Dodge Kingsway
Encyclopedia
The Dodge Kingsway is a past-model automobile built by Chrysler Corporation for export markets. The Kingsway name was adopted for the 1946 models. Prior to that, the export models based on Plymouth models had no unique model names.
Kingsways were rebadged Plymouth
vehicles, although they were often equipped with Dodge
bumpers and trim. They were supposed to help overseas Dodge dealers to sell cars in a lower price class. The first export models were made in 1935, and they continued through the 1959 model yearhttp://www.allpar.com/world/plymouth.html, with many different body styles and variations depending on the market they were intended for and which Plymouth models were available at the time. They were built in either Detroit, Michigan
or in Windsor, Ontario
, Canada
.
The Kingsway was the lowest-priced model in 1949-52 (111" wheelbase), 1954-58 (based on Plymouth Plaza series) and 1959 (Plymouth Savoy). The Kingsway DeLuxe was based on the Plymouth DeLuxe (1946-50), Cambridge (1951-53), Savoy (1954-58) and Belvedere (1959). The top line Kingsway Custom was Dodge's version of the Plymouth Special DeLuxe (1946-50), Cranbrook (1951-53), Belvedere (1954-58) and Fury (1959). For 1959 only, the Kingsway offered a model based on the Sport Fury, the Kingsway Lancer.
With the introduction of the Dodge Dart for 1960, the Kingsway line was dropped.
The first use of the Kingsway name was in Canada for the 1940 model year (model D15), basically Dodge's rebadged version of the Plymouth Roadking. The base model came with one taillamp, one sunvisor and one windshield wiper - all on the driver's side. The body was Plymouth with Dodge nameplates, hood ornament and a grille that fit the Plymouth front end. Body styles were business coupe, 2-door and 4-door sedans.
The Kingsway name continued for the 1941 model year, on model D20. It was now available in two versions, base and Special. The Special was about $25 more than the base model. Body styles offered were the same as in 1940 with the addition of a 5-passenger coupe with fold-up (auxiliary) seats in the rear compartment.
For the 1942 model year, the Kingsway name was replaced by the DeLuxe, the same name as used on the base model Plymouth series. The DeLuxe was also the lowest priced Dodge from 1946 to 1950.
Chrysler of Canada reintroduced the Kingsway name to the Canadian market for the 1951 model year, as the Canadian Dodge rebadged version of the Plymouth Concord, and replaced the DeLuxe name used on 111" wheelbase models in 1949-50.
The 1951 Kingsway offered a 2-door business coupe, 2-door fastback sedan, 2-door Suburban wagon and a 2-door Savoy wagon. The Savoy used interior and exterior trim similar to that used on higher priced models. The business coupe was dropped for the 1952 model year. As with the Plymouth Concord, the Canadian Dodge Kingsway was dropped for 1953.
The Kingsway, along with the Plymouth Savoy
, were also assembled in India
by Premier Automobiles until the late 50's.
included a version based on the 1954 US Plymouth
P25 Sedan, which was produced by Chrysler Australia
from 1954 to 1957. An Australia
n developed Coupe Utility
variant of the Kingsway was introduced in 1956.
Kingsways were rebadged Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
vehicles, although they were often equipped with Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
bumpers and trim. They were supposed to help overseas Dodge dealers to sell cars in a lower price class. The first export models were made in 1935, and they continued through the 1959 model yearhttp://www.allpar.com/world/plymouth.html, with many different body styles and variations depending on the market they were intended for and which Plymouth models were available at the time. They were built in either Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
or in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The Kingsway was the lowest-priced model in 1949-52 (111" wheelbase), 1954-58 (based on Plymouth Plaza series) and 1959 (Plymouth Savoy). The Kingsway DeLuxe was based on the Plymouth DeLuxe (1946-50), Cambridge (1951-53), Savoy (1954-58) and Belvedere (1959). The top line Kingsway Custom was Dodge's version of the Plymouth Special DeLuxe (1946-50), Cranbrook (1951-53), Belvedere (1954-58) and Fury (1959). For 1959 only, the Kingsway offered a model based on the Sport Fury, the Kingsway Lancer.
With the introduction of the Dodge Dart for 1960, the Kingsway line was dropped.
The first use of the Kingsway name was in Canada for the 1940 model year (model D15), basically Dodge's rebadged version of the Plymouth Roadking. The base model came with one taillamp, one sunvisor and one windshield wiper - all on the driver's side. The body was Plymouth with Dodge nameplates, hood ornament and a grille that fit the Plymouth front end. Body styles were business coupe, 2-door and 4-door sedans.
The Kingsway name continued for the 1941 model year, on model D20. It was now available in two versions, base and Special. The Special was about $25 more than the base model. Body styles offered were the same as in 1940 with the addition of a 5-passenger coupe with fold-up (auxiliary) seats in the rear compartment.
For the 1942 model year, the Kingsway name was replaced by the DeLuxe, the same name as used on the base model Plymouth series. The DeLuxe was also the lowest priced Dodge from 1946 to 1950.
Chrysler of Canada reintroduced the Kingsway name to the Canadian market for the 1951 model year, as the Canadian Dodge rebadged version of the Plymouth Concord, and replaced the DeLuxe name used on 111" wheelbase models in 1949-50.
The 1951 Kingsway offered a 2-door business coupe, 2-door fastback sedan, 2-door Suburban wagon and a 2-door Savoy wagon. The Savoy used interior and exterior trim similar to that used on higher priced models. The business coupe was dropped for the 1952 model year. As with the Plymouth Concord, the Canadian Dodge Kingsway was dropped for 1953.
The Kingsway, along with the Plymouth Savoy
Plymouth Savoy
The Plymouth Savoy is an automobile produced by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation of Highland Park, Michigan.Plymouth used the name Savoy on several automobiles. From 1951-1953, the Savoy name was used on a station wagon, upgrading the base model Suburban...
, were also assembled in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
by Premier Automobiles until the late 50's.
Australian production
Dodge Kingsway models assembled in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
included a version based on the 1954 US Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
P25 Sedan, which was produced by Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980....
from 1954 to 1957. An Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n developed Coupe Utility
Coupé utility
The coupé utility automobile body style, also known colloquially as the ute in Australia and New Zealand, combines a two-door "coupé" cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty passenger vehicle-derived platform....
variant of the Kingsway was introduced in 1956.