1959 Dodge Coronet

Full-size performance powered by 1959 Dodge Coronet engine family.

Exact-year, stock-presenting Coronet Lancer convertible retained as the family baseline for the grille, hooded quad lamps, hood ornament, front-fender Coronet script, body-side brightwork, windshield, convertible structure, wheel covers, whitewalls, and stance.

Bodies Two- and four-door sedans, two- and four-door Lancer hardtops, and Lancer convertible

Engines 230 six; 326 V8; 383 D-500 or Super D-500

Transmissions Three-speed manual, PowerFlite, or TorqueFlite by engine

Chassis 122-inch frame, torsion-bar front, leaf-spring live rear axle, Total-Contact drums

Production 96,900 reported Coronet passenger cars; body and D-500 splits unresolved

Story

1959 Dodge Coronet

The Coronet was Dodge's entry passenger-car series for 1959. Five bodies belong on this page: two- and four-door sedans, two- and four-door Lancer hardtops, and the Lancer convertible. The six was limited to both sedans and the two-door hardtop; all five bodies could carry the regular Coronet V8. Royal, Custom Royal, the separately named wagons, the Silver Challenger promotion, and police packages remain distinct identities.

Six, V8, and D-500

The Coronet Six used a 135-hp 230-cubic-inch L-head engine. The regular Coronet V8 was the 255-hp 326 polyspherical-head engine. D-500 could replace the regular V8 with a 320-hp 383 wedge and one four-barrel; Super D-500 used two four-barrels and 345 hp. Dodge's 295- and 305-hp 361 engines were regular Royal and Custom Royal equipment, not additional base Coronet paths.

Manual, push buttons, and axle choices

A three-speed manual served the six and 326. PowerFlite and TorqueFlite availability followed the engine and factory selector, while the D-500 paths used TorqueFlite. Standard and optional axle ratios likewise followed engine and transmission; Sure-Grip was available on permitted V8 combinations. A later transmission, gearset, or limited-slip carrier cannot establish original equipment.

Torsion bars, leaves, drums, and Level-Flite

The body-on-frame chassis used unequal-length front control arms and longitudinal torsion bars, with a live rear axle on parallel semi-elliptic leaves. Total-Contact drums were standard, with wider rear drums on the convertible and four-door hardtop and an optional 12-inch system. Optional Level-Flite retained the torsion-bar front but added self-leveling rear air assist on eligible V8 cars.

Fins, cabin, production, and proof

The 1959 grille, hooded quad lamps, taller fins, Coronet front-fender script, body-side brightwork, and Lancer roof or convertible structure identify the family. Swivel seats were optional where the selector permitted but were unavailable on the Coronet Six. A compiled Dodge production sheet reports 96,900 Coronets and eight body/base-engine prices, while explicitly withholding individual body production. No reviewed ledger resolves D-500, transmission, axle, paint, trim, option, plant, date, export, or survivor intersections.

**Exact-year Lancer hardtop retained for the front sheet metal, grille, lamps, roof, glass, side molding, wheel treatment, and two-tone layout; display setting and restoration remain car-specific.**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Specs

Car type: Full-size performance
Seats: 6
Body: Two- or four-door sedan, two- or four-door Lancer hardtop, or Lancer convertible
Engine: 1959 Dodge Coronet engine family
Horsepower: 135 to 345 gross hp across the 230 six, 326 V8, and 383 D-500 paths
Torque: Configuration-specific factory rating follows engine, induction, emissions equipment, and transmission
Carburetion: One-barrel six-cylinder, two-barrel 326 V8, or single- and dual-four-barrel 383 V8 induction

Equipment

Five Coronet passenger-car bodies
Coronet Six and regular 326 V8 paths
320-hp D-500 and 345-hp Super D-500 383 options
Push-button PowerFlite and TorqueFlite automatics
Optional swivel seats and Level-Flite rear air assist

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

Base MSRP $2,792

Coronet four-door Lancer Hardtop, V8 (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $2,537

Coronet four-door Sedan, six (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $2,657

Coronet four-door Sedan, V8 (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $3,039

Coronet Lancer Convertible, V8 (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $2,466

Coronet two-door Club Sedan, six (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $2,586

Coronet two-door Club Sedan, V8 (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $2,594

Coronet two-door Lancer Hardtop, six (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights
Base MSRP $2,714

Coronet two-door Lancer Hardtop, V8 (1959)
Archived body/base-engine price before destination, D-500, transmission, paint, trim, and options.
1959 Dodge production, body prices, and weights

