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Unusual Automotive Treasures
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High Bid of $51,000 on October 10, 2014 270 CI Super Red Ram Hemi engine Dual exhaust Automatic Transmission Heather Rose and Sapphire White paint Stainless steel rear gravel guards and drip moldings |
| 1955 DODGE ROYAL LANCER LA FEMME | |
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Women in post-war America enjoyed increasing
influence as consumers, including amongst auto manufacturers. General
Motors trotted out several concept cars aimed at women, but it was Dodge
who first offered a real-world choice in the form of the 1955 La Femme,
based on its Custom Royal Lancer hardtop. One of only 1,500 sold in
1955, this La Femme sports that model’s exclusive Heather Rose and
Sapphire White paint, here trimmed with chromed front and rear bumpers,
stainless steel rear gravel guards and drip moldings, dual outside
mirrors and full-size wheel covers over wide Whitewall tires. The
feminine touch prevails inside, where “Cordagrain” Rose-patterned cloth
upholstery is accompanied by full factory instruments, an Airtemp
heater/defroster unit, a courtesy lamp package and a Town and Country
push button AM radio with FM conversion and trunk-mounted CD player.
While clearly a “woman-only” automobile, muscle was also standard
equipment in the La Femme, which was powered by Dodge’s 270 CI 4-barrel,
dual-exhaust Red Ram Hemi V-8 augmented with a Powerflyte automatic
transmission and power steering. This low-production special, produced
only in 1955 and 1956, is the rare product of a pioneering period in
automotive niche marketing. |
