Dodge Custom Royal

Dodge Custom Royal: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Dodge Custom Royal from the listed Cabrio line, the decision is not which generation: the catalogue holds 1 generation, named 2 generation, built from 1957-01-01 to 1959-12-31, body Cabrio. That generation has 20 versions; this comparison uses the 12 versions supplied in the data.

If you are choosing a Dodge Custom Royal from the listed Cabrio line, the decision is not which generation: the catalogue holds 1 generation, named 2 generation, built from 1957-01-01 to 1959-12-31, body Cabrio. That generation has 20 versions; this comparison uses the 12 versions supplied in the data. Every listed car is Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal, 3 gears, RWD. What actually changes is displacement (5328, 5736 or 5913 cm³), output (264–324 hp), torque (454–542 Nm), compression (8.5, 9.25 or 10), gearbox (Manual or Automatic), and kerb weight (1800–1930 kg). 0–100, top speed, city/highway/combined consumption, CO2, eco class, gross weight, ground clearance and wheel size are not measured on all 12, so they cannot decide the purchase.

Which generation — and why that is not the fork

There is no second generation in this dataset to compare years, bodies or version counts against. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation. The fork is inside 2 generation: three engine sizes, five power ratings, two gearboxes.

Specs table: all 12 versions (distinguish same names by hp)

Bore × stroke: 5.3 93.7 × 96.5; 5.7 103.2 × 85.7; 5.9 104.8 × 85.7. Compression: 5.3 264 hp = 8.5; both 5.3 289 hp and 5.3 314 hp = 9.25; all 5.7 and 5.9 = 10.

Power per litre and kg per hp (arithmetic on the given numbers)

Power density (hp ÷ displacement in litres):

• 5.3 264 hp / 5.328 L = 49.5 hp/L (lowest)
• 5.3 289 hp / 5.328 L = 54.2 hp/L
• 5.3 314 hp / 5.328 L = 58.9 hp/L (highest)
• 5.7 299 hp / 5.736 L = 52.1 hp/L
• 5.9 309 hp / 5.913 L = 52.3 hp/L
• 5.9 324 hp / 5.913 L = 54.8 hp/L

The 314 hp 5.3 extracts 9.4 hp/L more than the 264 hp 5.3 from the same 5328 cm³. The 324 hp 5.9 is only 4.1 hp/L below that peak, but from 585 cm³ more metal (5913 − 5328). The 299 hp 5.7 sits 6.8 hp/L below the 314 hp 5.3.

Kerb kg per hp:

Lightest car: 5.7 MT 299 hp at 1800 kg. Heaviest: 5.3 AT 289 hp at 1930 kg — 130 kg more than the lightest, with 10 hp less than the 5.7 MT. The 264 hp pair is the worst kg/hp (~7.0). The 324 hp 5.9 MT is the best at 5.8 kg/hp.

Torque density (Nm ÷ litres): 5.3 264 hp = 85.2 Nm/L; 5.3 289 hp = 87.8; 5.3 314 hp = 89.1; 5.7 299 hp = 91.0; both 5.9 outputs = 91.7 Nm/L. Peak torque 542 Nm is shared by all four 5.9 versions; the 5.7 pair is 20 Nm behind at 522 Nm; the 314 hp 5.3 is 67 Nm behind the 5.9.

What the extra displacement buys (no prices in the data)

Catalogue prices are not measured. The “extra” is displacement, compression, rpm and weight.

5328 → 5736 cm³ (+408 cm³, +7.7%): the 299 hp 5.7 versus the 264 hp 5.3 is +35 hp and +68 Nm. Versus the 289 hp 5.3 it is +10 hp and +54 Nm. Versus the 314 hp 5.3 it is −15 hp but +47 Nm. The 5.7 MT is also 80 kg lighter than the 314 hp 5.3 MT (1800 vs 1880) and 40 kg lighter than the 264 hp 5.3 MT (1800 vs 1840). Compression rises from 8.5 or 9.25 to 10.

5736 → 5913 cm³ (+177 cm³, +3.1%): the 309 hp 5.9 versus the 299 hp 5.7 is +10 hp and +20 Nm. The 324 hp 5.9 versus the 5.7 is +25 hp and +20 Nm. The 5.9 MT at 1870 kg is 70 kg heavier than the 5.7 MT at 1800 kg. Bore grows from 103.2 to 104.8 mm; stroke stays 85.7 mm.

5328 → 5913 cm³ (+585 cm³, +11.0%): 324 hp 5.9 versus 264 hp 5.3 is +60 hp and +88 Nm. Versus 314 hp 5.3 it is +10 hp and +67 Nm. The 324 hp 5.9 MT (1870 kg) is 10 kg lighter than the 314 hp 5.3 MT (1880 kg).

Inside the same 5328 cm³, the three 5.3 outputs are +25 hp then +25 hp again (264 → 289 → 314). Torque only rises +14 Nm then +7 Nm (454 → 468 → 475). Compression is the split: 8.5 on 264 hp, 9.25 on 289 and 314 hp. Peak power rpm: 4400 on 264 hp, 4800 on 289 and 314 hp. Peak torque rpm: 2400 → 2800 → 3200. The 314 hp 5.3 is the same 1880 kg as the 289 hp 5.3 MT, so the second +25 hp costs 0 kg on Manual; on Automatic the 289 hp 5.3 AT is the odd heavy car at 1930 kg, while the 314 hp 5.3 AT is 1880 kg — 50 kg lighter with 25 hp more.

