Dodge Lancer
The Dodge Lancer was a model of the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation. Dodge used the Lancer name to denote models three times in its history before the creation of DaimlerChrysler in 1998.
1950s
Dodge used the Lancer name from 1955 to 1959 to designate both two and four door pillarless hardtop models in the Coronet, Royal and Custom Royal lines. The Lancer designation was dropped for 1960.
1961-1962
For the 1961 model year, Dodge applied the Lancer nameplate to its clone of Chrysler's wildly successful Valiant compact. The model was introduced when Chrysler officially assigned the Valiant to its Plymouth division for 1961, leaving Dodge dealers without a compact to sell. Lancers were given round taillights and full-width grilles, which differed from the Plymouth's canted oval taillights and standalone grille. This compact Lancer used the Slant-6 engine, which could be equipped at the dealer with Chrysler's Hyper Pak parts kit for a significant power upgrade. The Lancer sales didn't meet expectations, and as a late part of the total redesign of Dodge's compact car for 1963, the Lancer name was discontinued. Dodge compacts for 1963 through 1976 were named Dart, a name that had previously been assigned to a larger car produced by Dodge from 1960 to 1962. |
