Dodge Kingsway

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The Dodge Kingsway was a passenger car that Chrysler built in the United States for export markets only. The first Kingsway appeared in 1946. Before that, the export models based on the US Plymouth models had no special model names.

The Kingsway was a Plymouth with Dodge emblems, but often also equipped with bumpers and other equipment details from the Dodge kit. They should help overseas Dodge dealers sell cars in the lower price ranges. The first pure export model emerged in 1935 and this practice continued until 1959. There were many different body styles, mostly depending on where the model was being exported to and which Plymouth models were current. The vehicles were built in Detroit, Michigan or Windsor, Ontario .

The Kingsway was always the cheapest model. It was based on the Plymouth model with 2819 mm wheelbase in 1949–1952, 1954–1958 on the Plymouth Plaza and 1959 on the Plymouth Savoy . The Kingsway DeLuxe 1946-1950 based on the Plymouth Deluxe , 1951-1953 on the Plymouth Cambridge , 1951-1958 on the Plymouth Savoy and 1959 on the Plymouth Belvedere . The top version Kingsway Custom was the Dodge version of the Plymouth Special Deluxe (1946-1950), the Plymouth Cranbrook (1951-1953), the Plymouth Belvedere (1954-1958) and the Plymouth Fury (1959). Only in 1959 was the Kingsway Lancer offered, which was based on the Plymouth Sport Fury .

With the introduction of the Dodge Dart in 1960, the Kingsway was phased out.

Kingsway in Canada

The Kingsway name first appeared in 1940 on an export model to Canada , which was a Dodge-badged Plymouth Roadking . The basic model only had a taillight, a sun visor and a windshield wiper - each on the driver's side. The body was 100% Plymouth with emblems, hood ornament and grille from Dodge. There was a 2-door business coupe and sedans with 2 or 4 doors.

Successor in 1941 was a Kingsway based on the Plymouth D20. There were now two versions: basic model and special. The Special cost CDN $ 25 more than the basic model. The body shapes were the same as in 1940, but there was also a 5-seater coupe with jump seats in the back.

In 1942 the Kingsway was renamed DeLuxe , a name that was carried over from the Plymouth base model. The DeLuxe was also the cheapest Dodge from 1946 to 1950.

Chrysler Canada reintroduced the Kingsway name to the Canadian market in 1951. It referred to a repurposed Plymouth Concord and replaced the DeLuxe name used between 1949 and 1950 for the models with a 2819 mm wheelbase.

The 1951 Kingsway range consisted of a 2-door business coupe, a 2-door hatchback , a 3-door "Suburban" station wagon and a 3-door "Savoy" station wagon. The Savoy owned the interior and exterior fittings of the more expensive models. Dus Business Coupe was discontinued in 1952. Together with the Plymouth Concord, the Canadian Kingsway was also discontinued in 1953.

Kingsway in India

The Kingsway and Plymouth Savoy were also assembled by Premier in India in the late 1950s .

Kingsway in Australia

Dodge Kingsway Coronet sedan built by Chrysler Australia in 1956 at the Keswick plant, South Australia .

A Kingsway model based on the 1954 Plymouth P25 was built by Chrysler Australia from 1954 to 1957 . An Australia-developed Ute version of the Kingsway was introduced in 1956.

swell

  • Sanford Evans Services (Ed.): Motor Vehicle Data Book , Volume 1948, ISSN  0316-6198
  • Canadian Dodge sales brochures

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A Plymouth by any Other Name: Branding Exported Chryslers 1932-1972 . Allpar.com
  2. ^ The Australian Chrysler Royal, Plainsman and Wayfarer . Allpar.com
  3. ↑ Website of the automotive atrocities (English)