Inside 5913 cm³, 309 → 324 hp is +15 hp at the same 542 Nm. Peak power rpm 4600 → 4800; torque rpm stays 2800. Weight does not change with that extra 15 hp: 5.9 MT 1870 kg and 5.9 AT 1910 kg on both outputs.

Manual vs Automatic on the same engine

Gear count is 3 on both. Weight penalty of Automatic versus the matching Manual:

• 5.3 264 hp: 1850 − 1840 = +10 kg
• 5.3 289 hp: 1930 − 1880 = +50 kg (largest AT penalty)
• 5.3 314 hp: 1880 − 1880 = 0 kg
• 5.7 299 hp: 1840 − 1800 = +40 kg
• 5.9 309 hp: 1910 − 1870 = +40 kg
• 5.9 324 hp: 1910 − 1870 = +40 kg

If you want Automatic, avoid the 289 hp 5.3 AT: it is the heaviest listed Custom Royal and the only AT that adds 50 kg. The 314 hp 5.3 AT matches its Manual at 1880 kg. The 5.7 AT and both 5.9 AT add a consistent 40 kg.

Performance, mpg, problems, reliability

0–100 km/h: not measured on all 12. Top speed: not measured. City, highway and combined consumption: not measured. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. There is no mpg figure in the data, so economy cannot rank versions. Fuel grade is 92 on all 12; tank is 76 L on all 12.

Problems and reliability are not measured in this dataset. What is measured and identical on every version: Independent, spring front; Dependent, leaf spring rear; Drum front; Drum rear. Those chassis items do not pick a winner.

Dimensions and weight

Gross weight: not measured. Ground clearance: not measured. Wheel size: not measured. Tank: 76 L on every version.

Kerb range: 1800 kg (5.7 MT) to 1930 kg (5.3 AT 289 hp). Cluster by family:

• 5.3 264 hp: 1840 / 1850 kg
• 5.3 289 hp: 1880 / 1930 kg
• 5.3 314 hp: 1880 / 1880 kg
• 5.7 299 hp: 1800 / 1840 kg
• 5.9 both outputs: 1870 / 1910 kg

Which version to choose

Buy the 324 hp 5.9 MT if the ranking is power and kg/hp. It is the peak 324 hp / 238 kW at 4800 rpm, shares the peak 542 Nm, and is the best mass ratio at 5.8 kg/hp (1870 kg). The matching 5.9 AT 324 hp keeps the same engine and adds 40 kg (1910 kg, 5.9 kg/hp).

Buy the 314 hp 5.3 MT or 5.3 AT if the ranking is power per litre. Both are 314 hp / 231 kW, 58.9 hp/L, 1880 kg, 6.0 kg/hp, and the AT does not add weight. You give up 67 Nm versus any 5.9 (475 vs 542) and 47 Nm versus the 5.7 (475 vs 522), on 5328 cm³ instead of 5736 or 5913.

Buy the 5.7 MT if the ranking is the lightest Cabrio with high torque. 1800 kg, 299 hp, 522 Nm, compression 10, 6.0 kg/hp. Versus the 314 hp 5.3 MT you lose 15 hp and gain 47 Nm and lose 80 kg. Versus the 324 hp 5.9 MT you lose 25 hp and 20 Nm and lose 70 kg. The 5.7 AT is 1840 kg — same kerb as the 264 hp 5.3 MT, with 35 hp and 68 Nm more.

Buy a 309 hp 5.9 only if you want 542 Nm without the 324 hp tune. Same displacement, compression, bore × stroke and weights as the 324 hp pair; −15 hp, same 542 Nm. Power density 52.3 vs 54.8 hp/L. There is no weight saving.

Buy the 289 hp 5.3 MT only as a middle 5328 cm³ step. +25 hp / +14 Nm versus 264 hp, −25 hp / −7 Nm versus 314 hp, same 1880 kg as the 314 hp 5.3 MT. Skip the 5.3 AT 289 hp: 1930 kg is the worst kerb here.

Buy the 264 hp 5.3 MT or 5.3 AT only if you want the lowest listed output and the lowest compression (8.5). They are last in hp/L (49.5) and kg/hp (~7.0). The 5.7 MT at 1800 kg undercuts both on weight, power and torque.

Manual vs Automatic, once the engine is chosen: pick Manual unless you specifically want Automatic 3. The only AT with no kg penalty is 5.3 AT 314 hp. Do not pick Automatic to gain gears: both boxes are 3.

Drive, fuel, cylinder layout, boost, brakes and suspension do not split the field: all 12 are RWD, Gasoline 92, 8 V-shaped, boost No, Drum/Drum, Independent spring / Dependent leaf spring.

Short map: peak hp and best kg/hp → 5.9 MT 324 hp. Peak hp/L and equal-weight AT → 5.3 MT / 5.3 AT 314 hp. Lightest + strong torque → 5.7 MT. Peak torque without the 324 hp tune → 5.9 MT 309 hp. Avoid as a performance buy → 5.3 AT 289 hp (heaviest) and both 264 hp 5.3 versions (least hp/L and worst kg/hp).