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Decoding 55 Dodge CRL
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55CRL
Posted 2008-10-05 1:43 PM (#146995)
Subject: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Elite Veteran

Posts: 907
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Location: Magra, Sweden
I found the body plate in the glove box and I know where it have been mounted on the right side of the cowl but the screws are missing. Serial no is 34958038 and engine no is D553-86964 and seems to be matching numbers. It was brought from Arizona in the late 80s.



(Body plate.jpg)



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Attachments Body plate.jpg (37KB - 257 downloads)
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d500neil
Posted 2008-10-06 5:20 PM (#147104 - in reply to #146995)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Thord, Paint/Trim data plates were introduced sometime between 5/16/55 and 6/13/55, according to the extensive
research done by Mike Petersen.

Your car was scheculed to have been built around 7/27/55, and its BODY code is for a Custom Royal 2-dr HT; its
PAINT code is for Heather Rose on the lower, Sapphire White on the upper, and Jewell Black on the 'insert' area.

Its TRM code is for a Custom Royal 2-dr HT, in "Black", which is to say: "black Jacquard, silver dotted, diamond weave with white
ribbed Cordagrain bolsters".

The "SP-3" probably refers to the"Special Body Equipment" options; i.e.: Tri-tone Body Color; but, that "WL" code is a
mystery, with the Custom Royal models; it appears to confirm "Lancer" trim, on the Coronet sedans. So, what that "1" is
doing/indicating on a CRL, I dunno.

You should buy a (poorly-semi-legible, alas) copy of your car's IBM build-card, from the Historical Society, whose
whereabouts and ordering info is listed as a 'Sticky' on this board.

D553, as an engine prefix confirms the 183 HP, 270 c.i., 2-barrel Super Red Ram V/8.
The 193 HP Super Red Ram "Power Package" option included the 4-bbl carb and dual exhausts.

BTW, according to Mike Petersen's research, there were 90,873 Super Red ram engines produced, with 89,304 Custom
Royals (both without, and a few with, the Power Package option--exact break-out number is not known).

It IS known (by mathematics) that there were 1,569 Power Package Coronets and Royals built, in 1955.

Your car's valve covers should have embossed "Super Red Ram" on them; the early ones had plain valve covers with S.R.R.
decals applied to them.

The valve covers are silver, but the spark plug wire covers have been seen to have been painted black, red, or white.

These are some high lights on the 55 models.










Edited by d500neil 2008-10-06 5:22 PM
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55CRL
Posted 2008-10-07 4:22 PM (#147242 - in reply to #147104)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Elite Veteran

Posts: 907
500100100100100
Location: Magra, Sweden
Thank you for the details, nice to know it's the original paint scheme. The only mis-match is the valve covers which are plain with the SSR decals and black wire covers. The engine number indicates it's among the last 5000 SSR engines built in 1955.
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55CRL
Posted 2008-10-10 4:54 PM (#147643 - in reply to #147242)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Elite Veteran

Posts: 907
500100100100100
Location: Magra, Sweden
This is the valve cover with decal I've got on the Super Red Ram. Is it the correct screws holding the spark plug wire covers?



(55crl SRR1.jpg)



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Attachments 55crl SRR1.jpg (71KB - 247 downloads)
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d500neil
Posted 2008-10-10 7:22 PM (#147670 - in reply to #147643)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Yes, the mounting screws look just fine.

However, "and upon further review"; I was WRONG, about the valve covers' embossments status.

According to Mike Petersen's exhaustive research : "The Super Red Ram initially came with 'Super Red Ram' stamped into the
valve covers.

Between 01/31/55 and 03/29/55 these were REPLACED [my emphasis] with PLAIN [ditto] valve covers with
a 'Super Red Ram' decal. In both cases the ;lettering was red".

So, there: I had it ass-Backwards; the embossed/stamped valve covers were SUCCEEDED by the plain V.C.'s.....




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55CRL
Posted 2008-10-11 3:59 AM (#147708 - in reply to #146995)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Elite Veteran

Posts: 907
500100100100100
Location: Magra, Sweden
Good to know, thank you. It does make sense they simplified manufacturing by making the covers plain. It puzzled me that it would be the other way around.
Mike Petersen must have done a tremendous work researching the 55! When I was dealing with the previous owner I brought the WPC News issue from November 1980 where he wrote the story of the 55 Dodge. Really impressive story with a lot of detail. It seems he's done a lot more since.
Actually it was this story and another one (WPC News July 78) about a N.O.S. 55 Royal Lancer found in Plainview, Texas that initiated my special interest in the 55 Dodge and now I've finally found my dream car.
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d500neil
Posted 2008-10-11 4:10 PM (#147744 - in reply to #147708)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Mike, while living in Greencastle, IN, lost his 55 CRL and his Hemi 66 Coronet 500 to a garage fire.

He had replaced them, before relocating to Raleigh, NC., but that fire was a very sad event.

Altho still lacking a few details, like the Power Pack intake manifiold P/N ( 1537723-0-1) and the Carter carb P/N
(2253S / 1631 216) , his most recent manifesto was Draft #62[!] , and is some 124 pages of detailed information.



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55CRL
Posted 2008-10-12 2:06 PM (#147830 - in reply to #146995)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Elite Veteran

Posts: 907
500100100100100
Location: Magra, Sweden
It's sad to hear such great cars have been lost to history, at least the documentation will live forever. Ok you can have a replacement car but it's really not possible to replace history.
Still I have have my first completely restored car in nice running condition, I bought the Valiant from the first owner in 1978 and it was completely restored by 1981 and can't imagine parting with her. Assume I should get in contact with Mike to be able to share the wealth of information?
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MikeDIsIn
Posted 2015-11-03 7:00 PM (#494104 - in reply to #147744)
Subject: Re: Decoding 55 Dodge CRL



Regular

Posts: 85
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wow ,wishing I could speak and listen to these people . I just purchased this 56 cr convertible and need the advise
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