Dodge's president personally drove a Hemi-powered Royal convertible to pace the 1954 Indy 500, the make's first-ever pace car.
Lead trim: Royal 241 cu in Hemi V8
Dodge Royal1954–1954
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FactDodge's president personally drove a Hemi-powered Royal convertible to pace the 1954 Indy 500, the make's first-ever pace car.
The Dodge Royal was introduced for the 1954 model year as the top trim level of the Dodge line, above the mid-level Coronet and the base Meadowbrook, offered only with a 241 cubic inch "Hemi" V8. The 1954 Royal V-8 range comprised a 4-Door Sedan, Convertible, Club Coupe and Sport Coupe (a 2-door hardtop). In 1954 Dodge President William Newberg drove a yellow, Hemi-powered Dodge convertible as the Indy 500 pace car, the first Dodge to ever do so; to commemorate it Dodge offered a mid-year "Royal 500" package for the Royal convertible (chrome wire wheels, special badging and a continental spare wheel kit on the rear), officially 701 built.
Collectors Spotted in the Dodge Royal Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Dodge Royal yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal 241 cu in Hemi V8 | 1954–1954 | V8 | 150 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
For exactly one model year, 1957, Dodge built a Royal Lancer convertible — then dropped it and spun the station wagons off into their own separate series.
Despite its name, this Royal wasn't Dodge's top trim — the day it launched, Dodge introduced the fancier Custom Royal above it, bumping the Royal down to the middle of the lineup.
Dodge's president personally drove a Hemi-powered Royal convertible to pace the 1954 Indy 500, the make's first-ever pace car.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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