The Space Age Hits the Road: Visionary Car Designs in America

1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer

Starlets Marilyn Burtis, left, and Phyllis Applegate sun themselves in Santa Monica next to a Custom Royal Lancer, Dodge’s all-new top-of-the-line vehicle for 1955. The new models were a huge success, boosting overall sales 80% from the previous year. The redesigned cars incorporated parent company Chrysler’s new corporate styling theme of “lower, wider, and longer.” The grille added a thick horizontal layer of chrome, which, together with the bumper, gave the front end a muscular look.

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