Dodge decided to reinvent its line of vehicles after World War II and the Coronet was the highest trim level available at the time. Introduced in 1949, the Coronet came as a four-door sedan or a top-of-the line station wagon with two doors and enough room for six. Both came with 3-speed transmissions and L-head 6-cylinder engines that provided about 100 horsepower.

From 1950 to 1953, the Coronet remained the top-of-the line car for the Dodge company. In 1954, however, the car maker started using the Coronet name on its intermediate trim levels and, in 1956, it was reduced to Dodge's base trim level.

Despite its decline in trim status, the 1956 Coronet boasted more power, featuring an 8-cylinder unit that produced up to 175 horsepower. The American public liked this model and sales were good.

The year 1956 also saw the production of the Coronet D-500, which kept a 315 Hemi V8 engine hidden under its hood. Producing 285 horsepower, this Coronet could go from 0-to-60 in under 9 seconds. This wasn't too surprising since the Coronet D-500 was designed to be driven in NASCAR races.

NASCAR required the car makers to produce a minimum of 500 identical models, some of which had to be made available to the general public. The street version of the Coronet D-500 also featured modified brakes, transmission tires and suspension, which all added up to make a nice little car for street racing. After a good run, the Coronet disappeared after 1959. Dodge decided to bring back the Coronet brand, however, as a mid-size muscle car in 1965.

The Muscle Car Years

The 1965 Dodge Coronet featured a 426 Hemi engine with up to 425 horsepower. The 1966 version came with a Race Hemi engine better suited for drag racing than driving down the street. These Coronets came with bucket seats and buyers could choose from 15 different exterior colors.

The year 1967 saw the introduction of the Coronet R/T edition, which came as a two-door hardtop or a two-door convertible. The R/T edition sold quite well, perhaps due to the 440 V8 engine that went from 0-to-60 in just 7 seconds. Boasting an engine that produced 375 horsepower, the Coronet R/T was another drag racing favorite.

Post-Muscle Car Era

In the early 1970s, new government regulations, safety concerns and the impending oil embargo all combined to cause the decline of muscle car popularity. Engines were detuned and car sales fell significantly. Dodge decided to simplify the Coronet line, making it a base trim level car once again.

Dodge dropped the Coronet name altogether after 1976 and replaced it with the Monaco. Although this car had a relatively brief history, the R/T trim combined with some serious power makes the Dodge Coronet a true muscle car sleeper.