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

230 Get-Away Six 230 cu in; 8.0:1; one-barrel; 135 gross hp at 3,600 rpm and 205 lb-ft at 1,200 rpm · Coronet Six sedans and two-door Lancer hardtop · engine assembly / specification
326 Red Ram V8 326 cu in; 9.2:1; two-barrel; 255 gross hp at 4,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft at 2,400 rpm · Regular Coronet V8 path in all five passenger bodies · engine assembly / specification
383 D-500 V8 383 cu in; 10.0:1; one Carter AFB four-barrel; 320 gross hp at 4,600 rpm and 420 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm · Optional D-500 engine package on eligible Coronet V8 bodies · engine assembly / specification
383 Super D-500 V8 383 cu in; 10.0:1; two Carter AFB four-barrels; 345 gross hp at 5,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm · Optional Super D-500 engine package on eligible Coronet V8 bodies · engine assembly / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Three-speed manual standard with the 230 six and 326 V8
Factory transmission PowerFlite two-speed push-button automatic optional with eligible 230 and 326 applications
Factory transmission TorqueFlite three-speed push-button automatic optional where listed and standard with the 383 D-500 paths

Options

Engines and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

D500 D-500 383 single-four-barrel engine package factory · performance · The 383, Carter AFB, TorqueFlite, dual exhaust, cooling, axle, chassis equipment, dates, and records must agree.
SUPER-D500 Super D-500 dual-four-barrel engine package factory · performance · Both carburetors, intake, linkage, air cleaners, fuel plumbing, 383, TorqueFlite, axle, exhaust, cooling, dates, and records must agree.
SURE-GRIP Sure-Grip limited-slip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, housing, axle shafts, lubricant, application, dates, and records must agree.
LEVEL-FLITE Level-Flite self-leveling rear air assist factory · comfort · Eligible V8 application, compressor, reservoirs, lines, rear chambers, height valve, suspension, dates, and records must agree.
SWIVEL-SEAT Swivel front seat factory · comfort · Left, right, or paired seat hardware, body, trim, tracks, latch, dates, and invoice must agree; unavailable on Coronet Six.
POWER-EQUIPMENT Power steering, brakes, windows, and six-way seat factory · comfort · Each feature requires application-correct hardware, controls, plumbing or wiring, dates, and delivery records.
AIRTEMP Airtemp air conditioning factory · comfort · V8 application, compressor, brackets, pulleys, condenser, evaporator, controls, ducts, wiring, dates, and records must agree.
CUSTOM-TRIM Coronet custom trim package factory · appearance · Body, upholstery, moldings, trim code, dates, and delivery records must agree; unavailable on the convertible.

Paint

**Exact-year nose detail retained for the hooded quad lamps, grille texture, bumper, parking lamp, hood ornament, Coronet script, wheel cover, and whitewall context.**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

A Jet Black factory · solid
B Blue Diamond factory · metallic
C Star Sapphire factory · metallic
E Aquamarine factory · solid
F Jade factory · solid
J Turquoise factory · solid
L Silver factory · metallic
M Pewter factory · metallic
N Rose Quartz factory · metallic
P Coral factory · metallic
R Ruby factory · metallic
U Biscuit factory · solid
W Mocha factory · metallic
X Pearl factory · solid
Y Canary Diamond factory · metallic

Production

Transmissions summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1959 Dodge Coronet passenger-car series total · 96,900 · reported

Authenticity

Rear Axle and Ratios summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Serial, body, and Coronet identity 1959 Dodge hinge-pillar serial, title, Coronet Six or V8 shell, correct passenger body, plant and sequence evidence, and ownership history that agree · Left-front door hinge post, title, frame and body structure, roof and doors, trim mounting, build evidence, and ownership records · fraud detection
Engine, transmission, and D-500 path 230, 326, or 383 engine reconciled to permitted induction, manual, PowerFlite, or TorqueFlite, axle, chassis equipment, dates, and records · Serial and build evidence, engine number and castings, induction, transmission case and controls, axle, exhaust, cooling, component dates, and service history · numbers matching
Paint, exterior trim, cabin, and chassis Code- and record-supported color layout, Coronet or Lancer brightwork, upholstery, instruments, shifter, steering, brakes, suspension, wheels, tires, options, and component dates · Body evidence, protected paint and upholstery, trim holes and clips, dashboard, controls, brake and suspension hardware, wheels, invoice, and dated components · trim correctness

Still Researching

production The compiled 96,900 Coronet total is a round figure, and the archived table says individual model and body-style production was not supplied. No audited ledger resolves bodies, engines, transmissions, axles, D-500 induction, paint, trim, options, plants, dates, exports, or survivors.
paint colors The reviewed exact-year references establish fifteen Dodge body paint codes, but no complete selector transcription resolves every Coronet single-tone, two-tone, roof, wheel, upholstery, plant, supplier, special-order, and build-date combination.
interior Factory literature establishes six-passenger seating, optional swivel seats, controls, materials, and major accessories but not every Coronet upholstery code, color, body, paint pairing, supplier, and running change.
authenticity markers Public model-year references cannot establish one survivor's born-with shell, engine, induction, transmission, axle, D-500 equipment, Level-Flite, finish, trim, options, accessories, or component dates.