The long awaited “New” Motor City USA has at last arrived. Jeff Thomas, an American living in Germany, has resurrected this famous brand made famous by Alan Novak and Gene Parrill and oh boy, has he ever. The initial model is the 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Convertible (item #MC-201). It is available top-down in Sapphire White/Oriental Coral and top-up in Seafoam Green/Jade Green Poly. The model is a more than worthy successor to the final model from the predecessor Motor City USA company, which was a two-door hardtop version of the same car (item #MC-200). What we had thought would be the death knell from Motor City was actually produced for them by Brooklin Models in Bath, UK. Now production has moved to Continental Europe.

In 1955, Virgil Exner’s Forward Look styling for Chrysler Corporation cars had brought excitement to the entire line of cars from that long stodgy maker. It carried on with a facelift for 1956 that included the addition of rear fender fins. Nowhere was the styling more extravagant than at Dodge where many outrageous three-tone paint combinations were offered. On the engineering side, the new push button selection for the PowerFlite automatic gearshift was equally exciting although it did lead to some broken fingernails for the ladies. All 1956 Dodges rode a 120-inch wheelbase. The Custom Royals had a 315 Cubic inch engine with a standard 189 horsepower. Optional engines ranged up to 295 horsepower. In standard form the Custom Royal convertible listed for $2,913.

The “new” Motor City has a flawless finish with Sapphire White paint above the Saddle Sweep chrome trim and the Oriental Coral below. The taillights emerge neatly from the Jewell Black inset section. All identification logos and emblems are on the model including Custom Lancer in a light script on the rear fenders. The interior features black seats with sculptured white inserts and bolsters. The door panels are beautifully detailed with door handles and window cranks. The black and white dash is well detailed as is the black and white steering wheel. Black sun visors are mounted on the windshield frame. The black chassis has simple detail outlines and flute chrome exhaust extensions. The chassis rides on correct sized whitewalls with chrome wheel covers. The body colored wheels are visible between the covers and the tires.

This newest Motor City is a worthy successor to the models that made this line so famous and wanted. The model is available exclusively in the US from Bob Hooper’s Dominion Models at www.dominionmodels.com.