1956 Dodge Coronet

This 1956 Dodge Coronet Sierra Wagon is a charming 50s station wagon that is loaded with fantastic options! Largely brought on by the styling changes of the Forward Look styling program and favorable market conditions across the American automotive landscape, Dodge (as well as seemingly all of its sister marques at Chrysler) was coming off a massively successful year of sales in 1955. Taking design influences from the growing aviation industry and space exploration, the Forward Look design philosophy, brought on by famed automotive designer Virgil Exner, prioritized aerodynamics and space-age design. In fact, Chryslers shift to the new Forward Look was a massive wager for Chrysler that saw slowing sales in the early 50s and it was said that Chrysler spent over $250 million (in 1950s dollars) on the design, development, and tooling to produce the space-inspired designs. And, Chryslers bet on the Forward Look turned out to be a good one as its sales not only rebounded but grew in 1955. In an effort to keep up its momentum in 1956, Dodge sought to retain much of the same general style from the previous year. Up front, the 1956 Dodge models were, for the most part, left unchanged and the front ends were virtually indistinguishable from 1955 to 1956. However, from the sides, rear, and even inside, the 1956 Dodges did see some updates in 56. While not the most significant change in 1956, Saddle Sweep side trim added for 56 with chrome trim that ran from the nose and swept down to the rear bumper on the rear quarter panels. More significantly, the entire silhouette of the 1956 Dodge models changed with the addition of modestly sized tail fins, which was the start of having those iconic hallmarks of the Forward Look era cars and a harbinger of style trends across the entire industry in the mid to late fifties. The other major improvement in 1956 was the first time Chrysler had their famous push-button shifters incorporated into its cars across all of its marques including the 1956 Dodges. In total, Dodge produced 142,613 of its Coronet series cars in 56. While Dodge did not break down its production numbers by body style in 1956, station wagons were likely among the lower production bodies and additionally, they were daily-driver people movers so seeing one, such as this particular example, survive nearly 70 years is quite a feat. Under the hood on this 56 Dodge Sierra Wagon is a Super Red Ram 315 cubic inch V8 that breathes through a single 4 barrel carburetor that together were said to have produced 230 horsepower when new. The 315 V8 is mated to an automatic transmission that is shifted with a push-button shifter, a cornerstone feature of the Forward Look era. Exhaust exits the Super Red Ram power plant via a dual exhaust setup that generates a superb sound out of the tailpipes. This 1956 Coronet Sierra Station Wagon is absolutely loaded with options! With power brakes in all four corners, bringing this 3,600 pound people mover to a complete stop is much easier. Squeezing into a tight parking space at the local car show or drive-in is a total breeze thanks to the addition of an optional power steering system. Further aiding with parking efforts, as well as lane changes, is a pair of chrome outside mirrors. Riding on a set of wide whitewall radial tires mounted on painted steel wheels and accented with full chrome spinner-style wheel covers, this 1956 Dodge Wagon has a fantastic look and even better ride. Even the bumpers have a stepped-up look thanks to a pair of bumper guards mounted on both the front and rear bumpers. The tri-tone exterior consists of a Crown Yellow and Jewel Black body topped off with a Sapphire White roof, completing the exterior look of this rare Mopar wagon. The interior of this 1956 Dodge Coronet Sierra Wagon has a fantastic Forward Look! The front and rear bench seats feature black and white houndstooth fabric with white inserts on the seat backs and bottoms. The black and white door panels, tuxedo-styled carpeting, black and white painted dash, and refurbished steering wheel all retain a beautiful stock appearance. The space-age inspired dash features a wide array of instrumentation including a 120 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, amp gauge, and fuel gauge, along with a concealed ash tray. Finishing off the dash are a variety of controls, along with a locking glovebox and push-button AM Radio. Whether youre looking to add an eclectic piece to your existing collection of Mopars or youre buying your very first classic car and want something that can fit the whole family and some luggage too, this 1956 Dodge Coronet Sierra Wagon would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingsons a call today at 763-428-7337!