Royal, and Royal Rambler models. In the 1970s, Dodge introduced a special trim level called the D-500. This was the first factory high-performance model from Dodge. The D-500 was visually indistinguishable from the other Dodge models it was based upon with only small crossed checkered flags and “500” lettering on the hood and lower rear deck to indicate that this car was meant to be raced. Only 399 of these D-500s were produced in 1967, and this example is one of them.