Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan
56D500boy
Posted 2018-11-06 4:14 PM (#573066)
Subject: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan



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Not my car but like all 56 Dodges, the "Texan" interesting to me, if only to know what the Texans were *ORIGINALLY* all about. We've all seen "Texans" on eBay or Craigslist or even some of the name auctions. But at least some of those seem to have more content than the original Texans had when they left the factory.

The 56 Texans were based on the Coronet series, i.e. nothing flashy, but with the optional 230 hp 315 cu in 4 bbl dual exhaust polyspherical head engine, i.e. the Super-powered Super Red Ram with the 2 spd Powerflite automatic, that "burst all those AAA records" on the Bonneville salt flats in Sept, 1955. There were only two body styles: The 2 dr Lancer hardtop and the four door sedan. The initially offerings were available in two two-tone configurations: sapphire white over Oriental coral *OR* jade green over sapphire white (we have all seen other colour combos including 3 tones but that isn't what was initially available).

The Texans were provided with rear side fender "TEXAN" badges with an outline of the state and a "Lonestar" (curiously like the later Mopar Pentastar) plus a Cross-LoneStar Flag emblem on the front hood and the dashes.

In the magazine article attached below, it mentions that the Texan was born from the friendship between a Chrysler exec who was originally from Houston, and the governor of Texas. The cars were to only be available in Texas and only sold (initially) by dealers who were on the same political side as the governor. (Can you spell Cronyism ?)

I have seen a 56 Texan brochure and some of the Youtube Texan videos and as far as I can tell, the Texans didn't come normally with back-up lights, power brakes or power steering. (They might have been deemed too unmanly or something - I don't know).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B0RJL-zDs0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7QmLuvAJ7I

The prowess of the engine:



Here are some photos followed by the Feb. 94 Cars and Parts article that I just got today (NOTE: The interior photo shows what appears to be an aftermarket A/C unit as well as the crossed-flag logo on the speaker grill):



Edited by 56D500boy 2018-11-06 4:18 PM




(56 Texan brochure 1.jpg)



(56 Texan brochure 2 .jpg)



(56DodgeTexanClearPhoto_1.jpg)



(Texan 6, DD-5601 .jpg)



(Texan 7, DD-5602 .jpg)



(56DodgeTexanExterior_1.jpg)



(56DodgeTexanSideFenderBadge.jpg)



(56DodgeTexanFrontCrossedFlagsBadge.jpg)



(56DodgeTexanInterior_1.jpg)



(56Texan4drSedanWhiteAndGreen.jpg)



(CarsAndPartsFeb1994_Cover_smaller.jpg)



(CarsAndPartsFeb94Texan_1_smaller.jpg)



(CarsAndPartsFeb94Texan_2_smaller.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments 56 Texan brochure 1.jpg (117KB - 325 downloads)
Attachments 56 Texan brochure 2 .jpg (137KB - 318 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanClearPhoto_1.jpg (224KB - 319 downloads)
Attachments Texan 6, DD-5601 .jpg (51KB - 321 downloads)
Attachments Texan 7, DD-5602 .jpg (57KB - 330 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanExterior_1.jpg (99KB - 329 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanSideFenderBadge.jpg (42KB - 335 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanFrontCrossedFlagsBadge.jpg (65KB - 336 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanInterior_1.jpg (83KB - 326 downloads)
Attachments 56Texan4drSedanWhiteAndGreen.jpg (174KB - 321 downloads)
Attachments CarsAndPartsFeb1994_Cover_smaller.jpg (198KB - 317 downloads)
Attachments CarsAndPartsFeb94Texan_1_smaller.jpg (172KB - 318 downloads)
Attachments CarsAndPartsFeb94Texan_2_smaller.jpg (244KB - 325 downloads)
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mikes2nd
Posted 2018-11-06 11:22 PM (#573084 - in reply to #573066)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan


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interesting that outside emblem is different than the inside...
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56D500boy
Posted 2018-11-07 1:12 AM (#573086 - in reply to #573084)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan



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mikes2nd - 2018-11-06 11:22 PM

interesting that outside emblem is different than the inside...


I just added the 2 pages of the Texan Brochure and some photos.

The one page of the brochure shows what the "flags" should look like. Some of these can be found on eBay but I don't know if they are accurate or not



Here are some other ones:





(56DodgeTexanDashBadge.jpg)



(56DodgeTexanDashBadge_Repro.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments 56DodgeTexanDashBadge.jpg (41KB - 347 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanDashBadge_Repro.jpg (194KB - 315 downloads)
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mikes2nd
Posted 2018-11-07 1:52 AM (#573090 - in reply to #573066)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan


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yeah thats the repro i kept seeing.
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57burb
Posted 2018-11-07 8:00 AM (#573102 - in reply to #573090)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan



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The Dodge Texan started as a Texas dealer network idea to get a regional product available to sell. They were assembly line '56 Coronets fitted at the dealerships with badges, and I'm sure, a little boost in sell price to go with them.

The initial batch of emblems were the D500esque crossed Texas flag badges used on the hood and dash.

It didn't take long for the state government to tell Dodge dealers to stop reproducing the state flag for their marketing gimmick. So all other '56 Texans got the revised, more subdued, and more legal version that you show, while maintaining the big Texas shaped plank on the quarters and trunk.

For '57 and '58, the badges continued to evolve, and the cars were built at the Dodge factory(ies) with the Texan badges carrying real DPCD part numbers. Interestingly, the later Texans were Coronets fitted with model name badges that just say "Custom" - not Coronet, and not Custom Royal.

As an aside, there was also an Iowan model, built in Dodge factories, to capture the hearts and minds of people in Iowa, apparently.

Edited by 57burb 2018-11-07 9:49 AM
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-01-26 10:31 AM (#577401 - in reply to #573102)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan



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Dave H. alerted me to a couple of 56 Dodge things on eBay, one of which is a 56 Dodge Texan badge. In searching for a PN for this badge in the 55-58 Mopar Parts catalogue pdf, I bumped into numerous references to "D63-1 Texan", i.e. that Texans were based on 56 Coronets. There was also strong indication that Texan engine parts were the same as the D63-3 Power Pack engines, i.e. the 4 bbl 230 hp dual exhaust 315 poly.

Here is the link to the eBay auction and the photo from the Auction (and another Texan photo) for what should be a 1706 731 Texan badge.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-1957-DODGE-TEXAN-QUARTER-TRUNK-EMBLEM-...





(TexanBadge_1_small.jpg)



(56DodgeTexanBadge.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments TexanBadge_1_small.jpg (170KB - 305 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeTexanBadge.jpg (105KB - 294 downloads)
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mikes2nd
Posted 2019-01-26 12:16 PM (#577408 - in reply to #573066)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan


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yeah 400$ an emblem is a bit much but they are rare
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-12-16 10:27 PM (#591716 - in reply to #577408)
Subject: Re: Howdy Partner. Let me tell you about the 56 Dodge Texan



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mikes2nd - 2019-01-26 9:16 AM
yeah 400$ an emblem is a bit much but they are rare


NOS Mark 2 Texan front/dash badge (no Lone Star) on eBay for US$100

YeeHaw Pardner!!



https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1956-DODGE-CUSTOM-ROYAL-Lancer-TEXAN-Badge-C...





Edited by 56D500boy 2019-12-16 10:28 PM
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