With the economy in full swing after World War II, both manufacturers and car buyers embraced the "bigger is better" philosophy in the 1950s. Full-size vehicles were selling like hotcakes, and automakers were looking for ways to get even more people into showrooms. The Big Three began introducing increasingly more luxurious trims and special-edition models.
Chrysler was among the first companies to design a car specifically for women. It was called the Dodge La Femme, and it was essentially a Royal Lancer (based on the Coronet) with features and accessories that Chrysler thought would appeal to female drivers.
With fewer than 2,500 units sold in 1955 and 1956, the La Femme was considered a flop, but it's a great example of what carmakers were willing to do for a bigger market share. The Dodge you see here is not a La Femme, but it was also aimed at a specific demographic. It's called the Texan, and it was sold only in, you guessed it, Texas.
Unlike the La Femme, which boasted quite a few special features, the Texan was just a Coronet with specific badges on the rear fenders, trunk lid, and glove compartment. The trim package was reportedly born following requests made by a group of oilmen and politicians who wanted a unique Dodge model sold in the Lone Star State.
Some say it was originally a macho response to the La Femme, but that's highly unlikely, given that the latter was anything but popular. Anyway, the Texan models were born as regular Coronets. The cars were then shipped to a group of Texas dealers, which would add the custom badges. Chrysler fully approved the Texan, and the said emblems were included in the official parts catalog.
On top of being a local version, the Texan was offered for only three model years. Introduced in 1956, it was discontinued at the end of the 1958 model year. And while specific production numbers aren't available, it seems the Texan was anything but popular. Some sources claim Texas-based dealers sold only a few hundred units per year—no wonder it's pretty much unknown.
Well, if you haven't seen a Texan just yet, YouTube's "Obsolete Automotive" stumbled onto a 1957 version in 2023. It's been almost a year since then, and the owner decided it was time to revive the Mopar and put it back on the road. The Texan had been sitting for a few years when it was purchased.
Luckily, this Dodge is not a barn find. The Texan was well taken care of and even got a restoration at some point. The red paint still shines, and the two-tone, black-and-white interior is almost flawless and drop-dead gorgeous. Moreover, this Texan still relies on its original V8 engine. It's one of the finest Texan survivors out there, and this is huge for such a low-production trim.
The vehicle is not yet road-worthy, but our host managed to get the V8 running again and even took the car for a spin around the block. Fortunately, he's determined to get this Texan back on the road, which is a far better fate than the 1956 version we saw in a junkyard in 2022.
Oh, in case you're wondering what's under the hood, this Texan relies on a 325-cubic-inch (5.3-liter) Red Ram V8. Depending on the carburetor setup, this unit delivered 245 or 260 horsepower, so it should be a nice cruiser once refreshed.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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